PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Curious George (ranked 4116 p4p, 4130 weight class) and Shavkat Rakhmanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

George
vs
Rakhmanov

164 cm
25
172
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
20
170
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Curious George!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shavkat Rakhmanov!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Cecil Peabody and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

George instigates a clinch.
George fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
George displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rakhmanov up against the cage.
George has a couple of punches blocked by Rakhmanov.
George lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
George jumps guard but Rakhmanov stands there with George around his waist. George gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
George is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

George works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
George might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rakhmanov keeping moving, preventing George from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rakhmanov is adopting a defensive guard.
George has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
George trying to control the position from guard on top but Rakhmanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

George drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rakhmanov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now George has Rakhmanov in his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rakhmanov postures up.
George is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rakhmanov is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Rakhmanov advances position into side control!
George is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
George is working hard here to advance position.

Rakhmanov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rakhmanov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
George is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rakhmanov advances nicely into full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
George is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
George is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rakhmanov trying to control but George is having none of it.
George keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
George slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Rakhmanov lands with a punch from half guard.

George looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
George wants to control the action here but instead Rakhmanov manages to pass to full mount!
George wants to control but Rakhmanov is having none of it.

Rakhmanov looking to secure an arm triangle but George defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
George is trying desperately to improve position.
Rakhmanov connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Rakhmanov controlling the position easily from mount.
George can't escape the position.
George wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
George is trying to break free.
George trying to control but not successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
George is in bad spot here.
Rakhmanov controlling the position well here. George rolled but Rakhmanov kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
George tries to escape the position.
Rakhmanov lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can George hold on?!
Rakhmanov keeps control of the position as George tries to break free.

Rakhmanov looking to break George's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. George remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Rakhmanov will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Rakhmanov wants to control but George is keeping busy.
George is really stuck here.
George wants to control his opponent's hands but Rakhmanov gets his hands free.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rakhmanov keeps control of the position as George tries to break free.
Rakhmanov is not going to allow George to sit and survive in this position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shavkat Rakhmanov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rakhmanov rushes George and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
George holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Rakhmanov wants a takedown.
George controlling the action here for a moment.
George swings wildly with an uppercut but Rakhmanov uses good head movement to avoid it.
George has Rakhmanov pressed against the cage.
George holding his opponent close, against the cage.
George seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rakhmanov misses with a knee strike.
George tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

George turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.

George goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Rakhmanov has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for George but great work by Rakhmanov.
George taking a bit of punishment here - Rakhmanov scoring with strikes.
Rakhmanov working away.
Rakhmanov trying to control the action but George is working from the bottom.
Rakhmanov is working George over with some ground and pound from side control.
George struggling a bit here.
George tries to improve position but can't.
George manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rakhmanov's best efforts.
George wants to control but Rakhmanov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
George is trying to control but Rakhmanov passes into side control!
George could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Rakhmanov moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Rakhmanov wants to lay and pray for a moment but George keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rakhmanov slows the pace down.
George is looking for a sweep.
George on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Rakhmanov has control of an arm but George manages to advance to Rakhmanov's back!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

George is persistently looking for the submission but Rakhmanov is defending it well.
Rakhmanov looking very determined here, making life difficult for George.

George looking to break Rakhmanov's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Rakhmanov remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise George will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

George has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Rakhmanov looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

George is persistently looking for the submission but Rakhmanov is defending it well.
Rakhmanov trying to control the hands but George won't let him.

George is looking for the choke from the back position but Rakhmanov is controlling his hands well.

George is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Rakhmanov is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

George looking for the choke from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
George doesn't have the hooks in and Rakhmanov manages to turn into his guard.

George throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Rakhmanov escapes and throws George's legs to the side, diving into side control!
George manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rakhmanov's best efforts.
Rakhmanov slips a nice elbow through George's hands, connecting with George's forehead.
George has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rakhmanov is working away from the top position though.
George is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

George has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Rakhmanov escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Rakhmanov!
George on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if George tries to get out of the position.
George gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
George tries to control Rakhmanov's body but Rakhmanov pushes him off. George squirms to his side and now Rakhmanov has his back!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Shavkat Rakhmanov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

George shoots in and bounces Rakhmanov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rakhmanov wants to get back to his feet but George is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

George drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Rakhmanov dives on top into guard.

George working for submissions but it's allowed Rakhmanov to get to half guard.
Rakhmanov is thwarting George's attempts to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
George trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
George reaches up to try and control the position but Rakhmanov seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! George rolls and tries to escape and now Rakhmanov has his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
George is trying to break free.
Rakhmanov is looking to control George but George is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Rakhmanov gets his hands free as George looks to control.
Rakhmanov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rakhmanov landing with strikes.
George trying to control the hands but Rakhmanov won't let him.
Rakhmanov has good solid back control here.

Rakhmanov has got one arm under George's chin. This could be trouble... George trying to control the other hand but Rakhmanov gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, George has tapped out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Shavkat Rakhmanov!