PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nurislam Alieva (ranked 3009 p4p, 2393 weight class) and Luan Mesquita (ranked 350 p4p, 291 weight class). Nurislam Alieva had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Alieva
vs
Mesquita

178 cm
23
190
2 - 1 - 0

188 cm
23
200
3 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nurislam Alieva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Luan Mesquita!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alieva tries to clinch but Mesquita moves out of range.

Alieva moves into the clinch successfully.

Alieva has Mesquita pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Alieva pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Mesquita tumbling to the mat - Alieva dives into Mesquita's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mesquita is on top in guard.

Alieva trying to keep a closed guard but Mesquita is proving a slippery customer.
Mesquita sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Alieva has his foot on Mesquita's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mesquita works his way back into a safe position though.

Alieva throws his legs up looking for a submission but Mesquita uses it to pass to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mesquita is trying to get an arm triangle but Alieva is defending well.
Alieva is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Alieva is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at The Firm, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Mesquita laying and praying for a moment but Alieva takes advantage and regains half guard.
Mesquita trying to pass the guard but Alieva defending well.
Mesquita prevents Alieva from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Mesquita seems to be working for a kimura but Alieva defends the submission attempt.
Mesquita tries to pass to full mount but Alieva defends it.
Mesquita winds up and cracks Alieva with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mesquita wants to pass the guard but Alieva is defending well.

Mesquita is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Mesquita seems to be working for a kimura but Alieva defends the submission attempt.
Alieva works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mesquita stays in close to Alieva's body and controls the position.

Mesquita got a little sloppy there for a moment and Alieva has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mesquita has managed to get both his arms back between Alieva's legs - danger averted.
Mesquita preventing the sweep.
Mesquita engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Mesquita wants to control from the top but Alieva keeps moving.

Alieva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mesquita pushes down on Alieva's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Mesquita content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mesquita is trying to control the action in half guard but Alieva is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mesquita working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Mesquita works his foot free and advances to mount.
Mesquita fails to advance to Alieva's back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Mesquita jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Alieva manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Mesquita lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Luan Mesquita dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Mesquita fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Alieva misses with a looping left.
Mesquita drops his hands momentarily and Alieva takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Alieva has closed the distance and engaged Mesquita in a clinch.

Alieva drags the fight down to the ground.
Mesquita scoring with punches to the head and body.
Mesquita controlling from the top position.
Mesquita trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Luan Mesquita has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alieva wants to sweep but no luck.
Mesquita is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mesquita sitting in guard here, content to control.
Mesquita working some strikes from top position.
Mesquita controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Mesquita won't allow Alieva to sweep him here.
Mesquita trying to control but Alieva is working from the bottom.

Alieva is looking for a triangle but Mesquita pushes his legs off easily.
Mesquita slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Alieva prevents Mesquita from moving into mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Mesquita connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Alieva some visible discomfort.
Alieva tries to improve position but can't.
Alieva regains half guard.
Alieva is looking for a sweep. Mesquita is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mesquita controlling the action here.

Mesquita is trying to work for a kimura but Alieva is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mesquita content to control rather than advance.
Alieva is not content to let Mesquita control the position.
Alieva on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Alieva tries to get to full guard but Mesquita has control of the leg.
Alieva is trying to maintain the position but Mesquita is very close to passing his half guard.
Mesquita is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Mesquita wants to take a breather but Alieva is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Alieva makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Alieva.
Alieva keeping moving, preventing Mesquita from controlling successfully.
Mesquita stays in close to Alieva's body and controls the position.

Alieva had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mesquita defends it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mesquita is working Alieva over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Luan Mesquita showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Mesquita has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Mesquita there as he acknowledges the shot.
Alieva misses with a shot to the body
enabling Mesquita to counter with a crisp jab.
Alieva is looking to clinch.
Mesquita throws a hook but Alieva avoids it easily.
Alieva is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Mesquita.

Alieva gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Alieva keeping full guard, as Mesquita tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Alieva has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mesquita can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mesquita trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alieva controls Mesquita momentarily but Mesquita frees himself.
Mesquita looking to pass the guard.
Mesquita with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Mesquita looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Alieva looking for subs off his back but Mesquita has passed one foot through into half guard.
Alieva is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Mesquita scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mesquita keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Mesquita is trying to work for a kimura but Alieva is defending well.
Alieva is trying to control but can't.
Mesquita has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Alieva tries to get to full guard but Mesquita has control of the leg.
Alieva trying to control here.
Mesquita wants to control but Alieva is keeping him busy.

Mesquita seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Alieva is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Luan Mesquita!