PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Heydar Aliyev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rosvo Manne (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.

Aliyev
vs
Manne

179 cm
19
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
21
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Heydar Aliyev!
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, Rosvo Manne!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Fedor Mirinova and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manne fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Aliyev scores with a kick to the midsection.
Aliyev tries to clinch but Manne moves out of range.

Manne feints and as Aliyev raises his hands in defense, Manne changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Aliyev trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Aliyev pulls Manne in close to prevent any damage.
Aliyev trying to keep a closed guard but Manne is proving a slippery customer.
Manne is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Manne stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aliyev swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Aliyev looking for a sweep. Not yet Aliyev, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manne tries to free his leg and advance position but Aliyev is retaining full guard.
Manne is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Aliyev is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Manne trying to control the position from guard on top but Aliyev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Aliyev.
Manne swats away the attempt to clinch by Aliyev.
Aliyev misses with a low kick.

Manne gets the takedown into side control.
Aliyev is breathing heavily.
Manne grinds an elbow into Aliyev's temple.
Manne is looking to take a break and control but Aliyev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Aliyev is trying to control Manne's posture but Manne avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev wants to get back to his feet.
Manne is looking to take a break and control but Aliyev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
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Manne scores with punches from side control.
Manne moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Manne tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Manne has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Manne is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Aliyev is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Manne seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Manne wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Aliyev, who protects the arm well.

Manne is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Aliyev has escaped the position, nice work there.
Manne wants to control but Aliyev is keeping him busy.
Aliyev struggling a bit here.
Manne in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Aliyev struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev tries to improve position but can't.
Aliyev is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Manne's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Aliyev is staying active underneath Manne, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Aliyev is trying to maintain the position but Manne is very close to passing his half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
A slapping leg kick lands for Aliyev.
Manne takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Manne takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Aliyev tries to clinch there but Manne circles away.
Heydar Aliyev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Manne uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Aliyev.
Manne swats away the attempt to clinch by Aliyev.

Aliyev fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Manne, pushing him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rosvo Manne dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Aliyev moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Aliyev wants to clinch up but Manne keeps it at a distance.
Manne shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Aliyev as he avoids it easily.
Manne keeps the fight on the outside.
Aliyev checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Manne slips a jab and a cross from Aliyev.
Aliyev tries a head kick but it misses.
Manne wants to clinch.
Manne throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Aliyev's waist but Aliyev gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Manne off to one side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Aliyev forces Manne back against the cage and clinches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Manne wants a takedown but no success here.
Heydar Aliyev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rosvo Manne.

Aliyev breaks the clinch.

Manne shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aliyev is wriggling around trying to escape.
Aliyev is squirming around, avoiding Manne's attempts to control the action.
Aliyev is working to get back to half guard.
Manne lands a big elbow.
Manne trying to control but Aliyev is having none of it.
Aliyev bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Manne had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Aliyev is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Manne Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Aliyev's back instead.
Aliyev trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Manne is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Aliyev is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Manne gets his way!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manne struggling to keep hold of the position.
You can see the frustration on Aliyev's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Manne scores with punches from the back.

Manne looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Aliyev is controlling Manne 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.
Aliyev wants to control from the top but Manne keeps moving.
Aliyev stays in close to Manne's body and controls the position.
Aliyev slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Aliyev trying to control the action but Manne is working from the bottom.
Manne sneaks back into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manne tries to roll over but Aliyev keeps him under control.
Manne gets back to full guard.

Manne is looking for a triangle but Aliyev pushes his legs off easily.
Manne is looking to sweep but instead, Aliyev has passed into half guard.

Manne actively working from the bottom here.
Manne is not content to let Aliyev control the position.
Aliyev stalling.
Aliyev wants to pass the guard but Manne is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev moves into full mount! Manne won't be happy about that!
Aliyev raining down shots from the mount!
Aliyev trying to control but Manne is having none of it.
Manne regains half guard.
Rosvo Manne has got the better of the ground game so far.
Aliyev takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Aliyev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Manne keeps working.
Manne gets back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Manne throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Aliyev tries to free his leg and advance position but Manne is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rosvo Manne showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Aliyev lands a front kick.
Heydar Aliyev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Manne circles away from the clinch attempt

and Manne counters by moving into the clinch.
Aliyev wants to break the clinch but can't.

Manne breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Manne feints and as Aliyev raises his hands in defense, Manne changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Aliyev wants to sweep here but Manne controlling him for the moment.
Manne stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aliyev swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Aliyev tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Manne is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Manne wants to pass the guard but Aliyev is keeping the position.
Manne postures up.
Manne stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aliyev swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Manne lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aliyev is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Manne wants to pass the guard but Aliyev is keeping the position.
Manne preventing the sweep.
Manne is fighting to break Aliyev's control of his arms but Aliyev is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Aliyev lands a head kick. Manne smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Aliyev pushes Manne away with a front kick.
Manne steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Aliyev. That one must have hurt.
Manne circles away from the clinch attempt

and Manne counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Aliyev tries for a takedown. No joy.
Aliyev tries to land a knee to the head but Manne blocks with his arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Manne lands a takedown into guard.
Manne is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Manne wants to control from the top but Aliyev keeps moving.
Manne slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Aliyev can't do much from the bottom here.
Manne scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Aliyev to see if he's OK.
Aliyev is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Manne off and has taken his back!

Aliyev looking for the choke but no joy.
Manne covers up after that shot from Aliyev.
Aliyev controlling well, preventing Manne from escaping the position.
Manne grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Aliyev controlling well, preventing Manne from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev has good solid back control here.
Manne tries to escape the position.
What can Manne do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Aliyev not allowing Manne to control his hands.
Manne manages to reverse the position and now he's in Aliyev's guard. Nice work there by Manne.
Manne stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aliyev swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Manne scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Aliyev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Manne won't allow Aliyev to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Aliyev punching to the body, from the bottom.
Manne tries to free his leg and advance position but Aliyev is retaining full guard.
Manne loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Aliyev utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Aliyev tries to clinch up.
Aliyev moves in looking to clinch but Manne pushes him off.
Aliyev lands a high kick!
Aliyev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Aliyev misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Manne counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Manne trying to control but Aliyev is working from the bottom.
Aliyev is pulling down on Manne's head to control his posture.
Heydar Aliyev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aliyev keeping moving, preventing Manne from controlling successfully.
Manne thows a big elbow that misses.

Aliyev working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Manne doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Aliyev is tightening it up a little... Manne has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Manne reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Manne taps out! nice BJJ there by Aliyev!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Heydar Aliyev!