PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between antonio khizanishvili (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Harris (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.

khizanishvili
vs
Harris

185 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, antonio khizanishvili!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Harris!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, James Atkins and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harris will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
khizanishvili moves in looking to clinch but Harris pushes him off.
khizanishvili tries to clinch but Harris is having none of it.
Harris misses with a body kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Harris, right into the meat.
Nice takedown defense from khizanishvili. No joy for Harris on that attempt.
Harris blocks a head kick by khizanishvili.
Harris walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. khizanishvili checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Harris gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Harris manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
khizanishvili is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
khizanishvili is looking to improve his position but Harris isn't that keen on the idea.
khizanishvili is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
khizanishvili is controlling an arm, preventing Harris from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.

Harris looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Harris is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. khizanishvili can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
khizanishvili regains half guard.
khizanishvili is looking to improve his position.

Harris seems to be working for a kimura but khizanishvili defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
khizanishvili wants to control but Harris is keeping busy.
khizanishvili tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Harris manages to move to mount!
khizanishvili is desperately trying to improve his position but Harris has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
khizanishvili is working hard here to advance position.
khizanishvili knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Harris on the ground.
khizanishvili has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Harris is trying to stick to khizanishvili's back but khizanishvili is turning into Harris. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Harris's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by khizanishvili.
Harris looks gassed!
khizanishvili cracks Harris with a solid left hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Harris working for submissions but it's allowed khizanishvili to get to half guard.
khizanishvili is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Harris manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that antonio khizanishvili will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

khizanishvili tries to clinch there but Harris circles away.
khizanishvili is looking to clinch.
Harris doesn't succeed with the takedown

and khizanishvili counters with a nice double leg into side control. Harris won't be happy with that.
khizanishvili scoring with punches from side control.
khizanishvili staying calm.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
khizanishvili wants to lay and pray for a moment but Harris keeps working.
Harris is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on khizanishvili's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Harris wants to control but khizanishvili passes into side.
Harris is breathing heavily.
Harris manages to work his way to half guard, despite khizanishvili's best efforts.
Harris should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Harris trying to control but khizanishvili postures up.

khizanishvili stands up from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

khizanishvili looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Harris looking for a kimura from the bottom but khizanishvili passes into side control!
khizanishvili works to advance to full mount. Harris defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
khizanishvili looking to control and managing it successfully.
Harris is desperately trying to improve his position but khizanishvili has a good base and remains in mount.
khizanishvili landing strikes from the mount and Harris is in trouble!

khizanishvili jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Harris manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
khizanishvili works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Harris tries to get back to half guard but can't.
khizanishvili has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Harris!
khizanishvili with good strikes from the mount here!
khizanishvili fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Harris is looking to improve his position but khizanishvili isn't that keen on the idea.
khizanishvili controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Harris tries to reverse the position but khizanishvili maintains control.
khizanishvili controlling his opponent.
Harris really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
khizanishvili controlling from the full mount.
Harris is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

antonio khizanishvili dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

khizanishvili shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Harris's guard.
khizanishvili content to stall in guard here.

Harris working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. khizanishvili doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. khizanishvili manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
khizanishvili trying to control but Harris is working from the bottom.

Harris looking for submissions from the bottom but instead khizanishvili passes into side control.

khizanishvili wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Harris, who protects the arm well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harris is trying to get back to half guard.

khizanishvili is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Harris is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
khizanishvili is looking to take a break and control but Harris is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Harris tries to bench press khizanishvili off him but khizanishvili keeps the position.
Check out the look on khizanishvili's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Harris shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and khizanishvili counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Harris's guard now.

khizanishvili got a little sloppy there for a moment and Harris has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, khizanishvili has managed to get both his arms back between Harris's legs - danger averted.
antonio khizanishvili overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

khizanishvili got a little sloppy there for a moment and Harris has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, khizanishvili has managed to get both his arms back between Harris's legs - danger averted.
khizanishvili looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
khizanishvili stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Harris swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
khizanishvili scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
khizanishvili is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
khizanishvili wants to control from the top but Harris keeps moving.

Harris has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but khizanishvili can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
khizanishvili slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Harris.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

khizanishvili gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

khizanishvili drives through with a takedown into guard.
khizanishvili controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
khizanishvili trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
khizanishvili thows a big elbow that misses.
khizanishvili trying to control but Harris is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Harris keeping full guard, as khizanishvili tries to pass.
Paul Harris has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
antonio khizanishvili is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

khizanishvili has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Harris to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! khizanishvili is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Harris pulls down on the head and he's put khizanishvili to sleep! This one is all over!

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