PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Azamat Bagatov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damien Thor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bagatov comes to the cage accompanied by USSR ANTHEM IN ENGLISH. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bagatov
vs
Thor

180 cm
24
220 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
215 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Azamat Bagatov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Damien Thor!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bagatov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thor manages to avoid it.
Bagatov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bagatov scores with a sloppy right hand. Thor should have avoided that one.

Thor feints and as Bagatov raises his hands in defense, Thor changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Thor being controlled here momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thor showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Thor throwing strikes but missing.
Bagatov is looking to sweep but instead, Thor has passed into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thor is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bagatov is looking to improve his position.
Bagatov keeping hold of Thor's head, controlling as best he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bagatov trying to control here.
Thor moves nicely into side control.

Thor is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Bagatov has escaped the position, nice work there.
Thor taking a break here but Bagatov is having none of it and regains half guard.

Thor is trying to work for a kimura but Bagatov is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bagatov is looking to improve his position.
Bagatov is working hard here to advance position.

Bagatov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bagatov wants to improve his position but Thor is controlling well.

That's four 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bagatov scores with a jab to the body.
Thor fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bagatov swinging wilding here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bagatov looks to land a left hand but Thor moved out of range nicely.
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 Azamat Bagatov will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bagatov misses with the combination.
Azamat Bagatov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thor tries to clinch there but Bagatov circles away.

Thor closes the distance and clinches.

Bagatov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thor closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bagatov circles away.
Bagatov cracks Thor with a good jab.

It looks like Damien Thor has been cut.
A cross from Bagatov lands.
Thor shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bagatov but Bagatov pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thor changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bagatov tries to avoid it but Thor manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bagatov to the ground. Bagatov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Azamat Bagatov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damien Thor.
Nice cross by Bagatov.
Thor closes the distance and clinches up with Bagatov, looking for a takedown. Thor pushes Bagatov against the cage but Bagatov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bagatov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bagatov throws the left hand but Thor avoids the punch easily.
Thor moves out of range as Bagatov strikes.
Bagatov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thor circles away quickly and effectively.
Bagatov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bagatov slaps away a takedown attempt from Thor, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bagatov misses with a straight right.
Thor moves out of range of the strikes.
Thor shoots in but no luck this time.
Thor slips a jab and a cross from Bagatov.
Thor moves away from the strike by Bagatov.
Thor tries to close the distance and clinch but Bagatov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bagatov misses the shot to the body.
Thor throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bagatov's waist but Bagatov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thor off to one side.

Thor gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Thor has Bagatov pressed against the cage, preventing Bagatov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Bagatov slows down the pace here.
Bagatov misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Bagatov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bagatov fails to land with a series of punches.

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.
Thor staying out of range there.
Bagatov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thor tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bagatov swivels and escapes.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Thor misses with a takedown attempt - Bagatov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bagatov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thor shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bagatov pinned against the cage. Bagatov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bagatov misses with a wild combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Azamat Bagatov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Damien Thor's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Bagatov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A swing and a miss from Bagatov.
Bagatov misses with a wild combination.
Thor slips a straight right by Bagatov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
No luck for Thor with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thor shoots in but Bagatov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bagatov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Thor counters with a right hand to the body.
Thor shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bagatov counters with a stiff right hand.
Azamat Bagatov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damien Thor.
Thor moves out of range of the strikes.
Thor with a poor takedown
and Bagatov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bagatov misses with a double jab

and Thor counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Bagatov!
Bagatov tries to lock up and control but Thor gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Thor jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Bagatov manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Bagatov tries to bench press Thor off him but Thor keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bagatov gets back to half guard.
Thor prevents Bagatov from improving his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Thor with a lazy takedown attempt
and Bagatov counters with a left to the body.
Damien Thor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thor takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Bagatov just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bagatov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Thor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Bagatov, as that shot connected.
Thor with a lazy takedown attempt
and Bagatov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
No joy there for Bagatov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thor slips a jab from Bagatov.
Bagatov throws a left and a right that both miss

and Thor counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thor trying to control the action but Bagatov is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Azamat Bagatov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bagatov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Azamat Bagatov!