PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mamed Khalidov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roy Cropper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Khalidov
vs
Cropper

200 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

186 cm
19
211 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Punishment Nutrition

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Mamed Khalidov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Roy Cropper !
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Steven Brown and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khalidov swats away the attempt to clinch by Cropper .
Cropper swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cropper throws a jab but it's blocked by Khalidov.
Cropper cracks Khalidov with a good jab.

It looks like Mamed Khalidov has been cut.
Cropper is looking to clinch.
Cropper misses with a jab, cross combination.
Khalidov lands with a kick to the temple. Cropper shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
No joy there for Cropper , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cropper tests Khalidov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Khalidov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cropper throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cropper tries to clinch up.
Cropper throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cropper leaves Khalidov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cropper tries to clinch but Khalidov moves away

and Khalidov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Cropper has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Khalidov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cropper smiles and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidov thuds his shin into the meat of Cropper 's side.
Cropper throws a combination that misses

and Khalidov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Cropper scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Cropper throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Khalidov prevents Cropper from breaking the clinch.

Khalidov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Khalidov shoots in for a takedown but Cropper shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mamed Khalidov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cropper misses with a combination
and Khalidov counters with a two punch combo.
Cropper looks gassed!
Cropper misses with a combination
and Khalidov counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Cropper is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Cropper leaves Khalidov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cropper looks to score with a jab to the body but Khalidov is just out of range.
Khalidov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cropper swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cropper misses with a double jab
and Khalidov counters with a head kick. That will keep Cropper thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov dives in and grabs Cropper 's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cropper pushes down on Khalidov's head and hops out.
Khalidov fails with a takedown attempt.
Khalidov tries to close the distance and clinch but Cropper swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cropper tries to clinch

and Khalidov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Khalidov.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Still in the clinch, Cropper scores with a nice short uppercut.
Khalidov blocks an uppercut.
Cropper is trying to break free.
Cropper wants to get back to striking at distance but Khalidov won't allow it.

Cropper jumps guard and drags Khalidov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Khalidov is working Cropper over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Khalidov cracks Cropper with a solid left hand.
Khalidov trying to control the position from guard on top but Cropper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cropper is proving hard to escape from.
Cropper is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Khalidov is controlling him.

Khalidov gets to his feet - Cropper follows without any prompting.
Khalidov dives in and grabs Cropper 's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cropper pushes down on Khalidov's head and hops out.
Cropper misses with a double jab
and Khalidov counters with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cropper misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Khalidov is looking to clinch.
Khalidov shoots in but no luck this time.
Cropper falls off balance throwing a combination
and Khalidov counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Cropper tries to clinch but Khalidov is having none of it.
Cropper throws a nice looking combination but Khalidov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Khalidov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Khalidov doesn't manage to clinch there - Cropper circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Khalidov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cropper falls off balance throwing a combination
and Khalidov counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Cropper is lucky that one didn't land flush.
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 Mamed Khalidov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mamed Khalidov's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Khalidov is looking to clinch but Cropper is avoiding it.
Roy Cropper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Khalidov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Khalidov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cropper avoids it really well and circles away.
Cropper falls off balance throwing a combination
and Khalidov counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

Khalidov darts in and clinches Cropper up against the cage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A short uppercut from Cropper .
Khalidov wants to stall.
Cropper stops a takedown attempt from Khalidov.
Khalidov tries to throw a body punch but Cropper avoids it by throwing Khalidov back against the cage.
Cropper wants to get back to striking at distance but Khalidov won't allow it.

Khalidov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cropper throws out a powerful jab.
Khalidov swats away the attempt to clinch by Cropper .
Cropper scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Khalidov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cropper pinned against the cage. Cropper gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mamed Khalidov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cropper tries to clinch but Khalidov moves out of range.
Cropper throws a one two combo.
Cropper cracks Khalidov with a good jab.
Cropper falls off balance throwing a combination
and Khalidov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cropper throws a combination that misses
and Khalidov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cropper uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Khalidov.
Khalidov lands with a slapping head kick.
Cropper circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cropper throws a left and a right that both miss
and Khalidov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Cropper closes the distance and clinches.

Khalidov ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Khalidov no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Cropper stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cropper throws a jab when Khalidov was well out of range.
Cropper takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Cropper throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Khalidov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cropper as he avoids it easily.
Some wild striking there from Cropper .
Horrible takedown by Khalidov or perhaps it was just good defense by Cropper which made him look bad.
Cropper lands a nice hook to Khalidov's body. Khalidov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Khalidov tries to clinch but Cropper is having none of it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Khalidov.
Cropper throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Khalidov.
Cropper throws an overhand right that lands on Khalidov's shoulder, as Khalidov tries to avoid the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cropper falls off balance throwing a combination

and Khalidov counters by moving into the clinch.

Khalidov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cropper falls off balance throwing a combination

and Khalidov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Cropper is looking to stand up but Khalidov isn't so interested in that idea.

Khalidov stands up from Cropper 's guard - Khalidov perhaps looking for a knockout.
Cropper swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Khalidov counters with a right hand to the body.
Cropper takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Khalidov is looking to clinch but Cropper is avoiding it.
A slow jab from Cropper misses its intended target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cropper missing with a left hand there. Khalidov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Khalidov slips a jab from Cropper .
Khalidov shoots for a takedown but Cropper saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cropper throws a left and a right that both miss
and Khalidov counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Cropper throws a one two combo.
Khalidov fails to land the takedown.
Cropper blocks a head kick by Khalidov.
Cropper throws a combination that misses
and Khalidov counters with a head kick.
Nice sprawl there from Cropper as Khalidov shoots in.
Mamed Khalidov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Khalidov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cropper defends it nicely.
Roy Cropper is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cropper misses with a double jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Roy Cropper will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Mamed Khalidov'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!

Khalidov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Cropper misses with a series of wild punches.
Khalidov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cropper .
Khalidov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Khalidov fails with a takedown attempt.
Cropper dips to his left and cracks Khalidov with an uppercut!
Khalidov throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cropper misses with a two punch combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Khalidov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Khalidov throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Cropper .
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Khalidov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cropper sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Khalidov somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidov misses with a two punch combination.
Cropper tries to clinch

and Khalidov moves into the clinch.

Khalidov successfully pulls guard.

Cropper gets to his feet - Khalidov follows without any prompting.
Khalidov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cropper sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Khalidov somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mamed Khalidov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Khalidov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cropper tries to avoid it but Khalidov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cropper to the ground. Cropper escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cropper misses with a double jab
and Khalidov counters with a one-two to the body.
Khalidov fails with a takedown attempt.
Cropper is looking to clinch but Khalidov is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cropper takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Cropper misses with a double jab
and Khalidov counters with a big head kick but Cropper shrugs it off.
Khalidov keeps the fight on the outside.
Khalidov throws a head kick that Cropper semi-blocks.
Cropper misses with a double jab
and Khalidov counters with a good low kick that Cropper was not able to check.
Khalidov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Roy Cropper seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cropper misses with a combination
and Khalidov finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Left hook, right uppercut from Cropper .
Cropper falls off balance throwing a combination
and Khalidov counters with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cropper throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Khalidov counters with a left and a right that stings Cropper .
The fighters circle momentarily. Cropper darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Cropper might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Cropper lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Cropper scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Cropper throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Khalidov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cropper tries to avoid it but Khalidov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cropper to the ground. Cropper escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cropper closes the distance looking to clinch
and Khalidov counters with a big head kick but Cropper shrugs it off.
Cropper misses with a double jab
and Khalidov counters with a head kick.
Khalidov throws a sloppy head kick and Cropper moves out of range easily.
Khalidov thuds his shin into the meat of Cropper 's side.
Cropper throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Khalidov counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Cropper is lucky that one didn't land flush.

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.
Khalidov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cropper throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cropper tries to clinch up but Khalidov circles away and keeps his distance.
Cropper throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Khalidov counters with a head kick. That will keep Cropper thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Khalidov wants to clinch but Cropper slips to the side
and Cropper counters with a straight right hand.
Nice takedown defense from Cropper . No joy for Khalidov on that attempt.
Cropper misses with a combination
and Khalidov counters with a head kick. That will keep Cropper thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Cropper misses with a body punch
and Khalidov counters with a left and a right that stings Cropper .
Cropper wants to clinch
and Khalidov makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Cropper scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Cropper misses the body punch
and Khalidov counters with a big head kick but Cropper shrugs it off.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mamed Khalidov.
I think Khalidov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mamed Khalidov!