PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Heydar Aliyev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sebastien Linne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aliyev comes to the cage accompanied by 'Let's Get It On' by Marvin Gaye. Linne has chosen Arcturus - The Chaos Path as his entrance music. 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?

Aliyev
vs
Linne

179 cm
24
160 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

170 cm
26
165 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Very quick

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Balco Boys - Hilo

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 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 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sebastien Linne!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Valeri Chadov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aliyev wants to slow Linne down by chopping away at his legs.
Linne throws a leg kick but Aliyev moved away.
Linne finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Aliyev defending well as Linne loads up on a big left hand.
Linne misses with a wild body shot.
Aliyev throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Linne misses with the combination.
Linne throws a leg kick
and Aliyev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Aliyev throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Linne sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Linne throws a low kick but it's checked well by Aliyev.
Linne throws a body punch but Aliyev moves out of range.
Linne smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Linne bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Aliyev gets caught flat footed, as Linne shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Linne wants to control from the top but Aliyev keeps moving.
Linne slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aliyev looking for a sweep. Not yet Aliyev, not yet.
Linne trying to control the position from guard on top but Aliyev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Linne is stalling in the full guard.
Aliyev keeping moving, preventing Linne from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Sebastien Linne.
A swing and a miss from Linne.

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.
Linne throws a left and a right that both miss
and Aliyev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
An inside leg kick from Linne misses.
Aliyev throws a looping overhand right but Linne ducks down to avoid it.
Linne walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Aliyev checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Linne tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Aliyev was well out of range. Poor timing from Linne.
Aliyev scores with a leg kick.
Linne uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Aliyev.
A low kick from Linne misses
and Aliyev counters with a straight right hand.
The fighters circling - Aliyev throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Linne attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Linne stuns Aliyev with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Linne misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Linne scores with a body shot.
Aliyev lands a really nice looking cross but Linne seems unphased.
Linne misses with an uppercut. Aliyev saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linne waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Aliyev.
Aliyev stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Aliyev wants it to stay on the feet.
Linne throws a head kick that misses.
Aliyev tries a low kick but Linne avoids it.
Linne feints and then cracks Aliyev's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Aliyev down.
Aliyev takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Good leg kick by Aliyev there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Linne throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
The fighters circling - Linne throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Linne shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Aliyev but Aliyev pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Heydar Aliyev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sebastien Linne.
Linne feints and then cracks Aliyev's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Aliyev down.
Heydar Aliyev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Linne dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Aliyev. That did some damage!
Aliyev throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Linne on the side of the head.
Aliyev throws a head kick but Linne moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Linne misses with a jab to the body
and Aliyev counters with a nice low kick that buckles Linne's knee momentarily.
Linne misses with an uppercut. Aliyev saw that one coming.
Aliyev throws a leg kick but Linne moved away.
Linne throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Linne just misses with a punch to the body.
Linne scoring well with a low kick there.

Aliyev moves into the clinch.
Aliyev with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Aliyev with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Aliyev working aggressively here.
Aliyev landing knees to the head.
Aliyev misses with a knee to the head.
Aliyev misses with a knee to the head.
Linne is trying to force a seperation but Aliyev has the dominant position.
Aliyev lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Linne backwards.
Linne is trying to break free.

Linne manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heydar Aliyev dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A slapping leg kick lands for Linne.
Linne throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Aliyev ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Aliyev keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Linne throws a leg kick which misses Aliyev's front leg but catches the back leg as Aliyev tries to avoid it.
Linne stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Aliyev.
Linne gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Linne misses with a body shot.
Sebastien Linne seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Linne thuds a left hand into Aliyev's body.
Aliyev is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Linne swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A good leg kick by Linne.
Aliyev is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

Linne shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Linne wants to lay and pray for a moment but Aliyev keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linne perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Linne is looking to advance position but Aliyev won't allow it.
Aliyev makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Aliyev.
Linne is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Let's hope that Linne has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Sebastien Linne.
A shot to the body from Linne misses
and Aliyev counters with a good low kick that Linne was not able to check.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linne tries to score with a low kick but Aliyev moves his leg out of the way.
Aliyev avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Linne misses with a jab to the body
enabling Aliyev to counter with a crisp jab.
Linne fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Aliyev checks it well.
Linne throws a sloppy body shot
and Aliyev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Linne misses with a body shot.
Aliyev moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Aliyev throws a head kick that misses.
Linne wants to slow Aliyev down by chopping away at his legs.
Linne is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Aliyev rather than just go for the knockout.
Linne throws a leg kick
and Aliyev makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Aliyev lands with a thumping leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Linne throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Linne looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Aliyev lands with a thumping leg kick.
Linne is breathing heavily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Linne.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linne shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Aliyev as he jumps to the side.
Linne looks for a takedown but Aliyev sprawls well.
Aliyev takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Aliyev looks to land a combination. Linne sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Linne throws a leg kick that is checked
and Aliyev counters with a nice body kick.
Linne throws a hook but Aliyev blocks it.
Linne throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Aliyev throws a good cross that connects.
Linne misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Aliyev counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Aliyev moves into range and clinches up with Linne.
Aliyev is struggling to control the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev scores with a shot to the side of Linne's head.
Aliyev tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Linne's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Linne swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Aliyev to counter with a crisp jab.
Aliyev slips a straight right by Linne.

Aliyev gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Aliyev leaning against his opponent.
Linne is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Aliyev tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Aliyev connects with a knee to the head.
Aliyev leaning against his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aliyev lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Linne blocks an uppercut.
Linne takes a knee to the side of the body.
Aliyev lands a good knee to the midsection. Linne won't want to take too many of those.
Aliyev lands with a short punch from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heydar Aliyev 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.

Aliyev scores with a jab.
Aliyev misses with a low kick.
Aliyev shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Aliyev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Linne throws a leg kick that is checked
and Aliyev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Linne just misses with a punch to the body.
Linne misses the shot to the body.
Linne throws out a loose jab but Aliyev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Linne scores with a crisp jab that stopped Aliyev in his tracks.
Linne shoots and misses
and Aliyev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Heydar Aliyev is winning the standup battle so far.
Linne takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Linne misses with a takedown attempt
and Aliyev counters with a nice body kick.
Linne takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Linne walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Aliyev lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Linne at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aliyev throws a leg kick but Linne moved away.
Aliyev avoids the body shot from Linne.
Linne is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Linne fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Aliyev manages to avoid it.

Aliyev closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Aliyev trying to land knees to the body.
Linne working hard to break the clinch.
Aliyev using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Linne has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Aliyev throws a knee to the head but misses.
Aliyev misses with a knee to the head.
Aliyev works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Aliyev lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Linne backwards.
Aliyev lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Aliyev stalling.
Aliyev tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Linne tries to pull guard but Aliyev won't allow it.
Heydar Aliyev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sebastien Linne.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Linne escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Linne throws a looping overhand right but Aliyev ducks down to avoid it.
Linne misses with a wild body shot.
Linne clobbers Aliyev with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Linne swings away with a body shot that misses
and Aliyev counters with a thumping low kick.
Linne throws out a loose jab but Aliyev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Linne dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Aliyev tests Linne's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Aliyev tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Aliyev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Aliyev with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Linne to score with a decent uppercut.
A low kick from Linne misses
letting Aliyev counter with a right hand.
Aliyev tries to clinch but Linne moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linne cracks a nice hook into Aliyev's ribs.
A low kick from Linne is predictable there
and Aliyev counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Linne misses with a body shot
and Aliyev counters with a body kick that stops Linne in his tracks momentarily.
Aliyev clobbers Linne with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Linne fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The fighters circling - Linne throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aliyev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aliyev throws a leg kick which misses Linne's front leg but catches the back leg as Linne tries to avoid it.
Aliyev waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Linne.
Aliyev uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Linne throws a nice outside leg kick.
Linne sizes up Aliyev with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Linne throws a low kick but Aliyev avoids it.
Linne throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Aliyev avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Linne lands a nice shot to the body.
Linne fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Aliyev tries to close the distance and clinch but Linne swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Aliyev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Linne was well out of range. Poor timing from Aliyev.
Aliyev chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Aliyev lands a body shot.
A good leg kick by Aliyev.
Linne scores with a leg kick.
Linne avoids a punch combination nicely.
Linne throws a leg kick that is checked
letting Aliyev counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heydar Aliyev clearly takes that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Linne tries to work over Aliyev's front leg with a kick but Aliyev checks it.
Aliyev thumps Linne with a low kick.
Aliyev slips under a jab.
A slow jab from Linne misses its intended target.
Linne thows a leg kick but Aliyev checks it
and Aliyev counters with a stiff right hand.
Linne has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A nice inside leg kick there by Aliyev. That's going to slow Linne down.
Linne pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Linne throws a leg kick
and Aliyev counters with a nice uppercut.
Linne misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Aliyev checks a low kick from Linne.
Linne walks into a straight right hand from Aliyev.
A nice inside leg kick there by Aliyev. That's going to slow Linne down.
Linne ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A looping hook to the body misses from Linne. Aliyev does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aliyev thuds a left hand into Linne's body.
Linne is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Aliyev avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Linne misses with a leg kick
and Aliyev counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Aliyev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Linne can do to turn this around?
Linne misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Aliyev counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Aliyev closes the distance and pushes Linne back into the cage.
Aliyev stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Aliyev misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Linne.
Aliyev lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Linne.
Aliyev connects with a nasty looking knee right to Linne's face.
Aliyev crunches a lovely knee into Linne's ribcage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Aliyev.
A right hand to the body from Aliyev.
Linne being controlled against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Linne has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Linne slowing the pace effectively.
Aliyev lands a good knee to the midsection. Linne won't want to take too many of those.
Aliyev lands a nice knee to the body.
Aliyev working Linne over with knees to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Aliyev is leaning against Linne and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Aliyev.
Linne is trying to break free.
Linne takes a knee right on the jaw!
Aliyev landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Aliyev scores with a hook to the body.
Aliyev connects with a nasty looking knee right to Linne's face.
Aliyev tries a knee to the head but Linne blocks it.
Come on Aliyev - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev tries a knee to the head but Linne blocks it.
Linne looking to stall.
Aliyev has Linne pressed against the cage, preventing Linne from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Aliyev scores with a hook to the body.
Linne tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Aliyev just stands there and leans against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Linne.

Linne breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Aliyev swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Aliyev has Linne up against the cage in a clinch.
Aliyev has Linne pushed against the cage.
Aliyev looking to throw knees to the head but Linne is blocking nicely.

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.
Linne has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Aliyev tries a knee to the head but Linne blocks it.
Aliyev scores with a hook to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Aliyev.
Aliyev lands a body shot.
Aliyev tries to land knees in the clinch but Linne avoids the damage to the body.
Aliyev tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Aliyev tries to land a knee to the head but Linne blocks with his arms.
Aliyev lands a knee to the head.
Aliyev keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Linne's efforts to push away.

Linne manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Linne is trying to control the position but Aliyev postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heydar Aliyev had his way with Sebastien Linne in that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Aliyev throws a jab but it's blocked by Linne.
Linne throws a low kick, looking for Aliyev's leg but Aliyev calmly moves out of range.
Linne throws a leg kick
and Aliyev counters with a stiff right hand.
Aliyev fails with an attempt to clinch.
Linne lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Aliyev blocks a jab.
Aliyev with a nice cross.
Linne cracks a nice hook into Aliyev's ribs.
Linne dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A low kick from Linne is predictable there
and Aliyev counters with a nice body shot.
A lazy body kick from Linne
and Aliyev counters with a stiff right hand.
Linne connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Aliyev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Linne.
Linne scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Aliyev doesn't seem bothered though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linne works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Linne fakes the leg kick and cracks Aliyev in the body.
Linne keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Aliyev loads up on a big right hand but Linne slips the punch.
An inside leg kick lands from Linne.
Linne turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Linne misses with a body punch
and Aliyev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Aliyev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A low kick from Linne is predictable there
and Aliyev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Linne connects with a single shot there.
Linne bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Aliyev's head backwards.

Aliyev darts in and clinches Linne up against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Linne as Aliyev tries to tie him up.
Sebastien Linne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linne managing to block the knees to the body from Aliyev.
Linne avoiding damage as Aliyev throws knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Aliyev.
Aliyev misses with a knee strike.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Aliyev tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Linne escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Aliyev walks forward, straight into a front kick from Linne.
Linne tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Aliyev is able to avoid easily.
Linne chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Linne with a jab.
Linne throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Linne misses with a low kick.
Aliyev moves out of range as Linne throws a body kick.
Linne waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Aliyev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linne misses the body punch
and Aliyev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Linne fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Aliyev throws a nice inside leg kick.
Aliyev looks to score with a jab to the body but Linne is just out of range.
Linne cracks Aliyev with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A solid leg kick lands there for Aliyev.
Linne will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Aliyev looks to score with a jab to the body but Linne is just out of range.
Linne throws a head kick that misses.

Aliyev gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Aliyev lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Linne backwards.
Linne jumps guard but Aliyev stands there with Linne around his waist. Linne gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Linne blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Aliyev tries to land a knee to the head but Linne blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Linne fails to land.
Aliyev is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Aliyev tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Linne is trying to maintain a safe position but Aliyev gets an underhook and turns Linne into the cage.
Linne tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Heydar Aliyev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sebastien Linne.
Aliyev is trying to maintain a safe position but Linne gets an underhook and turns Aliyev into the cage.
Aliyev throws a knee to the head but misses.
Linne doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Aliyev looking to throw knees to the head but Linne is blocking nicely.
Aliyev displaying some good clinch control by pressing Linne up against the cage.
Linne wants to stall.
Heydar Aliyev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Linne doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Linne misses with a punch on the inside.
Linne presses Aliyev against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Linne works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sebastien Linne.
I think Aliyev 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 49:46
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 49:46
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Heydar Aliyev!