PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rashid Magomedov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bariga Marihuanich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rashid Magomedov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Magomedov
vs
Marihuanich

176 cm
24
182 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rashid Magomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bariga Marihuanich!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Vladimir Khabensky and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Magomedov dives in and grabs Marihuanich's left leg, looking for a takedown. Marihuanich pushes down on Magomedov's head and hops out.
Magomedov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Magomedov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Marihuanich shoots in and bounces Magomedov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Marihuanich is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Magomedov keeping moving, preventing Marihuanich from controlling successfully.

Marihuanich drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Magomedov dives on top into guard.
Marihuanich bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Magomedov's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Marihuanich accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Marihuanich tries to stand but Magomedov is controlling from the bottom.
Magomedov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Marihuanich trying to control but Magomedov is working from the bottom.
Magomedov pulls Marihuanich in close to his closed guard and prevents Marihuanich from doing any damage or advancing position.

Marihuanich stands and steps away. Magomedov gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Marihuanich darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Marihuanich wants to pass to mount but Magomedov is defending the position.
Marihuanich performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Marihuanich stops Magomedov from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marihuanich controlling the pace.
Marihuanich wants to control but Magomedov is keeping him busy.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Bariga Marihuanich wasn't active enough on the ground.

Marihuanich closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Magomedov to the mat! Magomedov manages to get full guard.

Marihuanich gets to his feet - Magomedov follows without any prompting.
Marihuanich misses with a takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Magomedov fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rashid Magomedov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Magomedov is breathing heavily.

Marihuanich closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Magomedov works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Magomedov controlling from the top position.
Marihuanich working a defensive guard here.
Magomedov won't allow Marihuanich to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marihuanich is trying to keep Magomedov in close.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Bariga Marihuanich hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Marihuanich darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Magomedov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Marihuanich is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bariga Marihuanich dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Marihuanich has his takedown stuffed

and Magomedov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Magomedov is thwarting Marihuanich's attempts to control the position.
Magomedov is keen to just control but Marihuanich is a slippery customer.
Marihuanich is holding on to half guard well.
Marihuanich gets full guard.

Marihuanich has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Magomedov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Marihuanich is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Marihuanich is breathing heavily.
Magomedov wants to control from the top but Marihuanich keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Marihuanich is proving hard to escape from.
Magomedov wants to control from the top but Marihuanich keeps moving.
Bariga Marihuanich has got the better of the ground game so far.
Marihuanich looking for a sweep. Not yet Marihuanich, not yet.
Magomedov trying to control but Marihuanich is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rashid Magomedov just wasn't active enough.
Marihuanich doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Magomedov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Marihuanich wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Magomedov is keen to just control but Marihuanich is a slippery customer.
Magomedov controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marihuanich is trying to control but Magomedov passes into side control!
Magomedov trying to control the action but Marihuanich is working from the bottom.
Marihuanich stops Magomedov from passing to mount.
Marihuanich is trying to get back to half guard.
Magomedov working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Marihuanich manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Magomedov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Marihuanich on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov is refusing to be controlled, as Marihuanich sits in half guard.
Marihuanich is taking a breather. Magomedov says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Marihuanich wants to control but Magomedov is keeping him busy.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Marihuanich working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Magomedov's thigh. Magomedov counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Marihuanich looking to sit in guard and control but Magomedov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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.
Magomedov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Marihuanich is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Marihuanich had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Magomedov defends it easily.
Magomedov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashid Magomedov dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Magomedov has managed to clinch.
Marihuanich wants a takedown but no success here.
Magomedov wants to get back to striking at distance but Marihuanich won't allow it.
Good body shot from Magomedov.
Magomedov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Marihuanich.
Marihuanich tries a knee to the head but Magomedov blocks it.

Marihuanich has Magomedov pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Marihuanich pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Magomedov tumbling to the mat - Marihuanich dives into Magomedov's guard.
Magomedov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Marihuanich wants to control from the top but Magomedov keeps moving.
Marihuanich trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Marihuanich takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marihuanich preventing the sweep.
Marihuanich stops Magomedov from standing up.
Magomedov keeping moving, preventing Marihuanich from controlling successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Bariga Marihuanich wasn't active enough on the ground.
Marihuanich gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Magomedov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Marihuanich won't be happy with that.
Magomedov gets to mount! Marihuanich was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Marihuanich flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Magomedov controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marihuanich wants to control but Magomedov is having none of it.
Magomedov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Magomedov misses with a head shot.
Marihuanich is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Marihuanich wants to control but Magomedov is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Magomedov wants to finish this one by submission but Marihuanich is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Magomedov.
Marihuanich is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Marihuanich wants to control but Magomedov is having none of it.
Magomedov lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Marihuanich hang on?

Magomedov working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Magomedov lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Marihuanich hang on?
Magomedov thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Magomedov tries to control but Marihuanich wriggling away.
Marihuanich is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Marihuanich wants to control but Magomedov is having none of it.
Marihuanich wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Magomedov.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rashid Magomedov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Magomedov 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rashid Magomedov!