PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Borris Khalidov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Venice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Borris Khalidov has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Khalidov
vs
Venice

190 cm
22
217 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

200 cm
21
222 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Powerful

Pegasus 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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Borris Khalidov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Max Venice!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Fedor Mirinova and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Venice gets caught napping as Khalidov dives in and scores a takedown. Venice manages to retain guard.
Khalidov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Khalidov is fighting to break Venice's control of his arms but Venice is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Venice is trying to control the position but Khalidov postures up.
Khalidov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Venice is keeping the position for now.
Venice avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Khalidov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Khalidov throws a big right hand that misses.
Khalidov chips away with some ground and pound.
Venice working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Khalidov.
Khalidov sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Venice works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Khalidov trying to move into half guard but instead Venice has managed to sweep!
Venice prevents Khalidov from getting back to his feet.
Venice stopping the sweep attempt from Khalidov.
Khalidov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Khalidov tries to get out of the position.

Khalidov wriggles free and stands up.
Venice throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Venice lands with a shot to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Venice as Khalidov shoots in.
Venice tries to score with a low kick but Khalidov moves his leg out of the way.
Venice fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Khalidov.
Khalidov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Venice can pounce on him.
Venice tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Khalidov was well out of range. Poor timing from Venice.
Khalidov looks for a takedown but Venice sprawls well.
Khalidov defending well as Venice loads up on a big left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
An inside leg kick lands from Venice.
Venice pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Venice gets a clinch.
Venice working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Khalidov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Venice pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Borris Khalidov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Khalidov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Khalidov gets a takedown into half guard.
Venice looks like he's trying to stand up.

Khalidov is looking for a kimura but Venice is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Khalidov to get the leverage.
Nice strikes from Khalidov there.
Venice avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Khalidov.
Venice is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Max Venice will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Venice defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Khalidov.
Venice misses with a kick to the body.
Venice throws a leg kick which misses Khalidov's front leg but catches the back leg as Khalidov tries to avoid it.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Khalidov.
Khalidov prevents Venice from escaping the position.

Khalidov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Venice knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Venice wants to control but Khalidov postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Khalidov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Venice parries the strikes from Khalidov easily there. Khalidov is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Venice to escape.
Khalidov misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Venice is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Khalidov has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Khalidov sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Venice is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Khalidov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Venice keeps working.

That's two 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 is putting a hurting on Venice here, landing some big shots from side control.
The ground and pound from Khalidov seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Khalidov trying to control the action but Venice is working from the bottom.
Khalidov lands some shots froms side control.
Venice wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Khalidov scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov working the head with strikes.
The ground and pound from Khalidov seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Khalidov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Khalidov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Venice tries to buck Khalidov off but Khalidov is having none of it.
Venice is breathing heavily.
Sloppy strikes there by Khalidov.
The strikes coming from Khalidov are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Khalidov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Venice keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Venice tries to escape but Khalidov is in control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Khalidov trying to control the action but Venice is working from the bottom.
Khalidov in side control lands a decent elbow.

Khalidov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Venice, who protects the arm well.
Venice is pushing Khalidov's head away, looking to escape. Khalidov manages to hold on to the position though.
Khalidov tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Borris Khalidov 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!

Khalidov takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Khalidov has his takedown stuffed
and Venice counters with a nice uppercut.
Khalidov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Khalidov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Venice's guard.
Borris Khalidov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Khalidov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Venice works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Khalidov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Khalidov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Khalidov trying to control the position from guard on top but Venice is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Venice wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Khalidov is now in half guard.
Khalidov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Venice keeps working.
Venice on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Khalidov is pressing down on Venice's thigh, looking to free his foot. Venice is holding on for now.
Khalidov stops Venice from getting back to his feet.
Venice takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two 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.
Khalidov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Khalidov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Venice looks like he's trying to stand up.
Khalidov throwing shots but Venice is blocking nicely.
Khalidov wants to take a breather but Venice is having none of it.
Khalidov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Khalidov not doing much here.
Khalidov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov wants to free his trapped foot but Venice is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Khalidov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Khalidov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Venice blocking the ground and pound attempt from Khalidov.
Khalidov is trying to control. Venice wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Khalidov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Venice knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Khalidov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Venice with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Khalidov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Khalidov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Khalidov wants to free his trapped foot but Venice is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Khalidov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Venice's head.
Khalidov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Khalidov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Venice has managed to free his arm - good work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Borris Khalidov showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28

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