PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Amir Khan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Aata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Amir Khan has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Khan
vs
Aata

175 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

194 cm
21
186 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Amir Khan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Robert Aata!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, John Mangel and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aata pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Aata clinches with his opponent.
Aata lands a knee to the head.
Khan is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Aata pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Aata lands a good knee to the midsection. Khan won't want to take too many of those.

Aata breaks from the clinch.
Aata throws a head kick that misses.
Khan circles away from the clinch attempt.

Aata has Khan up against the cage in a clinch.
Khan is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Aata gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Aata manages to break the clinch.
Aata fails in his attempt to clinch.
Aata tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Khan decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Aata's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Khan drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Aata dives on top into guard.
Aata is looking to stand up but Khan won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Khan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Aata can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Khan wants to sweep here but Aata controlling him for the moment.
Aata really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Khan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Khan working for a triangle but Aata defends it easily.
Khan wants to get back to his feet but Aata is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aata is looking to stand up but Khan won't let him.
Khan looking to control.
Khan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Khan is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Khan wants to pass to mount but Aata is defending the position.
Khan is trying to control the action in half guard but Aata is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khan slows the pace down in half guard.

Amir Khan has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A right-left combo lands from Aata.
Robert Aata seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Khan shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Khan was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Khan tries to control but Aata wriggling away.

Khan is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Aata can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aata bucks Khan off and manages to get back to his feet!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Khan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Amir Khan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aata stuffs the takedown.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aata looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aata throws a head kick that half lands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Aata closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Aata escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Aata misses with a double jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Khan gets tackled into the cage by Aata. Aata maintains the clinch.
Khan tries to score a body lock takedown but Aata shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Aata looking to throw knees to the head but Khan is blocking nicely.

Aata breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Aata gets a clinch.
Khan has Aata pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Aata manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Aata obliges.

Aata breaks from the clinch.
Aata tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Khan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Aata fakes the leg kick and cracks Khan in the body.
Aata throws a head kick that misses.

Khan drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Khan keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Aata's head.
Aata keeping moving, preventing Khan from controlling successfully.
Khan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Aata can do anything to dispel that myth.

Khan has gone for a leg lock! Aata slips out almost immediately though and dives into Khan's guard.

Khan has his foot on Aata's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Aata works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Khan trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khan manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Aata trying desperately to get to his feet.
Khan looking to control but Aata is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Aata is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khan connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aata is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Khan controlling the pace for now.
Aata holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Khan tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Khan trying to control but Aata is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khan takes Aata's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Aata is in trouble.
Will Khan go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Aata fending off the submission attempt from Khan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Amir Khan 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!

Aata takes the fight into the clinch.
Aata gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Khan.
Aata tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Khan changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Aata fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Aata throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Khan's head.
Aata connects with a solid leg kick.
No luck for Khan with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Amir Khan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aata lands a head kick that stumbles Khan and the fighters go to the mat.

Khan is rocked!
Aata tries to stand but Khan is controlling from the bottom.
Oh Khan is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Aata wants to stand and escape but instead Khan has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Khan seems to have got his legs back now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Khan is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Aata is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Aata has escaped and now he's on top!
Aata wants to stand but Khan has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khan wants to improve his position but instead Aata has moved into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Khan is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khan keeping control of the position.
Aata tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Khan.
Khan trying to control here.
Aata wants to stand up but Khan manages to regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Khan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Khan controls Aata momentarily but Aata frees himself.

Khan has his foot on Aata's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Aata works his way back into a safe position though.
Aata wants to stand and escape but instead Khan has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Khan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert Aata comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Aata has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert Aata!