PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Khalifman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Trevor Tuffs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tuffs has chosen Korn Blind as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Khalifman
vs
Tuffs

185 cm
27
190 lbs
20 - 5 - 1

180 cm
31
190 lbs
16 - 25 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Powerful

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 20 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Khalifman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Trevor Tuffs!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tuffs shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tuffs keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Tuffs checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Tuffs will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tuffs doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Khalifman counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Alexander Khalifman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Trevor Tuffs.
Khalifman wants to land a leg kick but Tuffs is out of range.
Khalifman connects with a body shot that sends Tuffs's belly button to the back.
Tuffs looks for a takedown but Khalifman sprawls well.
Khalifman throws a leg kick

and Tuffs counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Tuffs looks gassed!
This has been an exciting period of action!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Tuffs is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Khalifman sees it coming and defends easily.
Khalifman controlling the position well.
Khalifman has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tuffs is working away from the top position though.
Khalifman controlling the position well.

Tuffs is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Khalifman sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tuffs is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Khalifman is just riding it out for now. Tuffs eventually gives up the hold.
Khalifman is looking for a sweep. Tuffs is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Khalifman is working hard here to advance position.
Khalifman moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Tuffs thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Khalifman is trying to control the position but Tuffs postures up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tuffs's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tuffs is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Khalifman is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Khalifman has escaped and now he's on top!

Tuffs escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Khalifman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Khalifman not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tuffs has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Khalifman can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Khalifman's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Khalifman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Khalifman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Tuffs keeping moving, preventing Khalifman from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalifman controlling from the top position.

Tuffs is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Khalifman is aware though and is defending well.

Tuffs has an active guard here but Khalifman has managed to pass into half guard.
Khalifman is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Khalifman is keen to just control but Tuffs is a slippery customer.

Tuffs looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Tuffs has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Khalifman escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Khalifman!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tuffs manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Khalifman is looking for a sweep. Tuffs is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Khalifman is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tuffs's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tuffs's back!
Tuffs is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Tuffs manages to reverse the position and now he's in Khalifman's guard. Nice work there by Tuffs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Khalifman wants to sweep but no luck.
Khalifman working a defensive guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tuffs with a flurry of punches that miss.
Khalifman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tuffs wants to pass the guard but Khalifman is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Trevor Tuffs will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tuffs shoots and misses
and Khalifman makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Khalifman throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Tuffs fails with a takedown attempt.
Khalifman throws a leg kick but Tuffs sees it coming and moves out of range.
Khalifman connects with a solid leg kick.
Khalifman darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Tuffs has his takedown stuffed
and Khalifman counters with a good low kick that Tuffs was not able to check.
Alexander Khalifman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Trevor Tuffs.
Khalifman throws a leg kick which misses Tuffs's front leg but catches the back leg as Tuffs tries to avoid it.
Khalifman cracks the inside of Tuffs's front leg.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A leg kick checked by Tuffs.
A solid leg kick lands there for Khalifman.
Tuffs chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Khalifman can pounce on him.
Khalifman throws a leg kick which misses Tuffs's front leg but catches the back leg as Tuffs tries to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalifman digs a good hook to Tuffs's body.
Tuffs is breathing heavily.
Tuffs tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Khalifman misses with a low kick.
Khalifman looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Khalifman cracks Tuffs with a right hand to the side of the head.
Khalifman scores with a nice right hand.
Tuffs misses with a takedown attempt
and Khalifman counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Khalifman moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Tuffs checks a leg kick nicely.
Tuffs's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Khalifman misses with a low kick.
Khalifman stuns Tuffs with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Tuffs moves out of range of the leg kick from Khalifman.
Khalifman misses with a low kick.
Khalifman stuffs the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khalifman connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Tuffs momentarily.
Khalifman scores with a leg kick.
Khalifman with a nice cross.
Khalifman throws a low kick, looking for Tuffs's leg but Tuffs calmly moves out of range.
Tuffs shoots and misses
and Khalifman counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Khalifman looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Khalifman drops a shoulder and throws an uppercut that cracks Tuffs right on the button. Tuffs goes down! Khalifman follows him to the mat and finishes the job with more strikes! Khalifman gets the win via TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alexander Khalifman!
After winning the bout, Alexander Khalifman thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.