PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maksim Anufriev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hazni Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Anufriev
vs
Ali

183 cm
31
235 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

190 cm
33
245 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Maksim Anufriev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hazni Ali!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ali feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Anufriev working for a triangle but Ali defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Anufriev has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ali can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ali content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ali scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Anufriev looking for a guillotine here but Ali defends easily.
Anufriev keeping full guard, as Ali tries to pass.

Anufriev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ali is aware though and is defending well.
Ali content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Anufriev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Anufriev is looking for a triangle here but Ali uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali controlling the position.
Anufriev manages to get back to half guard.
Ali seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ali looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ali lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Anufriev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ground and pound from Ali.
Ali keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Anufriev on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ali working over Anufriev with some ground and pound. Anufriev looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ali lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ali scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ali trying to mount his opponent but Anufriev defends it.

Anufriev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ali is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ali is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ali looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Anufriev actively working from the bottom here.
Nice strikes from Ali there.
Anufriev on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ali working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Anufriev has hold of Ali's hands but Ali slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Anufriev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ali scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Anufriev tries to roll over but Ali keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anufriev has hold of Ali's hands but Ali slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Ali working Anufriev over with strikes.
Ali wants to lay and pray for a moment but Anufriev keeps working.
Ali content to control rather than advance.
Ali seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Anufriev makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Anufriev.
Ali controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Ali postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Anufriev escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ali gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ali working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ali wants to control from the top but Anufriev keeps moving.

Anufriev working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ali doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ali manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Anufriev is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali passes Anufriev's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ali wants to free his trapped foot but Anufriev is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ali is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ali trying to mount his opponent but Anufriev defends it.
Ali working the head and body with strikes.
Ali wants to take a breather but Anufriev is having none of it.
Nice strikes from Ali there.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Anufriev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ali winds up and cracks Anufriev with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Anufriev with the active half guard here but Ali passes nicely into side control.
Anufriev is not content to let Ali control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hazni Ali dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ali swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Anufriev counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ali won't be happy with that.

Anufriev goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Ali has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Anufriev but great work by Ali.
Ali working the ground and pound from side control.
Anufriev is looking to reverse the position.
Ali trying to control the action but Anufriev is working from the bottom.
Anufriev takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Anufriev takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Ali takes a little break here. Anufriev wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Ali wants to lay and pray for a moment but Anufriev keeps working.
Anufriev is trying to get back to half guard.
Ali in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Anufriev regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Anufriev looking for a kimura from the bottom but Ali passes into side control!
Anufriev is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ali creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Anufriev is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Anufriev gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ali looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Anufriev looking for submissions off his back.
Ali is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Anufriev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ali working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ali performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Anufriev works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hazni Ali has got the better of the ground game so far.

Anufriev looking for a guillotine here but Ali defends easily.
Ali is pushing down on Anufriev's leg trying to pass to half guard. Anufriev is fighting to maintain full guard but Ali has managed to sneak the leg through.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ali connects with a nice short shot to Anufriev's temple.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Ali working over Anufriev with some ground and pound. Anufriev looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ali is nestled in close to Anufriev, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Anufriev looking for submissions off his back.
Nice strikes from Ali there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali works his way into full mount!
Anufriev working to try and regain half guard.
Ali with shots to the head and body - Anufriev looks very uncomfortable down there.

Anufriev is rocked!

It looks like Maksim Anufriev has been cut.
Ali has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ali loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Anufriev scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Ali land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Ali stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Hazni Ali!
After winning the bout, Hazni Ali thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.