PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Murat Kahaladze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and AkoSii MangBert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kahaladze comes to the cage accompanied by ты кто такой. Kahaladze has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. AkoSii MangBert will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Kahaladze
vs
MangBert

170 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

192 cm
20
158 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Murat Kahaladze!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, AkoSii MangBert!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Sergei Dronov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Kahaladze. No joy for MangBert on that attempt.
MangBert fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kahaladze shoots in looking for a takedown but MangBert manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kahaladze's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Horrible takedown by MangBert or perhaps it was just good defense by Kahaladze which made him look bad.

MangBert clinches.
MangBert is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Murat Kahaladze has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of AkoSii MangBert.
Kahaladze is trying to break the clinch but MangBert is controlling him.

MangBert pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kahaladze misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Kahaladze 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.
Kahaladze is breathing heavily.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
MangBert seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Kahaladze looking to sit in guard and control but MangBert gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

MangBert decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kahaladze, up you get!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kahaladze looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kahaladze stuffs the takedown attempt from MangBert. MangBert gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Kahaladze as MangBert shoots in.
MangBert plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

MangBert gets a clinch.
MangBert is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kahaladze is defending well.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
MangBert has Kahaladze pressed against the cage, preventing Kahaladze from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
MangBert working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kahaladze gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from MangBert.
Kahaladze tries to break the clinch but MangBert is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kahaladze is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but MangBert is keeping busy.
MangBert lands an elbow that stopped Kahaladze in his tracks for a moment.

MangBert gets control of Kahaladze's arms and successfully pulls guard. MangBert will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
MangBert looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kahaladze loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
MangBert controls Kahaladze momentarily but Kahaladze frees himself.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
MangBert looking for a sweep. Not yet MangBert, not yet.

MangBert working for a triangle but Kahaladze defends it easily.
Kahaladze knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for MangBert on the ground.
Kahaladze not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
MangBert is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

MangBert is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

MangBert working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Kahaladze has passed into half guard!
MangBert punching from the bottom.
Kahaladze lands with a punch from half guard.
MangBert wants to control but Kahaladze is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kahaladze tries to pass the half guard into mount. MangBert knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
MangBert wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

MangBert kicks Kahaladze off and gets back to his feet.
Horrible takedown by Kahaladze or perhaps it was just good defense by MangBert which made him look bad.
MangBert shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kahaladze as he avoids it easily.
Kahaladze shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts MangBert as he jumps to the side.
Murat Kahaladze seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

MangBert drives through and clinches with Kahaladze against the cage.
MangBert has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kahaladze avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

MangBert manages to pull guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kahaladze's corner is telling him to maintain position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

MangBert is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kahaladze defends well.
Kahaladze trying to control but MangBert is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

AkoSii MangBert dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kahaladze shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with MangBert but MangBert pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kahaladze fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice sprawl there from Kahaladze as MangBert shoots in.

MangBert rushes Kahaladze and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kahaladze will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning MangBert up against the cage.
MangBert lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kahaladze backwards.

MangBert manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
MangBert tries to strike from the bottom.
MangBert wants to stand and escape but Kahaladze is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

MangBert is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

MangBert looking for a guillotine here but Kahaladze defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MangBert preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Kahaladze got a little sloppy there for a moment and MangBert has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kahaladze has managed to get both his arms back between MangBert's legs - danger averted.
Kahaladze is stalling in the full guard.
Kahaladze wants to stand but MangBert is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kahaladze has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
MangBert controlling Kahaladze's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kahaladze makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
AkoSii MangBert has got the better of the ground game so far.
MangBert trying to control the position.

MangBert working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kahaladze doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kahaladze manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kahaladze might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kahaladze trying to control but MangBert is working from the bottom.
MangBert striking off his back but it's not causing Kahaladze any problems.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kahaladze trying to control the position from guard on top but MangBert is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Murat Kahaladze wasn't doing enough on the ground.
MangBert shoots in but Kahaladze avoids the takedown attempt easily.

MangBert gets caught flat footed, as Kahaladze shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as MangBert holds on and takes a little breather.
Kahaladze trying to control but MangBert is working from the bottom.
MangBert trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Kahaladze lands a couple of digs.
Kahaladze wants to control from the top but MangBert keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MangBert throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
MangBert keeping moving, preventing Kahaladze from controlling successfully.
Kahaladze throws an elbow that misses. MangBert uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kahaladze's guard. Nice move by MangBert!
MangBert missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
MangBert in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kahaladze wants to sweep here but MangBert controlling him for the moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kahaladze wants to stand and escape but MangBert is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Murat Kahaladze will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

MangBert will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
No luck with that takedown attempt from MangBert.
MangBert throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Kahaladze.
MangBert with a poor takedown

and Kahaladze decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in MangBert's guard.
Kahaladze trying to control but MangBert is working from the bottom.
Kahaladze scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kahaladze stops MangBert from standing up.
Kahaladze is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kahaladze with a nice head shot there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

MangBert looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kahaladze passes into side control.
Kahaladze just content to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MangBert manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kahaladze trying to pass the guard but MangBert defending well.
MangBert trying to control here.
Kahaladze is keen to just control but MangBert is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Murat Kahaladze.
MangBert fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Murat Kahaladze has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of AkoSii MangBert.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kahaladze.
MangBert shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kahaladze pinned against the cage. Kahaladze gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
MangBert stuffs the takedown attempt from Kahaladze. Kahaladze gets slowly back to his feet.
MangBert plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kahaladze shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. MangBert defends it nicely.
MangBert closes the distance and clinches up with Kahaladze, looking for a takedown. MangBert pushes Kahaladze against the cage but Kahaladze circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
MangBert tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kahaladze sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten MangBert somewhat.
MangBert displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kahaladze.
Kahaladze has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
AkoSii MangBert seems to be getting the better of the standup.
MangBert shoots in but no luck this time.

MangBert gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kahaladze keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of MangBert's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kahaladze controlling from the top position.
MangBert keeping moving, preventing Kahaladze from controlling successfully.
Kahaladze distracts MangBert with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kahaladze landing some decent shots from guard.
MangBert is pulling down on Kahaladze's head to control his posture.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kahaladze wants to control from the top but MangBert keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kahaladze throws a big right hand that misses.

MangBert working for a triangle but Kahaladze defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Murat Kahaladze showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kahaladze 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Murat Kahaladze!
After the fight, Murat Kahaladze was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.