PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Heydar Aliyev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Olli Kuhta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Aliyev might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to 'Let's Get It On' by Marvin Gaye. Kuhta has chosen Break Out as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Aliyev
vs
Kuhta

179 cm
34
160 lbs
25 - 7 - 3

170 cm
33
160 lbs
11 - 16 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 25 - 7 - 3, fighting out of St Petersburg, Heydar Aliyev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Olli Kuhta!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuhta doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Aliyev throws a head kick that misses.

Kuhta rushes Aliyev and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Kuhta breaks from the clinch.

Kuhta has Aliyev up against the cage in a clinch.
Kuhta drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Aliyev gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Aliyev works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Aliyev lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kuhta backwards.
Aliyev keeps control of Kuhta as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kuhta misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Kuhta gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Aliyev is looking to escape.
Aliyev is positioning himself well to prevent Kuhta advancing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuhta wants to control but Aliyev is keeping him busy.

Kuhta is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Aliyev is staying active underneath Kuhta, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Aliyev desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Aliyev. No joy for Kuhta on that attempt.
Aliyev connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kuhta's hands.
Kuhta blocks a head kick by Aliyev.
Nice body kick from Kuhta.

Kuhta looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Aliyev makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Decent striking displayed by Aliyev there.
Aliyev closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Some wild striking there from Kuhta.

Kuhta gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuhta is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Aliyev has Kuhta pressed against the cage, preventing Kuhta from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kuhta is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Aliyev.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Aliyev.
Aliyev connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kuhta's face.
A nice right hand lands inside from Aliyev.
Nice elbow from Aliyev.
Aliyev lands a nice knee to the body.
Aliyev blocking some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev lands a body shot in the clinch.
Aliyev lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kuhta backwards.
Aliyev lands a left hand.
Aliyev softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Aliyev.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aliyev keeps control of Kuhta as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kuhta is trying to push Aliyev away but Aliyev has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kuhta is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Aliyev is keeping busy.
A short right from Aliyev on the inside.
Aliyev lands on the inside with an uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aliyev with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Aliyev lands a knee to the body.
Aliyev softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Aliyev stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heydar Aliyev dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Aliyev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kuhta throws a wild body kick that Aliyev sees coming a mile off.

Kuhta clinches with his opponent.
Aliyev goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Aliyev is leaning against Kuhta and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kuhta is trying to force a seperation but Aliyev has the dominant position.
Knees to the body from Aliyev.
Heydar Aliyev has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Aliyev is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Kuhta is trying to pull guard but Aliyev has him pressed against the cage.
Kuhta working hard to break the clinch.
Aliyev lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kuhta backwards.
Aliyev cracks Kuhta with a nice body shot.
Aliyev is working Kuhta over against the cage.
Kuhta misses with a body punch.
A knee to the head by Aliyev.

It looks like Olli Kuhta has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aliyev works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Kuhta is breathing heavily.
Kuhta tries a body shot but Aliyev blocks it.
Kuhta throws an elbow but it misses.
Aliyev lands a body shot.
Aliyev lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kuhta backwards.
A right hand to the body from Aliyev.
A left hand lands to the body for Aliyev.
Aliyev lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kuhta backwards.
A body shot lands from Aliyev.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kuhta takes a shot to the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Aliyev lands a nice uppercut.
Nice body punch from Aliyev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev lands a nice uppercut.
Aliyev holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Aliyev.
Aliyev utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Aliyev works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Aliyev throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Knees in the clinch landing for Aliyev.
A short body shot lands from Aliyev as the two fighters clinch.
Aliyev lands with a light punch inside.
Aliyev utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Aliyev will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kuhta up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev lands a body shot.
Aliyev lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kuhta backwards.
Aliyev scores a nice knee to the body.
Aliyev blocks an elbow strike.
Aliyev lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Aliyev throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kuhtas head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Aliyev creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Aliyev stalling the fight.
Aliyev connects with a knee to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Aliyev.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev lands a hook that snaps the head of Kuhta backwards.
Aliyev holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Aliyev lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kuhta.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Aliyev lands a nice knee to the body.
A short right from Aliyev on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Aliyev.
Nice elbow from Aliyev.
Stalling in the clinch from Aliyev.
Aliyev gets through Kuhta's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Aliyev utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Aliyev lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kuhta backwards.
Aliyev scores with an uppercut up the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heydar Aliyev dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Olli Kuhta's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Aliyev closes the distance and clinches.
Aliyev gets through Kuhta's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Aliyev tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kuhta is trying to stall.
Kuhta misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Aliyev.
Aliyev lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Aliyev scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A short right from Aliyev on the inside.
Aliyev is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Aliyev holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Kuhta takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kuhta tries to circle away but Aliyev has him pinned against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aliyev lands a nice uppercut.
Aliyev presses Kuhta against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kuhta takes a knee right on the jaw!
A right hook to the body lands for Aliyev.
Aliyev lands a body punch in the clinch.
Aliyev lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Aliyev lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Aliyev is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Aliyev content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Aliyev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kuhta can do to turn this around?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A right hook to the body lands for Aliyev.
Aliyev is stalling here.
Aliyev lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Aliyev lands with a left to the head.
Aliyev throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev crunches a lovely knee into Kuhta's ribcage.
Aliyev stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Aliyev lands with a light punch inside.
Aliyev lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Good body shot from Aliyev.
Kuhta stalling in the clinch but Aliyev improves position.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Aliyev.
Aliyev lands an elbow just above Kuhta 's eye.
Aliyev gets through Kuhta's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A short body shot lands from Aliyev as the two fighters clinch.
Aliyev scores with a nice hook to the head.
Aliyev lands an elbow just above Kuhta 's eye.
Aliyev presses Kuhta against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Aliyev cracks Kuhta with a nice body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev lands a good knee to the midsection. Kuhta won't want to take too many of those.
Aliyev lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Aliyev lands a shot to the body.
Aliyev pushes Kuhta back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Aliyev connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kuhta's face.
A nice left hand lands by Aliyev.
Aliyev scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Aliyev displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kuhta up against the cage.
Aliyev lands a knee to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Aliyev.
A short right from Aliyev.
A body shot lands from Aliyev.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev lands a knee to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aliyev pushes Kuhta back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Aliyev landing knees to the head.
Nice body punch from Aliyev - that landed with a thud.
Aliyev pushes Kuhta back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Aliyev stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Aliyev.
Good body shot from Aliyev.
A short left from Aliyev.
Heydar Aliyev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kuhta is trying to break the clinch but Aliyev has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kuhta tries to break free but Aliyev pushes him back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Heydar Aliyev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Aliyev, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:26
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:25
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Heydar Aliyev!
Heydar Aliyev seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.