PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Anzor Azhiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Atok Guinahal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Azhiev
vs
Guinahal

170 cm
25
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anzor Azhiev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Atok Guinahal!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Azhiev.
Guinahal is looking for a sweep.

Azhiev is trying to get an arm triangle but Guinahal is defending well.
Azhiev knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Guinahal on the ground.
Guinahal wants to control but Azhiev postures up.
Azhiev controls the position.
Azhiev working the head with strikes.
Guinahal tries to buck Azhiev off but Azhiev is having none of it.

Azhiev swings around for an armbar but Guinahal sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Azhiev's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guinahal trying to stand up but can't free himself from Azhiev's guard.
Azhiev is looking to stand up but Guinahal isn't so interested in that idea.

Guinahal drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Guinahal jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Guinahal throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Guinahal is fighting to break Azhiev's control of his arms but Azhiev is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Azhiev might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Guinahal throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Azhiev tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guinahal wants to control from the top but Azhiev keeps moving.
Guinahal looking to pass the guard.
Azhiev is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Azhiev gets a takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Guinahal trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
The fighters are battling for position here. Guinahal manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Guinahal tries to strike from the bottom.

Azhiev drops back, looking for a kneebar! Guinahal looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Guinahal looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Guinahal!

Guinahal is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Azhiev is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Guinahal working away.
Guinahal connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Azhiev some visible discomfort.
Azhiev on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Azhiev tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Azhiev is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Guinahal tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Azhiev tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Guinahal wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Guinahal tries for a kimura but Azhiev is defending well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Azhiev tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Anzor Azhiev will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Guinahal shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Azhiev as he avoids it easily.
Azhiev lands with a slapping head kick.

Azhiev bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Azhiev postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Azhiev taking a breather here.
Azhiev working away.
Guinahal is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Azhiev is staying active.
Guinahal tries to bench press Azhiev off him but Azhiev keeps the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Azhiev tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Guinahal sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guinahal wants to get back to his feet.
Azhiev performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Anzor Azhiev.
Guinahal shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Azhiev manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Guinahal on his heels. He'll look to pass Guinahal's guard now, I'm sure.
Azhiev scoring with punches to the head and body.
Azhiev stays in close to Guinahal's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Azhiev is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Guinahal being controlled here, momentarily.
Guinahal looking to control.
Azhiev is stalling in the full 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!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Guinahal wants to sweep here but Azhiev controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Anzor Azhiev wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Azhiev moves into the clinch.
Guinahal jumps guard but Azhiev stands there with Guinahal around his waist. Guinahal gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Anzor Azhiev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Atok Guinahal.
Guinahal has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Azhiev pulls guard successfully.
Azhiev is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Azhiev lands a good elbow from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guinahal trying to control but Azhiev is working from the bottom.
Guinahal sitting in guard here, content to control.
Azhiev tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Guinahal trying to control but Azhiev is working from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Atok Guinahal hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Guinahal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Azhiev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Guinahal is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Guinahal takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anzor Azhiev dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Azhiev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Guinahal shoots in for a takedown but Azhiev shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Azhiev leaves Guinahal with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Azhiev closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Azhiev content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Guinahal has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Azhiev is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhiev is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Anzor Azhiev wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Azhiev scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Guinahal throws a left and a right that both miss

and Azhiev counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Guinahal takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Azhiev lands with a punch from half guard.

Guinahal looking for submissions off his back.
Azhiev looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Azhiev drops an elbow to the side of Guinahal's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Azhiev tries to pass the half guard into mount. Guinahal knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Azhiev slows the pace down in half guard.
Guinahal trying to control here.
Azhiev not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guinahal has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Azhiev is working away from the top position though.

We're going to have a standup here because Anzor Azhiev wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Azhiev works over Guinahal's head and body with a nice combination.
Anzor Azhiev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Guinahal tries to sprawl but Azhiev drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Guinahal is trying to control but can't.
Guinahal tries to get to full guard but Azhiev has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guinahal is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Azhiev wants to pass the guard but Guinahal is defending well.
Guinahal trying to control but Azhiev postures up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Guinahal wants to get back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Atok Guinahal wasn't active enough on the ground.
Azhiev lands a two punch combo.
Atok Guinahal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anzor Azhiev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Azhiev throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Guinahal tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Azhiev is in Guinahal's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anzor Azhiev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Azhiev has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anzor Azhiev!