PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Khalifa Khalifa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Roussow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Khalifa comes to the cage accompanied by Random Arab Music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Khalifa
vs
Roussow

190 cm
29
205 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

210 cm
26
222 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Experienced

TWGC Champion
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Khalifa Khalifa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mike Roussow!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, John Mangel and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khalifa moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Roussow fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Khalifa on the side of the head.

Khalifa scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Roussow tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Khalifa wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Roussow takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roussow wants to control but Khalifa postures up.
Roussow is looking to regain half guard here but Khalifa keeps moving and retains side control.
Khalifa creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Roussow sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Khalifa tries to score with some ground and pound. Roussow controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Khalifa tries to advance to mount but Roussow denies him.
Roussow is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Roussow is trying to improve his position.
Roussow is trying to control Khalifa's posture but Khalifa avoids it.
Roussow is looking for a sweep.
Roussow wants to control but Khalifa postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roussow manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Roussow is trying to get back to full guard.
Khalifa lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Roussow keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Khalifa sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Roussow defending well though.
Roussow keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Khalifa throwing shots but Roussow is blocking nicely.
Roussow tries to get to full guard but Khalifa has control of the leg.
Khalifa tries to pass the half guard into mount. Roussow knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Roussow is trying to control but can't.
Khalifa lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Roussow trying to control here.
Roussow is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khalifa wants to control but Roussow is keeping him busy.
Khalifa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Roussow's head.
Roussow is pressing down on Khalifa's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Khalifa trying to control the position from guard on top but Roussow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Roussow is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Roussow is looking to take a break and control but Khalifa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Khalifa tries to kick Roussow off but Roussow keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Roussow trying to control the action but Khalifa is working from the bottom.
Roussow controlling the pace.
Roussow prevents Khalifa from standing back up.
Roussow looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mike Roussow wasn't active enough on the ground.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Khalifa turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Roussow takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Khalifa misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Roussow struggling a bit here.
Roussow is looking to regain half guard here but Khalifa keeps moving and retains side control.
Roussow is still trying to improve position.
Roussow is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Khalifa in side control lands a decent elbow.
Roussow is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Roussow is looking to control Khalifa's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Roussow avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khalifa sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Roussow defending well though.
Roussow keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Khalifa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Khalifa wants to free his trapped foot but Roussow is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Roussow is trying is best to control the position here.
Roussow is pressing down on Khalifa's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Khalifa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Roussow swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Roussow manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Khalifa manages to get himself to full guard.
Khalifa controls Roussow momentarily but Roussow frees himself.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Khalifa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Roussow showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
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 Khalifa Khalifa will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Roussow lands with a cross.

Khalifa dives in and scores a takedown into Roussow's guard.
Khalifa lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Roussow is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Khalifa is aware though and is defending well.
Khalifa works over Roussow with some ground and pound from guard.
Khalifa postures up in Roussow's guard and throws a big left but Roussow blocks it.
Khalifa trying to move into half guard but instead Roussow has managed to sweep!
Khalifa is looking to stand up but Roussow isn't so interested in that idea.
Roussow trying to control the position from guard on top but Khalifa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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!
Khalifa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Roussow tries to free his leg and advance position but Khalifa is retaining full guard.
Roussow trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Khalifa manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Khalifa has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Roussow is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Khalifa frees his head nicely. Oh but Roussow has switched to an armbar! Khalifa is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Mike Roussow!