PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Xaliq Qurbanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vojislav Georgijevic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Qurbanov
vs
Georgijevic

178 cm
24
198 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
198 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Xaliq Qurbanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vojislav Georgijevic!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Igor Prikhodko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Qurbanov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Georgijevic quickly recovers to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Georgijevic manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Georgijevic looking for a guillotine here but Qurbanov defends easily.
Qurbanov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Qurbanov tries to free his leg and advance position but Georgijevic is retaining full guard.

Georgijevic working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Qurbanov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Qurbanov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Qurbanov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Qurbanov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Qurbanov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Qurbanov cracks Georgijevic with a solid left hand.
Qurbanov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Georgijevic's guard.
Georgijevic is trying to stand.
Qurbanov stalling.

Georgijevic looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Qurbanov wants to pass the guard but Georgijevic is defending well.
Qurbanov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Qurbanov stalling.
Qurbanov passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Georgijevic!
Qurbanov working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Georgijevic tries to hold on but Qurbanov postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Qurbanov with shots to the head and body - Georgijevic looks very uncomfortable down there.
Qurbanov with shots to the head and body - Georgijevic looks very uncomfortable down there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Qurbanov controlling the pace for now.
Georgijevic wants to hold on but Qurbanov pushes him away.
Qurbanov looking to control and managing it successfully.
Georgijevic is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Georgijevic is trying desperately to improve position.
Qurbanov controlling the position easily from mount.
Georgijevic is desperately trying to improve his position but Qurbanov has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Qurbanov controlling from the full mount.
Georgijevic tries to lock up and control but Qurbanov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Qurbanov controlling the position easily from mount.
Qurbanov raining down shots from the mount!
Georgijevic regains half guard.
Georgijevic trying to hold on to Qurbanov's head to control him but Qurbanov postures up.
Qurbanov is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Georgijevic trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Qurbanov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A jab from Qurbanov misses.
Georgijevic throws a series of punches but Qurbanov moves out of range.
Georgijevic misses with a jab, cross combination.

Qurbanov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Georgijevic's half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Qurbanov wants to work for an arm triangle but Georgijevic is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Qurbanov passes into side control, despite Georgijevic's attempt to control the position.
Qurbanov taking a breather here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xaliq Qurbanov 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.

Georgijevic misses with a double jab.

Qurbanov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Georgijevic looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Georgijevic is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Qurbanov asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Qurbanov working away.
Georgijevic tries to bench press Qurbanov off him but Qurbanov keeps the position.
Georgijevic is letting Qurbanov control him for a moment.
Georgijevic is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Qurbanov asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Georgijevic struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Qurbanov controlling from side mount.
Georgijevic is trying to get back to half guard.
Qurbanov wants to control but Georgijevic is keeping him busy.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Georgijevic tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Qurbanov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Georgijevic is letting Qurbanov control him for a moment.
Qurbanov works to advance to full mount. Georgijevic defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Georgijevic wants to hold on but Qurbanov pushes him away.
Xaliq Qurbanov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Qurbanov working for a guillotine from mount but Georgijevic is in no mood to give up.
Georgijevic wants to hold on but Qurbanov pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Qurbanov is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Georgijevic can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Qurbanov prevents Georgijevic from getting the reversal.
Qurbanov controlling the position easily from mount.
Qurbanov raining down hammerfists from mount.
Georgijevic is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Qurbanov controlling from the full mount.
Georgijevic is in a horrible position here. Qurbanov smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Qurbanov avoids the attempt from Georgijevic to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Georgijevic is working to get back to half guard.
Qurbanov looking to control but Georgijevic is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Qurbanov lands a nice shot to the head.
Qurbanov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Georgijevic slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Qurbanov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Qurbanov passes the guard and advances to mount!
Georgijevic tries to hold on but Qurbanov pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Qurbanov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Georgijevic wants to hold on but Qurbanov pushes him away.
Qurbanov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Georgijevic taking shots to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Qurbanov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xaliq Qurbanov dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Georgijevic shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Qurbanov but Qurbanov pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Qurbanov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Georgijevic's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Qurbanov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Qurbanov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Georgijevic is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Georgijevic is trying to hold Qurbanov in close to prevent damage but Qurbanov has managed to pass into half guard.
Qurbanov winds up and cracks Georgijevic with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Georgijevic is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Qurbanov pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Qurbanov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Georgijevic looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Qurbanov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Qurbanov drops an elbow to the side of Georgijevic's head.
Qurbanov slows the pace down in half guard.
Georgijevic is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Georgijevic has a hand on Qurbanov's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Qurbanov takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Georgijevic wants to hold on but Qurbanov pushes him away.
Qurbanov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Georgijevic is trying desperately to improve position.
Qurbanov controlling from the full mount.
Georgijevic taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Qurbanov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Qurbanov trying to control but Georgijevic is having none of it.
Georgijevic wants to control but Qurbanov is having none of it.
Qurbanov controlling the pace for now.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Xaliq Qurbanov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Xaliq Qurbanov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Qurbanov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Georgijevic has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Qurbanov is working away from the top position though.
Qurbanov wants to pass the guard but Georgijevic is defending well.
Qurbanov is thwarting Georgijevic's attempts to control the position.
Georgijevic tries to kick Qurbanov off but Qurbanov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Qurbanov frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Georgijevic tries to hold on but Qurbanov postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Qurbanov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Vojislav Georgijevic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Georgijevic is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xaliq Qurbanov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Qurbanov 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xaliq Qurbanov!
After the fight, Xaliq Qurbanov 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.