PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Emir Hajimurad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Spoon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hajimurad
vs
Spoon

175 cm
21
142 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
108 lbs
1 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Emir Hajimurad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, James Spoon!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Edson Gomes and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spoon connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Spoon moves in looking to clinch but Hajimurad pushes him off.
Hajimurad throws an off balance right hand
and Spoon counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
No joy there for Spoon, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Spoon throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Hajimurad's head.
Hajimurad tries to bum rush Spoon with a series of wild strikes but Spoon uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hajimurad misses with a lunging right hand
and Spoon counters with a series of strikes. Hajimurad will be more careful next time no doubt.
Hajimurad swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hajimurad tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Spoon is able to avoid easily.
Hajimurad misses with a straight left.
Hajimurad throws a hook but Spoon blocks it.

Spoon closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hajimurad has his hands clasped together around Spoon's back. He's all about the action.
Hajimurad is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hajimurad manages to get to full guard.

Hajimurad looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Spoon passes into side control.
You can see the frustration on Hajimurad's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Spoon wants to stand but Hajimurad has his arm trapped.
Hajimurad tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Spoon presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Hajimurad is squirming around, avoiding Spoon's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hajimurad is looking to get to half guard.
Hajimurad regains half guard.
Spoon wants to take a breather but Hajimurad is having none of it.

Spoon is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hajimurad is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Warrior BJJ and Fitness, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Hajimurad is concentrating on defense, preventing Spoon from advancing position.

Spoon is looking for a kimura here.
Hajimurad is trying is best to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hajimurad is not content to let Spoon control the position.
Hajimurad is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hajimurad manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Spoon wants to control from the top but Hajimurad keeps moving.
Hajimurad is adopting a defensive guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hajimurad throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spoon wants to pass the guard but Hajimurad is keeping the position.
Hajimurad wants to sweep here but Spoon controlling him for the moment.
Hajimurad bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Spoon's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hajimurad stops Spoon from standing up.
Hajimurad passes Spoon's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emir Hajimurad dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hajimurad chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Spoon can pounce on him.

Spoon shoots in and gets a takedown into Hajimurad's guard.
Spoon trying to move into half guard but instead Hajimurad has managed to sweep!
Hajimurad controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Spoon not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hajimurad preventing the sweep.
Hajimurad's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Emir Hajimurad.

Hajimurad closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Spoon did well to prevent Hajimurad getting side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hajimurad lands strikes from half guard.

Hajimurad is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Spoon is just riding it out for now. Hajimurad eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hajimurad with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hajimurad has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spoon wants to sweep but Hajimurad has passed to side control!
Hajimurad working the head with strikes.
Spoon is being controlled here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hajimurad lands a decent elbow from side control.
Hajimurad remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Spoon manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Hajimurad is concentrating on defense, preventing Spoon from advancing position.
Spoon trying to pass the guard but Hajimurad defending well.
Hajimurad moves into full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hajimurad escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Spoon gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hajimurad is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spoon is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Spoon trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Emir Hajimurad overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Spoon would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hajimurad avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Spoon stands up out of Hajimurad's guard for a moment - Hajimurad manages to land a nice upkick.
Hajimurad manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Spoon manages to get himself to full guard.
Hajimurad content to stall in guard here.
Spoon looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hajimurad pushing down on Spoon's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hajimurad prevents Spoon from improving his position.

Hajimurad in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Spoon tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Hajimurad!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Emir Hajimurad!