PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mamed Khalidov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Turbando (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Khalidov kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Eto Kavkaz. Mamed Khalidov looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Khalidov
vs
Turbando

182 cm
26
176 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

178 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mamed Khalidov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thomas Turbando!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, John Mangel and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khalidov tries for a takedown but Turbando circles away easily
and Turbando cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Khalidov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Turbando as he jumps to the side.

Khalidov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Turbando is looking to improve his position.

Khalidov is looking for a kimura here.
Turbando regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turbando looking to hit a scissor sweep but Khalidov is one step ahead there.
Turbando is still trying to improve position.
Turbando keeping full guard, as Khalidov tries to pass.
Turbando controls Khalidov momentarily but Khalidov frees himself.
Khalidov wants to pass the guard but Turbando is keeping the position.
Khalidov stopping the sweep attempt from Turbando.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Thomas Turbando.
Khalidov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Turbando circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mamed Khalidov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Turbando displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Khalidov.
Turbando moves out of range of the leg kick from Khalidov.
Khalidov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Turbando counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Khalidov is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turbando works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Turbando is keen to just control but Khalidov is a slippery customer.
Turbando controlling the action here.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Turbando working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Turbando is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Khalidov!
Turbando trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Khalidov takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Turbando looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Khalidov has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Khalidov is keeping busy.
Turbando punches Khalidov on the ear.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The referee is taking a good look at Khalidov as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Turbando!
Turbando is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Turbando struggling to keep hold of the position.
Turbando gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Turbando 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.

Khalidov dives in and scores a takedown into Turbando's guard.
Turbando wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Khalidov is now in half guard.
Khalidov trying to control from half guard but Turbando is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Turbando is trying to maintain the position but Khalidov is very close to passing his half guard.
Khalidov thows a huge punch but Turbando dodges it nicely.
Khalidov wants to get back to his feet.
Turbando moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turbando is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Turbando throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Turbando seems to be working for a kimura but Khalidov defends the submission attempt.
Thomas Turbando has got the better of the ground game so far.
Khalidov is trying to get back to full guard.
Khalidov won't allow Turbando to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov tries to get to full guard but Turbando has control of the leg.
Turbando seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Khalidov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Turbando tries to pass the half guard into mount. Khalidov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Turbando wants to lay and pray for a moment but Khalidov keeps working.

Khalidov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Turbando pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Turbando passes to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turbando wants to control but Khalidov is keeping him busy.
Turbando looking to control but instead Khalidov has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Khalidov is refusing to be controlled, as Turbando sits in half guard.
Khalidov is trying to stand back up but Turbando is controlling him
Khalidov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Turbando's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Turbando's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Turbando covering up well under a series of strikes from Khalidov.
I really don't envy Turbando right now.
Turbando is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Khalidov avoiding Turbando 's attempts to control his hands.
Khalidov is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Khalidov is hanging on to Turbando's back as he tries to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Thomas Turbando will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Khalidov has a takedown stuffed.
Khalidov shoots in for a takedown but Turbando shows good takedown defense.
Khalidov shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mamed Khalidov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Khalidov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Turbando counters with a series of strikes. Khalidov will be more careful next time no doubt.
Turbando lands a right hook to the body.

Turbando lands a left and a right that send Khalidov crashing to the mat, dazed. Turbando thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Khalidov is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Turbando throws a pinpoint strike between Khalidov's hands that connects right on the jaw and sends Khalidov crashing to the floor! He's out before he even hits the mat and Turbando scores a great knockout victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Thomas Turbando!