PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ruslan Azarow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mamed Khalidov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Khalidov's choice of entrance music: Eto Kavkaz. Mamed Khalidov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Azarow
vs
Khalidov

180 cm
19
160 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

182 cm
26
174 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ruslan Azarow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mamed Khalidov!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Darius Henderson and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azarow lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Azarow misses with a two punch combination.
Khalidov dives in for a single leg takedown but Azarow sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Khalidov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Azarow walks away with a smile on his face. Khalidov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Azarow throws a series of punches but Khalidov moves out of range.

Khalidov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Azarow to the ground. Khalidov is now in Azarow's guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Azarow looking to control.
Azarow is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Khalidov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

We're going to have a standup here because Ruslan Azarow wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Nice body punch from Azarow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azarow pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Azarow throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Khalidov's waist but Khalidov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Azarow off to one side.
We've been hearing reports that Azarow has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Khalidov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Azarow throws out the jab.
Azarow looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Azarow loads up on a big right hand but Khalidov slips the punch.
The fighters circling - Azarow throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Azarow gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Khalidov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Azarow is breathing heavily.

Khalidov stands up and waves to Azarow to follow him.
Azarow fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azarow throws a jab when Khalidov was well out of range.
Khalidov moves in looking to clinch but Azarow pushes him off.
Azarow misses with a jab, cross combination.
A punch combination from Azarow misses.

Azarow gets caught flat footed, as Khalidov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Khalidov gets to his feet. Azarow looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Azarow gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Khalidov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Khalidov with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mamed Khalidov.
Azarow misses with a jab, cross combination.
Azarow throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Khalidov counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Azarow darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Khalidov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Khalidov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

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

Khalidov shoots in and gets a takedown into Azarow's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Khalidov controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Mamed Khalidov hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Azarow misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Khalidov scores with a takedown into Azarow's guard.
Khalidov advances to half guard.
Khalidov stalling.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Khalidov has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Azarow defend it? Khalidov steps over the head and cranks it - Azarow is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Khalidov!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Mamed Khalidov!
Mamed Khalidov gave a mention to FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!) in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).