PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Okin Slavas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kadian Aitkens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Slavas comes to the cage accompanied by WolfMother. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Slavas
vs
Aitkens

184 cm
25
188 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

180 cm
26
175 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.
Merciless Gladiators

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 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Okin Slavas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kadian Aitkens!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Columbo Gatti and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slavas throws a poor cross that misses
and Aitkens counters with a nice uppercut.
Slavas closes the distance and clinches up with Aitkens, looking for a takedown. Slavas pushes Aitkens against the cage but Aitkens circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Slavas has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Farrell Pikey Camp in the buildup to the fight.
Nice body punch from Aitkens.
Aitkens scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Slavas doesn't seem bothered though.
Slavas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Aitkens uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Slavas.
Aitkens throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Slavas shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Aitkens but Aitkens pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Aitkens digs a good body shot into Slavas's ribs.
Slavas shoots in looking for a takedown but Aitkens manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Slavas's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Aitkens has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Okin Slavas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aitkens misses with a hook to the body
and Slavas counters with a straight right hand.
A big right from Aitkens misses.
Slavas closes the distance and clinches up with Aitkens, looking for a takedown. Slavas pushes Aitkens against the cage but Aitkens circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Aitkens uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Slavas.
Slavas avoids the body shot from Aitkens.
Slavas uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Aitkens.
Slavas loads up on a big right hand but Aitkens slips the punch.
Aitkens throws an overhand right that lands on Slavas's shoulder, as Slavas tries to avoid the shot.
Aitkens stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Aitkens wants to clinch.
Aitkens looks to land a left hand but Slavas moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slavas shoots in looking for a takedown. Aitkens tries to sprawl out of it but Slavas keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Aitkens manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Aitkens's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Aitkens duly obliges.
Aitkens moves away from the strike by Slavas.

Aitkens darts in and clinches Slavas up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Slavas.
Aitkens dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Slavas.
Aitkens scores with a shot to the side of Slavas's head.
Aitkens misses with a hook from the clinch.
Aitkens lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Aitkens prevents a takedown attempt there.
Aitkens dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Aitkens goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Aitkens swings wildly with an uppercut but Slavas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Slavas stalls.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Aitkens.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Aitkens.
A right hand to the body from Aitkens.
Slavas wants to get back to striking at distance but Aitkens won't allow it.

Aitkens breaks from the clinch.
Slavas jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Good standup being displayed there by Aitkens as he connects with a hook.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aitkens looks to score with a jab to the body but Slavas is just out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aitkens connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kadian Aitkens dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Aitkens throws out a loose jab but Slavas uses good head movement to avoid it.
A jab from Slavas finds it's way through Aitkens's defenses.
Aitkens misses with a hook
enabling Slavas to counter with a crisp jab.

Aitkens gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Slavas to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Slavas's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Slavas wants to control from the top but Aitkens keeps moving.
Slavas pushes down on Aitkens's leg and manages to get into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aitkens is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slavas works his way into side control.
Slavas wants to take a breather but Aitkens manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Slavas.
Slavas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aitkens is keeping the position for now.
Slavas sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Aitkens looking to hit a scissor sweep but Slavas is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aitkens controlling the position.

Aitkens has his foot on Slavas's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Slavas works his way back into a safe position though.
Aitkens keeping moving, preventing Slavas from controlling successfully.
Aitkens utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Slavas advances position into side control!
Slavas working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aitkens wants to control but Slavas postures up.
Aitkens avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Slavas.
Aitkens is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Slavas 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.
Aitkens is looking to regain half guard here but Slavas keeps moving and retains side control.
Slavas tries to score with some ground and pound. Aitkens controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Slavas postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Aitkens takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Slavas is trying to ground and pound but Aitkens uses the momentary lack of control by Slavas to regain half guard.
Slavas throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Slavas is looking to stall here but Aitkens recovers full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aitkens preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Okin Slavas dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

A swing and a miss from Aitkens.
Slavas checks a low kick from Aitkens.
Aitkens pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Slavas back to the cage. Aitkens follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Slavas gets a double leg takedown into Aitkens's guard.
Aitkens working a defensive guard here.
Slavas works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Aitkens wants to control but Slavas is keeping busy.

Slavas is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Slavas wants to pass the guard but Aitkens is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slavas throws a strike but Aitkens avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Slavas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Slavas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aitkens swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aitkens keeping moving, preventing Slavas from controlling successfully.
Okin Slavas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Aitkens utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Slavas trying to control the position from guard on top but Aitkens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Okin Slavas just wasn't active enough.
Aitkens throws a shot from downtown. Slavas moves away and avoids it.
Slavas lunges at Aitkens with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Aitkens's hand.
Slavas waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Aitkens.
Slavas takes a swing at Aitkens's ribcage but misses.
Aitkens throws an off balance right hand

and Slavas counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slavas not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Slavas is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Aitkens really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Slavas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Slavas wants to control but Aitkens is keeping him busy.

Slavas is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Aitkens defends it well.
Slavas trying to mount his opponent but Aitkens defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slavas is thwarting Aitkens's attempts to control the position.
Slavas thows a huge punch but Aitkens dodges it nicely.
Slavas is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Slavas misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Slavas connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Okin Slavas showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Slavas has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Okin Slavas!
Okin Slavas decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.