PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hollis Flax (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kamil Gadzhiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Flax
vs
Gadzhiev

187 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
23
279 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hollis Flax!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kamil Gadzhiev!
The judges for this bout are Ron Honeybunn, Winston Howard and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Flax with a poor takedown

and Gadzhiev counters with a takedown into side control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Flax tries to buck Gadzhiev off but Gadzhiev is having none of it.
The referee asks Gadzhiev politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Gadzhiev prefers to stall for the moment though.
Flax tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gadzhiev wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gadzhiev controlling from side mount.
Flax is looking to regain half guard here but Gadzhiev keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gadzhiev content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kamil Gadzhiev.

Flax clinches with his opponent.
Flax lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Gadzhiev is looking for a takedown.
Flax tries a knee to the head but Gadzhiev blocks it.
Flax is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Gadzhiev has Flax pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Flax manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hollis Flax has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kamil Gadzhiev.
Gadzhiev is looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gadzhiev wants a takedown.

Flax's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gadzhiev shoots and misses

and Flax counters by clinching up.
Gadzhiev tries for a takedown but Flax manages to get underhooks.
Gadzhiev looks winded!

Flax breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Flax drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Flax trying to control but Gadzhiev is working from the bottom.
Gadzhiev keeping full guard, as Flax tries to pass.
Gadzhiev utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flax wanted to stand there but Gadzhiev had control of the position.
Flax wants to control from the top but Gadzhiev keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Hollis Flax just wasn't active enough.

Flax closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Flax lands in his opponent's guard.

Gadzhiev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flax wants to control from the top but Gadzhiev keeps moving.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Flax wants to stand but Gadzhiev is controlling his posture from full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gadzhiev holds on and takes a little breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hollis Flax dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gadzhiev keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Flax.
Flax stuffs the takedown.

Flax throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gadzhiev was covering up waiting for the punch and Flax finishes the takedown easily into guard.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Flax here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Gadzhiev has Flax pulled in close to control his posture.
Flax is looking to stand up but Gadzhiev won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gadzhiev has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Flax can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Gadzhiev looking for a guillotine here but Flax defends easily.
Flax trying to control but Gadzhiev is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flax is looking to pass into half guard but Gadzhiev pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Gadzhiev is in guard.
Gadzhiev controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Gadzhiev's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kamil Gadzhiev has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Gadzhiev tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Flax defends well and Gadzhiev ends up having to push Flax into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Flax pulls guard effortlessly.
Flax is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Flax is looking for a kimura but Gadzhiev is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Flax to get the leverage.
Gadzhiev trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flax tries to stand and escape but Gadzhiev actually recovers to full guard.
Gadzhiev is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gadzhiev is on top in guard.
Gadzhiev controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kamil Gadzhiev will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Flax doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Gadzhiev counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gadzhiev sitting in guard here, content to control.
Flax controls Gadzhiev momentarily but Gadzhiev frees himself.
Gadzhiev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Flax has his foot on Gadzhiev's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gadzhiev works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gadzhiev showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Kamil Gadzhiev has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Gadzhiev fails with the takedown.

Gadzhiev gets a double leg takedown into Flax's guard.
Gadzhiev is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Flax has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gadzhiev can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gadzhiev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Flax swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kamil Gadzhiev wasn't active enough on the ground.
Gadzhiev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Flax is fending him off so far but Gadzhiev persists. Nope, Flax circles away and we're back to standing.
Gadzhiev shoots in looking for a takedown. Flax tries to sprawl out of it but Gadzhiev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Flax manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hollis Flax has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kamil Gadzhiev.
Gadzhiev tries for a takedown but Flax circles away easily
and Flax counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Gadzhiev should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flax will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Flax slaps away a takedown attempt from Gadzhiev, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Flax looking to score a takedown here. Gadzhiev is defending well but Flax drives through and ends up in Gadzhiev's guard.
Gadzhiev looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flax would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Gadzhiev throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Flax tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Gadzhiev is in Flax's guard.
Gadzhiev pushing down on Flax's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Flax trying to control here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gadzhiev stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kamil Gadzhiev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gadzhiev has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ron Honeybunn scores the fight for Kamil Gadzhiev!
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight for Kamil Gadzhiev!
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight for Kamil Gadzhiev!

Kamil Gadzhiev wins by unanimous decision!