PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Farid Ismail (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ali Magamutdinov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Ismail might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Darude - Sandstorm. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ismail
vs
Magamutdinov

170 cm
23
137 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

161 cm
26
138 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Atlantis

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Farid Ismail!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ali Magamutdinov!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Bart Greer and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ismail instigates a clinch.
Magamutdinov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Ismail has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Magamutdinov uses from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ismail throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ismail keeping full guard, as Magamutdinov tries to pass.

Ismail looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ismail working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Magamutdinov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Magamutdinov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ismail keeping moving, preventing Magamutdinov from controlling successfully.
Ismail knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Magamutdinov on the ground.

Magamutdinov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Magamutdinov pushing down on Ismail's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ismail is staying active underneath Magamutdinov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ismail tries to get to full guard but Magamutdinov has control of the leg.

Ismail is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Magamutdinov pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Magamutdinov wants to free his trapped foot but Ismail is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ismail wants to improve his position but Magamutdinov is controlling well.

Ismail looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magamutdinov moves into full mount! Ismail won't be happy about that!
Magamutdinov is trying to take his opponent's back.
Ismail is looking to improve his position but Magamutdinov isn't that keen on the idea.
We've been hearing good reports from Ismail's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Magamutdinov tries to control but Ismail wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ismail is looking to get to half guard.

Magamutdinov looking to secure an arm triangle but Ismail defends it well.
Magamutdinov trying to control but Ismail is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ali Magamutdinov will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ismail tries to clinch up.
Magamutdinov misses with a takedown

and Ismail counters by clinching up.

Ismail pulls guard effortlessly.

Ismail looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ismail keeping moving, preventing Magamutdinov from controlling successfully.

Ismail throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Magamutdinov escapes and throws Ismail's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ismail tries to bench press Magamutdinov off him but Magamutdinov keeps the position.
Magamutdinov trying to control the position but Ismail is working away.
Ismail is looking for a sweep.
Magamutdinov works to advance to full mount. Ismail defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Magamutdinov controlling from the full mount.
Magamutdinov prevents Ismail from getting the reversal.

Magamutdinov goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Ismail is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ismail postures up in Magamutdinov's guard and throws a big left but Magamutdinov blocks it.
Magamutdinov has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Ismail trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ismail wants to control from the top but Magamutdinov keeps moving.
Ismail has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magamutdinov is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Magamutdinov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ali Magamutdinov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Magamutdinov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ismail!
Ismail manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Ismail tries to roll over but Magamutdinov keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Magamutdinov seems to be looking for submissions.

Ismail actively working from the bottom here.

Ismail looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Magamutdinov is trying to control the action in half guard but Ismail is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Farid Ismail will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ismail fails with an attempt to clinch.
No luck for Magamutdinov with that takedown attempt.
Magamutdinov shoots in looking for a takedown. Ismail tries to sprawl out of it but Magamutdinov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ismail manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ali Magamutdinov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ismail is looking to clinch.
Farid Ismail seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Magamutdinov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ismail can pounce on him.
Ismail tries to clinch there but Magamutdinov circles away.
Magamutdinov fails with the takedown
and Ismail counters with a head kick. That will keep Magamutdinov thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Farid Ismail has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ali Magamutdinov.

Ismail forces Magamutdinov back against the cage and clinches.
Ismail lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ismail looking to throw knees to the head but Magamutdinov is blocking nicely.
Ismail tries a knee to the head but Magamutdinov blocks it.
Ismail just leaning against Magamutdinov, taking a breather.
Ismail using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Magamutdinov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A bit of stalling here from Ismail.
Ismail lands a nice knee to the body.
Magamutdinov avoiding damage as Ismail throws knees to the body.

Ismail gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Ismail showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ismail trying to control the position from guard on top but Magamutdinov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Magamutdinov is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Farid Ismail just wasn't active enough.
Magamutdinov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magamutdinov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ismail as he jumps to the side.

Ismail fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Magamutdinov, pushing him back against the cage.
Magamutdinov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ismail missing with knees to the body.
Ismail slows down the pace here.
Ismail using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magamutdinov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ismail missing with knees to the body.
Ismail slowing the pace effectively.
Ismail misses with a knee strike.
Ismail throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ismail leaning against his opponent.
Magamutdinov has Ismail pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ismail manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Magamutdinov misses with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ismail controlling the action here for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Farid Ismail showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ismail 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 David Hoff scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ali Magamutdinov!
The defeated Farid Ismail had this to say: 'I come backa strong'.