PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hamad Al Zahran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikhail Rakhmanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rakhmanov has chosen Russian national anthem as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Al Zahran
vs
Rakhmanov

188 cm
28
178 lbs
14 - 9 - 2

179 cm
28
172 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 14 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Hamad Al Zahran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mikhail Rakhmanov!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, William Gold and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rakhmanov misses with a straight left.
Al Zahran avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Al Zahran swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rakhmanov looks to land a right hand but Al Zahran moved out of range.
Rakhmanov looks to throw a body kick

and Al Zahran counters with a takedown into side control.
Rakhmanov takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Al Zahran tries to advance to mount but Rakhmanov denies him.
Al Zahran working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rakhmanov is looking to regain half guard here but Al Zahran keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rakhmanov struggling a bit here.
Rakhmanov defending against the ground and pound.
Rakhmanov is looking to reverse the position.
Al Zahran tries to move to mount but Rakhmanov blocks the move with his legs.
Rakhmanov wants to control but Al Zahran postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Al Zahran wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rakhmanov keeps working.
Rakhmanov tries to improve position but can't.
Al Zahran wants to control but Rakhmanov is keeping him busy.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
That kick from Al Zahran tenderised Rakhmanov's leg. Rakhmanov is trying to keep his angry face on.
Rakhmanov takes a swing at Al Zahran's ribcage but misses.
Rakhmanov throws a lazy right hand but Al Zahran sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rakhmanov throws a lazy uppercut
and Al Zahran counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Rakhmanov lands a body shot.
Rakhmanov misses with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rakhmanov misses with an uppercut.
Rakhmanov misses with a double jab.
Rakhmanov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Al Zahran.
Al Zahran on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Rakhmanov misses with a series of wild punches.
Rakhmanov misses with a body shot.
Al Zahran clobbers Rakhmanov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Al Zahran is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Al Zahran doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Mikhail Rakhmanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rakhmanov throws a poor cross that misses

and Al Zahran counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Zahran engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Al Zahran throws a big elbow that misses.
Al Zahran slips nicely into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Al Zahran trying to pass the guard but Rakhmanov defending well.
Rakhmanov tries to get to full guard but Al Zahran has control of the leg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rakhmanov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Al Zahran's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Al Zahran's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hamad Al Zahran dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rakhmanov throws a body punch but Al Zahran moves out of range.
Al Zahran blocks a jab.
Al Zahran takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Al Zahran slips under a jab from Rakhmanov.
Al Zahran throws a quick inside leg kick.
A combination from Rakhmanov does no damage.
Rakhmanov looks to throw the jab but Al Zahran is out of range.
Rakhmanov misses with a left hand

and Al Zahran counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Rakhmanov!
Rakhmanov struggling a bit here.
Al Zahran wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rakhmanov keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rakhmanov is trying to improve his position.
Al Zahran working the ground and pound from side control.
Rakhmanov wants to control but Al Zahran postures up.
An elbow from Al Zahran crashes against the mat.
Rakhmanov is looking to reverse the position.
Al Zahran tries to move to mount but Rakhmanov blocks the move with his legs.
Al Zahran lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Zahran working away.
Rakhmanov defending against the ground and pound.
Al Zahran looks up at the clock and then as Rakhmanov takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Al Zahran smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Rakhmanov is trying to get back to half guard.
Al Zahran advances nicely into full mount.
Al Zahran content just to control the position here.
Rakhmanov wants to hold on but Al Zahran pushes him away.
Rakhmanov can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rakhmanov is still trying to improve position.
Rakhmanov wants to control but Al Zahran is having none of it.
Al Zahran 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.
Al Zahran landing shots from mount.
Al Zahran lands a couple of good shots and Rakhmanov has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Al Zahran wants to control but Rakhmanov is keeping busy.
Rakhmanov rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rakhmanov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rakhmanov controls Al Zahran momentarily but Al Zahran frees himself.
Rakhmanov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Al Zahran controls the pace.
Al Zahran wants to pass the guard but Rakhmanov is keeping the position.
Al Zahran works over Rakhmanov with some ground and pound from guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rakhmanov keeping moving, preventing Al Zahran from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hamad Al Zahran dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Al Zahran uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rakhmanov.
Rakhmanov moves out of range as Al Zahran strikes.
Al Zahran thows a leg kick but Rakhmanov checks it

and Rakhmanov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Al Zahran's guard.
Al Zahran looking for a sweep. Not yet Al Zahran, not yet.
Rakhmanov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rakhmanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Al Zahran is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Al Zahran is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rakhmanov can do to turn this around?
Rakhmanov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Al Zahran's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Al Zahran is looking for a triangle but Rakhmanov pushes his legs off easily.
Al Zahran has his hands on Rakhmanov's head, controlling the position.
Hamad Al Zahran overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rakhmanov lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rakhmanov throwing strikes from guard but Al Zahran blocks nicely.
Al Zahran looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Rakhmanov wants to control from the top but Al Zahran keeps moving.

Al Zahran has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rakhmanov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Al Zahran keeping moving, preventing Rakhmanov from controlling successfully.
Al Zahran is looking to stand up but Rakhmanov isn't so interested in that idea.

Al Zahran looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mikhail Rakhmanov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rakhmanov working some strikes from top position.
Rakhmanov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hamad Al Zahran is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rakhmanov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rakhmanov trying to control but Al Zahran is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Al Zahran throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rakhmanov on the side of the head.
Al Zahran avoids the head kick by Rakhmanov.
Al Zahran avoids the head kick by Rakhmanov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rakhmanov lands with a straight right. Al Zahran didn't see that one coming.
Nice defenses there by Al Zahran.
Al Zahran misses with a leg kick

and Rakhmanov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Al Zahran's guard.

Al Zahran escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rakhmanov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rakhmanov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rakhmanov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Al Zahran wants to sweep but no luck.
Rakhmanov throws an elbow that misses. Al Zahran uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rakhmanov's guard. Nice move by Al Zahran!

Al Zahran preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Zahran wants to control from the top but Rakhmanov keeps moving.
Al Zahran stopping the sweep attempt from Rakhmanov.
Rakhmanov keeping moving, preventing Al Zahran from controlling successfully.
Al Zahran advances position into side control!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Al Zahran controls the position from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikhail Rakhmanov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Al Zahran 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hamad Al Zahran!
A very excited looking Hamad Al Zahran made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.