PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sabed Azbuhlev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Campos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Azbuhlev
vs
Campos

172 cm
19
155 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

170 cm
20
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sabed Azbuhlev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Max Campos!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Fedor Mirinova and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Campos shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Azbuhlev's guard.
Campos tries to free his leg and advance position but Azbuhlev is retaining full guard.
Campos looking to sit in guard and control but Azbuhlev gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Azbuhlev trying to control the position from guard on top but Campos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Campos looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azbuhlev wants to control from the top but Campos keeps moving.
Azbuhlev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Campos works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Campos is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Azbuhlev is aware though and is defending well.
Azbuhlev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Campos looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Campos is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Azbuhlev is aware though and is defending well.
Azbuhlev distracts Campos with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Azbuhlev throws a big right hand that misses.

Campos looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Azbuhlev preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azbuhlev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Azbuhlev is looking to pass into half guard but Campos pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Campos is in guard.

Campos chips away with some ground and pound.
Campos passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Campos throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Azbuhlev works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Azbuhlev is not content to let Campos control the position.
Azbuhlev keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azbuhlev blocking the ground and pound attempt from Campos.
Azbuhlev trying to control but Campos postures up.
Campos uses his free foot to push down on Azbuhlev's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Azbuhlev.
Campos with the ground and pound from mount.
Campos looking to finish Azbuhlev with some ground and pound. This is bad for Azbuhlev!
Campos trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Campos with a couple of short strikes.
Campos fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Azbuhlev wants to hold on but Campos pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Campos lands a big elbow.
Campos controlling from the full mount.
Campos looking to control but Azbuhlev is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Campos lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Azbuhlev hang on?
Campos has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Azbuhlev is bucking up trying to escape but Campos cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Azbuhlev slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Azbuhlev keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Campos is pressing down on Azbuhlev's thigh, looking to free his foot. Azbuhlev is holding on for now.
Azbuhlev is refusing to be controlled, as Campos sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Campos dominated that 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.

Campos looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Azbuhlev is fending him off so far but Campos persists. Nope, Azbuhlev circles away and we're back to standing.
Sabed Azbuhlev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Azbuhlev shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Campos throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Azbuhlev was covering up waiting for the punch and Campos finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Campos chips away with some ground and pound.
Azbuhlev controlling Campos's posture.
Azbuhlev is trying to keep Campos in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Campos trying to control but Azbuhlev is working from the bottom.

Azbuhlev escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Campos gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Campos landing some decent shots from guard.
Campos content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Campos wants to control from the top but Azbuhlev keeps moving.
Campos throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Azbuhlev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Campos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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.

Azbuhlev has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Campos can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Campos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Campos in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Azbuhlev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Campos.
Azbuhlev is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Campos is controlling him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Campos doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Azbuhlev counter with a right hand.
Azbuhlev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Azbuhlev throws a series of punches but Campos avoids them all with ease.
Campos fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Azbuhlev is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azbuhlev misses with the combination.
Campos shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Azbuhlev defends it nicely.
Sabed Azbuhlev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Campos.
Some wild striking there from Azbuhlev.
Azbuhlev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Campos moves away.
Azbuhlev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Campos but Campos pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Azbuhlev misses with a body shot.
Campos has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Campos closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Azbuhlev did well to prevent Campos getting side control.
Azbuhlev has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Campos is working away from the top position though.
Max Campos has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Campos.
Campos trying to control from half guard but Azbuhlev is working away.
Campos is looking to advance position but Azbuhlev won't allow it.
Campos works his foot free and advances to mount.

Campos with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Azbuhlev really wants to buck Campos off and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Campos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Azbuhlev misses with a two punch combination.
Sabed Azbuhlev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Campos shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Azbuhlev counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Campos tries to score a power double leg takedown but Azbuhlev sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Campos somewhat.
Azbuhlev fails to land with a series of punches.
Azbuhlev throws out a loose jab but Campos uses good head movement to avoid it.
A punch combination from Azbuhlev misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azbuhlev scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
No luck for Campos with that takedown attempt.
Sabed Azbuhlev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Campos.
Azbuhlev swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Campos.
Azbuhlev misses with an uppercut.
Azbuhlev lands with a straight right. Campos didn't see that one coming.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Azbuhlev enables Campos to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Azbuhlev manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Campos works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Campos slips a nice elbow through Azbuhlev's hands, connecting with Azbuhlev's forehead.
Azbuhlev is trying to get back to full guard.

Campos looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Campos is looking to take a break and control but Azbuhlev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Campos stalling away here and it's allowed Azbuhlev to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Azbuhlev working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Campos doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Campos manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Azbuhlev wants to sweep here but Campos controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Campos trying to control the position from guard on top but Azbuhlev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Azbuhlev looking to hit a scissor sweep but Campos is one step ahead there.
Campos not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Max Campos is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Campos throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Campos slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Azbuhlev just misses with a punch to the body.
Azbuhlev throws a series of punches but Campos moves out of range.
Azbuhlev misses with the combination.
Azbuhlev misses with a body shot

and Campos counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Campos takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Campos is continuing to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Azbuhlev is trying to control but can't.
Sabed Azbuhlev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Campos looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sabed Azbuhlev showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Campos 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Campos!
Max Campos decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.