PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mamed Khalidov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rallo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Khalidov comes to the cage accompanied by Mamed - CoreMoon. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Khalidov
vs
Gracie

182 cm
29
176 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

170 cm
26
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mamed Khalidov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rallo Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Taro Takaoka and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Khalidov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Khalidov showed some decent athleticism there.
Khalidov content to control rather than advance.

Khalidov stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Gracie has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

Khalidov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie is pushing Khalidov's head away, looking to escape. Khalidov manages to hold on to the position though.
Khalidov moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Gracie is looking to regain half guard here but Khalidov keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Khalidov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gracie knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Gracie is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Khalidov has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Gracie tries to buck Khalidov off but Khalidov is having none of it.
Gracie is trying to buck Khalidov off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Khalidov wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie is trying to improve his position.

Khalidov decides to stand back up.
Khalidov with a poor takedown

and Gracie counters with a single leg into guard. Khalidov didn't expect that.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gracie has gone for a leg lock! Khalidov slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gracie's guard.

Khalidov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Khalidov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Khalidov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gracie's guard.
Gracie is trying to stand back up but Khalidov is controlling him

Khalidov is working for a submission of some sort.
Khalidov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.

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.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Khalidov pulls his head out easily.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Khalidov pulls his head out easily.
Khalidov uses his free foot to push down on Gracie's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Gracie.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Khalidov gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mamed Khalidov dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Khalidov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Khalidov pulls his head out easily.
Khalidov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gracie can do to turn this around?
Khalidov prevents Gracie from standing back up.
Khalidov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Khalidov's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Khalidov pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidov controlling the action here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Khalidov pulls his head out easily.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Khalidov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Gracie counters with a big head kick but Khalidov shrugs it off.
Khalidov fails with the takedown
and Gracie counters with a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov shoots and misses

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mamed Khalidov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Khalidov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Gracie postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Khalidov is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gracie, into his guard.

Khalidov wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Khalidov passes into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie being controlled for a moment.
Khalidov has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Mamed Khalidov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gracie tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Khalidov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Khalidov wants to stand but Gracie has his arm trapped.
Gracie wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Gracie tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Khalidov presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Khalidov controlling from the full mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mamed Khalidov dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Khalidov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gracie sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Khalidov somewhat.
Khalidov tries for a takedown but Gracie circles away easily
and Gracie counters with a head kick.
Khalidov has his takedown stuffed

and Gracie counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gracie.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mamed Khalidov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gracie drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Khalidov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gracie has Khalidov in his guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khalidov trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.
Khalidov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Khalidov wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

Gracie working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Khalidov has passed into half guard!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Khalidov pulls his head out easily.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Khalidov decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Khalidov or perhaps it was just good defense by Gracie, which made it look bad.
Khalidov misses with a takedown
and Gracie counters with a head kick.
Khalidov shoots in but no luck this time.
Khalidov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Khalidov with a poor takedown

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown. Khalidov fights it but they end up in guard.

Gracie drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Khalidov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gracie has Khalidov in his guard.

Gracie working for a triangle but Khalidov defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Khalidov rolls with it to try and escape but Gracie cranks on the arm and Khalidov is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rallo Gracie!
An out of breath Rallo Gracie thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.