PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mamed Chalidow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pablo Pablos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Chalidow
vs
Pablos

183 cm
31
185 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

175 cm
24
190 lbs
5 - 15 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mamed Chalidow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 15 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pablo Pablos!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksandr Martynov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Chalidow shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pablos's guard.

Pablos is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Chalidow is aware though and is defending well.
Pablos keeping moving, preventing Chalidow from controlling successfully.

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

Pablos is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Chalidow trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Pablos has an active guard here but Chalidow has managed to pass into half guard.

Pablos looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chalidow throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chalidow lands with a punch from half guard.

Pablos is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Chalidow pulls his head out easily.
Chalidow tries to pass the half guard into mount. Pablos knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Chalidow is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pablos defends it well.
Chalidow takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Pablos is refusing to be controlled, as Chalidow sits in half guard.
Chalidow is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Pablos!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pablos really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Pablos sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chalidow wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pablos keeps working.

Pablos is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Chalidow pulls his head out easily.
Chalidow is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Pablos!
Pablos is working to get back to half guard.

Chalidow is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Pablos is surviving well by controlling Chalidow's body position as best he can.
Pablos sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Pablos gets full guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Chalidow postures up in Pablos's guard and throws a big left but Pablos blocks it.

Pablos is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pablos escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Chalidow gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Pablos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Chalidow.
Pablos is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Chalidow avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Chalidow pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pablos is keeping the position for now.
Chalidow trying to control but Pablos is working from the bottom.

Chalidow drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Chalidow jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

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

Pablos is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Chalidow is aware though and is defending well.

Pablos throws his legs up looking for a submission but Chalidow uses it to pass to side control.

Chalidow is trying to get an arm triangle but Pablos is defending well.
Pablos tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pablos gets back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Pablos looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Chalidow wants to control but Pablos is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mamed Chalidow will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Pablos stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Pablos getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Pablos throws a shot from downtown. Chalidow moves away and avoids it.
Chalidow shoots in but Pablos avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Pablos manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Pablos is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Pablos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Chalidow wants to control from the top but Pablos keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pablos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Chalidow can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Pablos preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chalidow avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Chalidow pushes down on Pablos's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Mamed Chalidow overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Pablos looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Chalidow is working for a kimura but Pablos is defending it quite comfortably.

Chalidow seems to be looking for submissions.
Pablos slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chalidow avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Pablos is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Chalidow is aware though and is defending well.

Pablos looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Chalidow pushing down on Pablos's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Pablos is defending against the submission attempts here by Chalidow.
Pablos is not content to let Chalidow control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pablos looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Pablos actively working from the bottom here.
Pablos tries to get to full guard but Chalidow has control of the leg.
Pablos is staying active underneath Chalidow, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Pablos manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Pablos is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Chalidow defends well.
Pablos is breathing heavily.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pablos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Chalidow.
Our spies down at at Combat Zone [15 Elite & Sauna inform us that Pablos has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Pablos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Chalidow can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Chalidow pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pablos is keeping the position for now.
Chalidow pushing down on Pablos's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Pablos looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Pablos looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Chalidow is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pablos defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Pablos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Chalidow moves out of range as Pablos strikes.
Horrible takedown attempt by Chalidow or perhaps it was just good defense by Pablos, which made it look bad.

Pablos clinches up against the cage.
Chalidow has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Pablos is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Chalidow is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mamed Chalidow. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chalidow has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Chalidow has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Pablos after a bit of a struggle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chalidow is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Pablos gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Pablos manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chalidow got a little sloppy there for a moment and Pablos has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Chalidow has managed to get both his arms back between Pablos's legs - danger averted.
Chalidow trying to control but Pablos is working from the bottom.
Pablos has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pablos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Chalidow is one step ahead there.

Pablos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Chalidow can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Pablos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Chalidow wants to control from the top but Pablos keeps moving.

That's two 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.
Chalidow stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pablos swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pablos had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Chalidow defends it easily.

Pablos throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Chalidow trying to control the position from guard on top but Pablos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pablos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chalidow sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pablos's guard.

Pablos looking for submissions off his back.
Pablos gets back to full guard.

Chalidow got a little sloppy there for a moment and Pablos has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Chalidow has managed to get both his arms back between Pablos's legs - danger averted.
Chalidow pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pablos is keeping the position for now.
Chalidow looking to sit in guard and control but Pablos gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Chalidow is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pablos defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chalidow is pulling down on Pablos's head. It's preventing any offense from Pablos, at least for the moment.

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

Chalidow trying to control the position from guard on top but Pablos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Pablos is looking for a triangle but Chalidow pushes his legs off easily.
Chalidow postures up and lands a big shot to Pablos's brow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pablo Pablos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pablos has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pablo Pablos!
Pablo Pablos took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.