PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sabed Azbuhlev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabiano Werdum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Azbuhlev
vs
Werdum

172 cm
20
155 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

180 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

MMA nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Fabiano Werdum!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Josh West and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Werdum enables Azbuhlev to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Werdum manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Azbuhlev trying to control but Werdum is working from the bottom.
Azbuhlev controls from within his opponent's guard.

Werdum looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Our spies down at at Blitzkrieg Fighting Systems: Ground inform us that Werdum has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Werdum trying to keep a closed guard but Azbuhlev is proving a slippery customer.
Azbuhlev sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Azbuhlev seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Werdum for as long as he can get away with.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azbuhlev would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Werdum keeping moving, preventing Azbuhlev from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Werdum drives through with a takedown into Azbuhlev's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Werdum pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Azbuhlev is keeping the position for now.
Werdum trying to control the position from guard on top but Azbuhlev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Azbuhlev is adopting a defensive guard.
Azbuhlev wants to sweep here but Werdum controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Azbuhlev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Werdum is aware though and is defending well.

Azbuhlev looking for a guillotine here but Werdum defends easily.
Azbuhlev keeping moving, preventing Werdum from controlling successfully.
Werdum is looking to pass into half guard but Azbuhlev pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Azbuhlev is in guard.

Azbuhlev trying to control but Werdum is working from the bottom.
Azbuhlev pushing down on Werdum's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azbuhlev controlling the action here.

Werdum looking for submissions off his back.
Werdum wants to control but Azbuhlev is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Werdum wants to get back to full guard.
Azbuhlev is taking a breather. Werdum says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Azbuhlev'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.
Azbuhlev lands strikes from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Werdum is trying to get back to full guard.
Well, if Azbuhlev is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Werdum won't allow Azbuhlev to pass to mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Werdum is looking for a sweep. Azbuhlev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Azbuhlev sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sabed Azbuhlev 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.

Werdum shoots in for a takedown but Azbuhlev shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Werdum's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Azbuhlev connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Werdum scrambles back to his feet.

Azbuhlev scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Azbuhlev passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Werdum!
Werdum tries to hold on but Azbuhlev pushes him away.
Azbuhlev is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Werdum can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Sabed Azbuhlev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Azbuhlev tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Azbuhlev trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Azbuhlev content just to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Werdum is squirming around, avoiding Azbuhlev's attempts to control the action.
Werdum can't escape the position.
Azbuhlev landing strikes from the mount.
Azbuhlev controlling the position easily from mount.
Azbuhlev wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Azbuhlev sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Werdum is squirming around, avoiding Azbuhlev's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Azbuhlev looking for a guillotine from mount but Werdum is having none of it.
Azbuhlev tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Werdum is desperately trying to improve his position but Azbuhlev has a good base and remains in mount.
Werdum 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.
Azbuhlev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Werdum can do to turn this around?
Werdum is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Werdum wants to sweep but Azbuhlev has passed to side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Werdum looks to move to half guard but instead Azbuhlev has passed into mount! Damn!
Werdum wants to control but Azbuhlev is having none of it.
Azbuhlev takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Azbuhlev has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Werdum is bucking up trying to escape but Azbuhlev cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Azbuhlev looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Werdum is in all sorts of trouble here.
Werdum wants to hold on but Azbuhlev pushes him away.
Azbuhlev looking to control and managing it successfully.
Werdum is in all sorts of trouble here.
Werdum is breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Azbuhlev gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Azbuhlev closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Werdum's guard.

Werdum has his foot on Azbuhlev's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Azbuhlev works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sabed Azbuhlev dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Azbuhlev lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Azbuhlev is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Azbuhlev leaves Werdum with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Azbuhlev is looking to clinch but Werdum is avoiding it.

Azbuhlev changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Werdum looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Azbuhlev is staying tight to Werdum's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Azbuhlev tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Azbuhlev in side control, just content to control the action for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Azbuhlev is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Werdum has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azbuhlev working away.
Azbuhlev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Werdum keeps working.

Azbuhlev decides to stand back up. Azbuhlev steps back and let's Werdum get back to his feet.
Azbuhlev throws a right and a left that both miss.

Azbuhlev shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Azbuhlev blocks the strikes from Werdum.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azbuhlev wants to control but Werdum is keeping him busy.
Werdum trying to control but Azbuhlev postures up.
Azbuhlev controlling the action here.
Werdum taking some punishment here, with Azbuhlev in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Azbuhlev gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Azbuhlev lands with a nice combination. Werdum backs away looking to recover.

Azbuhlev shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Azbuhlev was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Werdum tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The referee asks Azbuhlev politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Azbuhlev prefers to stall for the moment though.
Werdum tries to buck Azbuhlev off but Azbuhlev is having none of it.
Werdum takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Azbuhlev is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Werdum will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Werdum is looking to regain half guard here but Azbuhlev keeps moving and retains side control.
Azbuhlev happy to just control the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Werdum is looking to regain half guard here but Azbuhlev keeps moving and retains side control.
Werdum struggling a bit here.

Azbuhlev decides to stand back up.
Azbuhlev clobbers Werdum with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Azbuhlev lands a right hook to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Werdum changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Azbuhlev tries to avoid it but Werdum manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Azbuhlev to the ground. Azbuhlev escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Azbuhlev darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Fabiano Werdum has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sabed Azbuhlev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Sabed Azbuhlev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Azbuhlev has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 30:26
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sabed Azbuhlev!
In his post fight interview, Sabed Azbuhlev started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.