PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Meenakshy Kavitha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rustam Khabilov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kavitha
vs
Khabilov

201 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Enjoys gardening

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Meenakshy Kavitha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rustam Khabilov!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Patrick Alders and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khabilov throws a lazy right hand but Kavitha sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Khabilov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kavitha moves away.
Khabilov looks to score with a jab to the body but Kavitha is just out of range.
Kavitha is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kavitha misses the shot to the body.

Khabilov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kavitha on his heels. He'll look to pass Kavitha's guard now, I'm sure.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kavitha wants to sweep but no luck.
Khabilov wants to control from the top but Kavitha keeps moving.
Kavitha controlling Khabilov's posture.
Khabilov won't allow Kavitha to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kavitha has control of Khabilov's left arm, preventing Khabilov from doing any damage.
Kavitha looking to hit a scissor sweep but Khabilov is one step ahead there.
Khabilov trying to control the position from guard on top but Kavitha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kavitha pulls Khabilov in close to prevent any damage.
Khabilov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Khabilov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Khabilov looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Khabilov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kavitha is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kavitha has Khabilov pulled in close to control his posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Khabilov throws a lazy right hand but Kavitha sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Khabilov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Khabilov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Khabilov fails with the takedown.
Kavitha blocks a jab.
Kavitha appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov shoots in for a takedown but Kavitha shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kavitha avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Khabilov tries for a takedown but Kavitha circles away easily
and Kavitha cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Meenakshy Kavitha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rustam Khabilov.
Khabilov looks winded!
The fight stays on the outside here - Kavitha looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kavitha pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Kavitha clinches up with Khabilov and pushes him back against the cage.
Kavitha blocking some punches.
Kavitha pressing his opponent against the cage.
Khabilov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kavitha avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kavitha taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Kavitha misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Khabilov.
Kavitha has Khabilov pushed against the cage.
Kavitha tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Khabilov's elbow.
Kavitha is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Khabilov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kavitha gets underhooks to prevent Khabilov's takedown attempt.

Kavitha breaks from the clinch.
Khabilov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kavitha feints and as Khabilov raises his hands in defense, Kavitha changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
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 Meenakshy Kavitha will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Khabilov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kavitha sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kavitha seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kavitha looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Khabilov swats away the attempt to clinch by Kavitha.
Khabilov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Khabilov throws a leg kick but Kavitha sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Khabilov is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kavitha scores with a jab. Khabilov acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kavitha wants to clinch up but Khabilov keeps it at a distance.
Khabilov changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Kavitha ducks under a wild hook from Khabilov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kavitha tries to clinch up but Khabilov circles away and keeps his distance.
Kavitha ducks under a wild hook from Khabilov.
Kavitha appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Kavitha slips a straight right by Khabilov.
Khabilov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kavitha as he avoids it easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Khabilov managing to block the knees to the body from Kavitha.
Khabilov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Kavitha tightens his grip and picks Khabilov up, before dumping him to the ground. Khabilov manages to land in guard.
Kavitha engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Khabilov lands a decent punch to the body there.
Khabilov is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov looking to control.
Khabilov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kavitha is one step ahead there.
Kavitha is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Kavitha is looking to stand up but Khabilov won't let him.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kavitha is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kavitha uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Khabilov.
Kavitha wants to clinch up but Khabilov keeps it at a distance.
Kavitha tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Khabilov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kavitha uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Khabilov.
Kavitha bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kavitha doesn't manage to clinch there - Khabilov circles away.
Khabilov changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Kavitha wants to clinch up but Khabilov keeps it at a distance.
Khabilov with the counter takedown but Kavitha avoids it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kavitha looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Khabilov with the counter takedown but Kavitha avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kavitha tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Khabilov was well out of range. Poor timing from Kavitha.
Khabilov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kavitha.
Khabilov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Kavitha closes the distance and pushes Khabilov back into the cage.

Kavitha turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Kavitha tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kavitha controlling the position from side mount.
Kavitha tries to advance to mount but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Meenakshy Kavitha dominated that second round.
That's time! Kavitha's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kavitha misses with a body shot.
Khabilov darts in looking for a takedown but Kavitha gets double underhooks and turns Khabilov into the cage.

Kavitha moves into range and clinches up with Khabilov.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kavitha.
Kavitha doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kavitha has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Khabilov after a bit of a struggle.
Kavitha tries to throw a body punch but Khabilov avoids it by throwing Kavitha back against the cage.
Kavitha is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Khabilov can do to turn this around?
Khabilov is pressed up against the cage. Kavitha has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Khabilov down to the mat. Khabilov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Khabilov throws a front kick aimed at Kavitha's knee but Kavitha avoids it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big right from Khabilov misses.
Khabilov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kavitha stuffs the takedown.
Kavitha tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rustam Khabilov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khabilov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Kavitha closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Khabilov quickly recovers to half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Khabilov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Khabilov wants to improve his position but Kavitha is controlling well.
Kavitha content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Kavitha has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Kavitha wants to free his trapped foot but Khabilov is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rustam Khabilov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kavitha sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Kavitha tries to pass to full mount but Khabilov defends it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kavitha scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kavitha doesn't manage to clinch there - Khabilov circles away.

Kavitha gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Kavitha has Khabilov pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Kavitha pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Khabilov tumbling to the mat - Kavitha dives into Khabilov's guard.
Khabilov keeping full guard, as Kavitha tries to pass.
Kavitha is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kavitha throwing strikes from guard but Khabilov blocks nicely.
Kavitha is stalling in the full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

And that's the end of the fight!
Meenakshy Kavitha showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kavitha, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight for Meenakshy Kavitha!
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight for Meenakshy Kavitha!
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight for Meenakshy Kavitha!

Meenakshy Kavitha wins by unanimous decision!
An out of breath Meenakshy Kavitha thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.