PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Leo Villa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mamed Khalidov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Khalidov has chosen Mamed - CoreMoon as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Villa
vs
Khalidov

175 cm
27
184 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

182 cm
32
197 lbs
9 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

Spartan Nutrition

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 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Leo Villa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mamed Khalidov!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Shirou Masuda and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Villa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've been told by Villa's head coaches at Immortal Technique 12 Elite Coaches ($750) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Villa scores with a jab.
Villa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Villa enables Khalidov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Villa manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Villa keeping moving, preventing Khalidov from controlling successfully.
Villa keeping full guard, as Khalidov tries to pass.
Khalidov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Villa pushes Khalidov off looking to stand but Khalidov dives back in and keeps control.
Khalidov is keen to just control but Villa is a slippery customer.
Khalidov moves nicely into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidov trying to control the position but Villa is working away.
Villa tries to escape but Khalidov is in control.
Khalidov slows the pace down.
Khalidov tries to advance to mount but Villa instead regains half guard.
Khalidov wants to free his trapped foot but Villa is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Villa is not content to let Khalidov control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Villa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And Khalidov tries to counter it with a takedown but Villa pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Khalidov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Khalidov prevents Villa from getting back to his feet.

Villa has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the ropes to get back to his feet. Khalidov has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the ropes.
Khalidov prevents Villa from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov looking to stall.
Khalidov throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Villa has had enough of the clinch but Khalidov keeps him there for the moment.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Villa as Khalidov tries to tie him up.
Villa tries a body shot but Khalidov blocks it.
Villa wants to break the clinch but can't.

Villa breaks the clinch.
Khalidov shoots for a double leg takedown but Villa sprawls well. He's pushed Khalidov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Khalidov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Villa.
Leo Villa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Khalidov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Villa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Khalidov changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Khalidov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Leo Villa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mamed Khalidov.
Villa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Villa takes a swing at Khalidov's ribcage but misses.
A combination from Villa does no damage.
Khalidov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Khalidov has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Khalidov.
Villa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Khalidov manages to avoid it.
Khalidov changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Jab, jab by Villa - just one landing.
Villa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A left and a right from Villa both land. Nice combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Khalidov shoots in looking for a takedown but Villa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Khalidov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A quick step to the side and Villa tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Villa swinging wildly here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Villa dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Villa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Khalidov.
Villa feints a jab promting Khalidov to slip. Villa then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Khalidov slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Villa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Khalidov.
Khalidov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Leo Villa is winning the standup battle so far.
Khalidov looks for a takedown but Villa sprawls well.
Leo Villa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mamed Khalidov.
Villa misses with a double jab

and Khalidov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Khalidov passes Villa's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Villa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Khalidov can do to turn this around?
Khalidov is keen to just control but Villa is a slippery customer.
Khalidov wants to pass the guard but Villa is defending well.
Villa tries to get to full guard but Khalidov has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villa won't allow Khalidov to pass to mount.
Villa is trying to stand back up but Khalidov is controlling him
Khalidov trying to control the pace.
Villa looks like he's trying to stand up.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Villa knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Khalidov on the ground.
Khalidov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Villa keeps working.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Leo Villa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

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.
Villa throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Khalidov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Villa throws a right and a left that Khalidov avoids nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Villa as Khalidov shoots in.
A little feinted left hand from Villa on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Khalidov shoots for a takedown but Villa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Villa connects with a body shot that sends Khalidov's belly button to the back.
Villa throws a body punch but Khalidov moves out of range.
Khalidov feints the counter takedown.
Villa digs a good hook to Khalidov's body.
Villa lands a head shot.
Villa scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Leo Villa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Khalidov gets a double leg takedown into Villa's guard.
Khalidov is breathing heavily.
Villa striking off his back but it's not causing Khalidov any problems.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Khalidov trying to control but Villa is working from the bottom.
Villa keeping full guard, as Khalidov tries to pass.
Villa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Khalidov is controlling him.
Mamed Khalidov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Khalidov trying to control the position from guard on top but Villa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.
Villa lands a slapping body shot.
Villa throws a nice looking combination but Khalidov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Khalidov fails with a takedown attempt.
It looked like Villa was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Khalidov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Villa gets caught flat footed, as Khalidov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Khalidov trying to control the position from guard on top but Villa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Villa dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Villa gets caught flat footed, as Khalidov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Khalidov won't allow Villa to get back to his feet.
Khalidov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Villa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fighters are working up against the ropes. Villa manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Khalidov can't find room to land a body shot as Villa controls the action.
Villa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Khalidov blocks it with crossed arms.
Villa lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Villa gets through Khalidov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Khalidov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Villa has a couple of punches blocked by Khalidov.
Khalidov stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Villa lands a shoulder strike.
Villa blocks the elbow strike.
Khalidov tries to work over Villa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Villa is working Khalidov over against the ropes.
Villa is trying to break the clinch but Khalidov has him pressed against the ropes.
Mamed Khalidov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Villa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Villa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Villa throws a series of punches but Khalidov avoids them all with ease.
Khalidov shoots in for a takedown but Villa shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Villa tries to bum rush Khalidov with a series of wild strikes but Khalidov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Khalidov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Villa's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Villa trying to keep a closed guard but Khalidov is proving a slippery customer.
Khalidov preventing the sweep.
Khalidov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Villa is keeping the position for now.
Villa wants to stand up but Khalidov is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov trying to control but Villa is working from the bottom.
Khalidov controls from within his opponent's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Khalidov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Khalidov avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Khalidov keeps the fight on the outside.
Villa throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Khalidov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Villa throws a right hand that Khalidov ducks under and follows up with a left that Khalidov also avoids with ease.
Khalidov changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Khalidov shoots in looking for a takedown but Villa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Khalidov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Leo Villa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mamed Khalidov.
Villa lands a two punch combo.
Villa swinging wildly here.
Khalidov with the counter takedown but Villa avoids it easily.
Villa swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Khalidov.
Khalidov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Leo Villa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Villa is looking to wear down Khalidov with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Khalidov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Khalidov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Villa wants to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leo Villa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Villa, 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leo Villa!