PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rustam Khabilov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evan Payton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Khabilov's entrance music is Rihanna Bitch Better Have My Money. A fine choice. Evan Payton has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Rustam Khabilov's chin.

Khabilov
vs
Payton

182 cm
20
187 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

180 cm
20
192 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Mohito Fightwear
GREEN!160

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rustam Khabilov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Evan Payton!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Payton misses with a straight left.
Khabilov on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Khabilov slips under a jab from Payton.

Khabilov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Khabilov slips a nice elbow through Payton's hands, connecting with Payton's forehead.
Payton keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Khabilov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Khabilov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Payton on the ground.
Payton keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Payton wants to control but Khabilov is keeping busy.
Payton regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Khabilov.
We've been hearing good reports from Khabilov's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Khabilov throws an elbow that misses. Payton uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Khabilov's guard. Nice move by Payton!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payton preventing the sweep.
Payton stops Khabilov from standing up.
Payton controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Payton trying to control the position from guard on top but Khabilov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Khabilov uses the cage to get back to his feet.
The crowd cheers as Khabilov lands an impressive looking overhand right. Payton doesn't seem phased though.
Payton finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Khabilov drops down looking for a counter takedown but Payton sprawls and moves away.
Payton throws a body shot but no joy.
Payton takes a swing at Khabilov's ribcage but misses.
Payton with a hook.
Payton waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Khabilov.
Khabilov attempts a counter takedown but Payton avoids it well and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Payton drops Khabilov with a beautiful combination! Khabilov stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Payton is looking for the KO!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Payton misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Khabilov half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Payton has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Payton loads up on a big right hand but Khabilov slips the punch.

Payton manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Khabilov on his heels. He'll look to pass Khabilov's guard now, I'm sure.

Khabilov is rocked!
Payton is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Oh Khabilov is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Payton tries to free his leg and advance position but Khabilov is retaining full guard.
Payton won't allow Khabilov to sweep him here.
Khabilov keeping full guard, as Payton tries to pass.
Khabilov seems to have got his legs back now.
Payton trying to control the position from guard on top but Khabilov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Payton tries to free his leg and advance position but Khabilov is retaining full guard.
Payton looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Payton preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Khabilov 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.
Khabilov keeping moving, preventing Payton from controlling successfully.
Khabilov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Payton is controlling him.
Payton trying to control the position from guard on top but Khabilov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Payton passes Khabilov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Payton is pressing down on Khabilov's thigh, looking to free his foot. Khabilov is holding on for now.
Khabilov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Payton seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Khabilov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Khabilov misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Khabilov wants to get back to full guard.

That's four 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.

Payton seems to be working for a kimura but Khabilov defends the submission attempt.
Payton is looking to advance position but Khabilov won't allow it.
Khabilov tries to get to full guard but Payton has control of the leg.
Payton wants to pass the guard but Khabilov is defending well.

Payton is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Khabilov trying to control from the bottom.
Payton with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Payton is working for a submission of some sort.
Khabilov is trying to maintain the position but Payton is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evan Payton dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Payton dives in for a single leg takedown but Khabilov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Payton misses with a wild body shot.
Khabilov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Khabilov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Payton throws a leg kick

so Khabilov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Payton isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Khabilov stacks Payton on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Khabilov!
Khabilov creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
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.
Khabilov cracks Payton with a big elbow.
Khabilov lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Payton down.
Khabilov scores with a couple of short elbows.
Khabilov throwing strikes but Payton manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khabilov is trying to improve his position.

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

Payton tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Khabilov is not content to let Payton control the position.
Khabilov is looking to regain half guard here but Payton keeps moving and retains side control.
Khabilov gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Khabilov wants to control but Payton is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Payton working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Khabilov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Khabilov is squirming around, avoiding Payton's attempts to control the action.
Payton has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Payton avoids the attempt from Khabilov to control.
Khabilov is desperately trying to improve his position but Payton has a good base and remains in mount.
Payton moves to the back position.

Payton is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Khabilov rolls, trying to escape but Payton keeps control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Payton is working on the RNC. He looks like he's got it but Khabilov won't tap... Oh, he's out! The ref rips Payton off his unconscious opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Evan Payton!
An out of breath and clearly excited Evan Payton thanked Spartan Nutrition for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).