PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Azevedo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Bilashki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Azevedo's entrance music is Puddle Of Mudd - Psycho . A fine choice. Bilashki has chosen The Warriors of Skyrim as his entrance music. Jon Bilashki will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Azevedo
vs
Bilashki

179 cm
27
151 lbs
11 - 12 - 2

225 cm
41
300 lbs
13 - 22 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Heavy handed

Machiavelli Boutique

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thiago Azevedo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Jon Bilashki!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azevedo shoots in and drives through. Bilashki sprawls well.
Azevedo fails to land with a series of punches.
A big left from Azevedo misses.
Bilashki scoring well with a low kick there.
Azevedo misses with a leg kick.
Azevedo misses with a body kick.
Azevedo throws a head kick but Bilashki moves out of range.
Bilashki is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Bilashki takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Azevedo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Azevedo moves out of range of the body kick from Bilashki.
Azevedo throws a series of strikes that have Bilashki backpedaling.

Bilashki has closed the distance and engaged Azevedo in a clinch.
Bilashki scores with a nice hook to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Bilashki manages to break the clinch.
Azevedo looks for the body kick but Bilashki saw that one coming.
Bilashki wants to counter with a clinch but Azevedo pushes him away.
Azevedo connects with a single shot there.
Azevedo lands a leg kick that knocks Bilashki off balance momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bilashki slips a jab and a cross from Azevedo.
Bilashki counters with a body kick.
Azevedo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Bilashki connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Azevedo cracks the inside of Bilashki's front leg.

Azevedo drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Azevedo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Azevedo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Bilashki wants to stand but Azevedo is controlling the position.
Azevedo working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

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

Azevedo drops back, looking for a kneebar! Bilashki looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Bilashki looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Bilashki!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo is looking to regain half guard here but Bilashki keeps moving and retains side control.
Bilashki is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Azevedo will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Azevedo tries to improve position but can't.
Azevedo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Bilashki's best efforts.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Azevedo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bilashki's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bilashki's back!
Azevedo seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Bilashki is trying to get back to his feet but Azevedo has full control of the position and if anything, Bilashki has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Azevedo working for the choke.

Azevedo working for a choke but Bilashki is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bilashki is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Bilashki defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Azevedo's arms.
Bilashki is trying to stand back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four 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.
Bilashki is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Azevedo is persistently looking for the submission but Bilashki is defending it well.
Bilashki trying to control the action but Azevedo just sinks the hooks in.
Bilashki trying to get back to his feet but Azevedo is in full control for now.

Azevedo looking for the choke from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Azevedo 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.

Azevedo scores with a head kick. Bilashki tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Azevedo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Azevedo keeps Bilashki at a distance using the push kick.
Thiago Azevedo is winning the standup battle so far.
Azevedo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Azevedo throws a head kick that misses.
Azevedo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Thiago Azevedo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bilashki clinches with his opponent.
Bilashki leaning against his opponent.

Bilashki manages to break the clinch.
Azevedo swinging wildly here.
Thiago Azevedo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bilashki comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Azevedo feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

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

Azevedo is working an open guard so Bilashki takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azevedo misses with a wild combination.
No joy there for Azevedo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Bilashki lands a big uppercut and Azevedo crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Azevedo looks OK. Bilashki waves Azevedo back to his feet!

Azevedo is rocked!
Bilashki dodges the punch combination from Azevedo.
Oh Azevedo is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Bilashki throws a body kick that misses.
Azevedo is looking for a counter combo.
Azevedo tries a head kick but it misses.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A cross from Azevedo lands.
Bilashki fails with a takedown attempt.
Azevedo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bilashki pinned against the cage. Bilashki gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Azevedo seems to have got his legs back now.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Azevedo, right into the meat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bilashki moves in looking to clinch but Azevedo pushes him off.
Bilashki tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Bilashki avoids a punch combination nicely.
Azevedo misses with the combination.
Bilashki lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
A head kick misses from Azevedo.
A little jabbing left from Bilashki on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Bilashki gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Azevedo to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Bilashki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Azevedo is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bilashki is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Azevedo will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Azevedo manages to get back to half guard.
Azevedo is trying to get back to full guard.
Bilashki seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Azevedo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Azevedo is looking to improve his position.
Azevedo is working hard here to advance position.
Azevedo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

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.
Bilashki wants to stand up but Azevedo has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Azevedo tries to roll over but Bilashki keeps him under control.
Bilashki slows the pace down in half guard.
Azevedo tries to roll over but Bilashki keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Thiago Azevedo will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Bilashki throws a head kick but Azevedo moves out of range.
Azevedo connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Azevedo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bilashki as he avoids it easily.
Bilashki tries to counter by closing the distance.

Azevedo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Bilashki!
Azevedo prevents Bilashki from escaping the position.

Azevedo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Bilashki sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azevedo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bilashki is trying to stand back up but Azevedo is controlling him
Azevedo wants to pass to mount but Bilashki is defending the position.

Azevedo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Azevedo seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bilashki wants to get back to his feet.

Bilashki looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sloppy strikes from Azevedo. Those never looked like landing.
Azevedo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bilashki tries to avoid it but Azevedo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bilashki to the ground. Bilashki escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Azevedo throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Bilashki tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Azevedo is in Bilashki's guard.

Azevedo has gone for a leg lock! Bilashki slips out almost immediately though and dives into Azevedo's guard.

Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bilashki is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bilashki is one step ahead there.
Bilashki trying to control but Azevedo is working from the bottom.
Bilashki trying to stand up but can't free himself from Azevedo's guard.

Azevedo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bilashki is aware though and is defending well.
Bilashki preventing the sweep.

Azevedo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bilashki gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Azevedo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bilashki's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo stops Bilashki from standing up.
Jon Bilashki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bilashki wants to sweep here but Azevedo controlling him for the moment.

Azevedo postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Bilashki is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Azevedo, into his guard.

Azevedo looking for a sweep. Not yet Azevedo, not yet.
Bilashki working some strikes from top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Azevedo has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Bilashki has passed into side control.
Bilashki trying to control the action but Azevedo is working from the bottom.
Thiago Azevedo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Azevedo tries to bench press Bilashki off him but Bilashki keeps the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Thiago Azevedo.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Azevedo, 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Thiago Azevedo!
A victorious Thiago Azevedo thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.