PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Pablos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valentin Hadjiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Pablos
vs
Hadjiev

175 cm
29
198 lbs
15 - 26 - 0

187 cm
30
185 lbs
12 - 11 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very quick

Good wrestler
Brawler
Fast

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 15 - 26 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pablo Pablos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Valentin Hadjiev!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Chris Saunders and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pablos shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hadjiev sprawls well. Hadjiev wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Pablos gets slowly back to his feet.
Hadjiev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pablos pinned against the ropes. Pablos gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
No luck for Hadjiev with that takedown attempt.
Pablos swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Hadjiev gets caught flat footed, as Pablos shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hadjiev wants to stand up but Pablos is controlling him.
Pablos wants to control from the top but Hadjiev keeps moving.
Hadjiev is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pablos is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pablos looking to pass the guard.
Pablos trying to control the position from guard on top but Hadjiev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hadjiev is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pablos is controlling him.
Pablos trying to control but Hadjiev is working from the bottom.
Hadjiev wants to stand but Pablos is controlling the position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Hadjiev scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Pablos controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Hadjiev fails with the takedown
and Pablos counters with a straight right hand.
Pablo Pablos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valentin Hadjiev.

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.
Pablos fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Pablos leaves Hadjiev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Pablos shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hadjiev as he avoids it easily.
Hadjiev slaps away a takedown attempt from Pablos, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Pablos goes for a double leg but Hadjiev avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the ropes as Hadjiev continues to drive forward.
And Hadjiev tries to counter it with a takedown but Pablos pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Hadjiev shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pablos sprawls well. Pablos wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hadjiev gets slowly back to his feet.
Pablos shoots in for a takedown but Hadjiev shows good takedown defense.
Hadjiev drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Pablos defends it well.
Hadjiev closes the distance and clinches up with Pablos, looking for a takedown. Hadjiev pushes Pablos against the ropes but Pablos circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Hadjiev gets a takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hadjiev drops an elbow to the side of Pablos's head.

Hadjiev seems to be working for a kimura but Pablos defends the submission attempt.
Pablos works his way to full guard. Good work.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Hadjiev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pablos is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hadjiev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pablos not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pablos looking for a sweep. Not yet Pablos, not yet.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Hadjiev working his ground and pound in the gym.
Hadjiev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pablos had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hadjiev defends it easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hadjiev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hadjiev works over Pablos with some ground and pound from guard.
Hadjiev is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Pablos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hadjiev is one step ahead there.
Hadjiev lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Pablos is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hadjiev postures up and lands a big shot to Pablos's brow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hadjiev content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hadjiev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentin Hadjiev dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Horrible takedown attempt by Pablos or perhaps it was just good defense by Hadjiev, which made it look bad.
Hadjiev fails with a takedown attempt.
Pablos looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Pablos dives in and grabs Hadjiev's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hadjiev pushes down on Pablos's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pablo Pablos. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hadjiev closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Pablos did well to prevent Hadjiev getting side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pablos is looking to improve his position.
Pablos is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Barbell Brigade, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Hadjiev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hadjiev is thwarting Pablos's attempts to control the position.
Hadjiev is nestled in close to Pablos, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hadjiev working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Pablos is rocked!

Hadjiev seems to be working for a kimura but Pablos defends the submission attempt.
Oh Pablos is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Pablos is trying to get back to full guard.
Hadjiev is sitting in half guard. He's postured up and lands a nice elbow. Oh, Pablos is hurt! He's hurt bad - Hadjiev fires away with more strikes and the referee jumps in to save Pablos from any more punishment! Congratulations to Hadjiev! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Valentin Hadjiev!
After the fight, Valentin Hadjiev was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.
Pablo Pablos was interviewed post fight and said 'thanks my sponsors and fans!!!'.