PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ali Aliev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Meredith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aliev comes to the cage accompanied by Lezginka. Ali Aliev has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Aliev
vs
Meredith

175 cm
20
159 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

181 cm
25
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ali Aliev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jay Meredith!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Sergei Dronov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Aliev gets a double leg takedown into Meredith's guard.
Aliev engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Meredith is working an open guard so Aliev takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Meredith tries to clinch up

and Aliev counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Meredith is looking to stand back up but Aliev counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Meredith.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Meredith tries to roll over but Aliev keeps him under control.

Aliev is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Meredith doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Aliev.
Meredith trying to hold on to Aliev's head to control him but Aliev postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aliev looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Aliev.
Meredith wants to control but Aliev is keeping busy.
Aliev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Meredith has hold of Aliev's hands but Aliev slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Still in half guard, Aliev seems content to control.
Aliev not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meredith is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Aliev scores with a couple of nice shots.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Meredith is trying to control but can't.
Meredith is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Aliev is staying active.

Aliev is working for a kimura but Meredith is defending it quite comfortably.
Aliev winds up and cracks Meredith with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aliev tries to pass to full mount but Meredith defends it.
Aliev perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Aliev wants to work for an arm triangle but Meredith is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Meredith tries to clinch

and Aliev counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Meredith!
We've been hearing that Aliev has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Meredith takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Meredith being controlled for a moment.
You can see the frustration on Meredith's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Meredith tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ali Aliev dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Meredith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Aliev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Meredith moves to clinch but Aliev breaks away

and Aliev decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Meredith's guard.
Meredith wants to sweep here but Aliev controlling him for the moment.
Aliev controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Aliev is looking to advance position but Meredith has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Meredith tries to control but Aliev wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aliev can't escape the position.
Meredith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Aliev is looking to escape.
Aliev tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Meredith looking to control but Aliev is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Aliev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Meredith can do to turn this around?
Aliev wants to control but Meredith is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Aliev is trying to escape the mount.
Aliev on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Aliev tries to get out of the position.
Meredith looking to control but Aliev is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aliev wants to hold on but Meredith pushes him away.
Aliev is desperately trying to improve his position but Meredith has a good base and remains in mount.
Aliev tries to lock up and control but Meredith gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Meredith won't let Aliev get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Aliev is squirming around, avoiding Meredith's attempts to control the action.
Aliev manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aliev is positioning himself well to prevent Meredith advancing to mount.
Meredith looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Aliev keeping control of the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Meredith tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Aliev decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Meredith's guard.
Aliev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Meredith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jay Meredith will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A clash of legs there as Aliev blocks the low kick.
Meredith misses with a low kick as Aliev jumps back.
Meredith darts in trying to clinch

and Aliev counters with a nice double leg into side control. Meredith won't be happy with that.
Meredith is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Meredith stops Aliev from passing to mount.
Aliev is chipping away with strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Aliev tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Meredith wants to control but Aliev postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meredith is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Aliev is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Aliev takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Meredith wants to control but Aliev is having none of it.
Aliev controlling from the full mount.
Meredith wants to hold on but Aliev pushes him away.
A nice elbow there by Aliev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aliev looking to control and managing it successfully.

Aliev is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Meredith has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Ali Aliev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Aliev is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Meredith has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Meredith wants to control but Aliev is having none of it.
Aliev lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Meredith is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meredith is wriggling around trying to escape.
Meredith is still in real trouble! Can Aliev finish him?

Aliev looking for a guillotine from mount but Meredith is having none of it.
Aliev controlling from the full mount.
Aliev connects with a bit shot that sees Meredith covering up! More strikes from Aliev and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Aliev is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ali Aliev!
A relieved looking Ali Aliev thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.