PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Britt Stephenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mohamed Khanidov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mohamed Khanidov will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Stephenson
vs
Khanidov

162 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

183 cm
25
199 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Britt Stephenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mohamed Khanidov!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stephenson gets caught flat footed, as Khanidov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Stephenson wants to stand but Khanidov is controlling the position.
Khanidov postures up.
Stephenson looking for a sweep. Not yet Stephenson, not yet.
Stephenson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Stephenson being controlled here, momentarily.
Stephenson is trying to keep Khanidov in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khanidov landing some decent shots from guard.
Stephenson wants to stand up but Khanidov is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khanidov tries to stand but Stephenson is controlling from the bottom.
Khanidov sitting in guard here, content to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Khanidov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Khanidov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stephenson defends it well.
Stephenson is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephenson gets full guard.
Stephenson wants to sweep but no luck.
Khanidov being controlled here momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Khanidov trying to control the position from guard on top but Stephenson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stephenson wants to stand and escape but Khanidov is having none of it.
Khanidov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Khanidov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Mohamed Khanidov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Khanidov.

Stephenson throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Khanidov wants to clinch.

Khanidov gets a takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khanidov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stephenson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Stephenson is looking to control Khanidov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Stephenson avoid being mounted?
Stephenson wants to improve his position but Khanidov is controlling well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stephenson wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mohamed Khanidov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Stephenson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Stephenson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Stephenson showed some decent athleticism there.

Stephenson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Khanidov wants to control but Stephenson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stephenson controlling the action here.

Stephenson trying to work for an americana but Khanidov has managed to regain full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khanidov working a defensive guard here.

Khanidov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Stephenson postures up.
Stephenson is in close to Khanidov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Stephenson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Khanidov's head.
Stephenson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Khanidov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Stephenson throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Stephenson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stephenson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Stephenson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Stephenson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stephenson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Khanidov throws a push kick but Stephenson slaps the foot to one side.

Stephenson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Khanidov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Stephenson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Khanidov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stephenson has managed to get both his arms back between Khanidov's legs - danger averted.
Khanidov is breathing heavily.
Stephenson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Stephenson trying to control the position from guard on top but Khanidov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Khanidov won't allow Stephenson to get back to his feet.
Stephenson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stephenson throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Khanidov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood 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.
Khanidov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Khanidov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Khanidov stops Stephenson from standing up.
Khanidov trying to control but Stephenson is working from the bottom.
Stephenson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Khanidov is controlling him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Khanidov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stephenson can't do much from the bottom here.
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 Britt Stephenson will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Stephenson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Khanidov but Khanidov pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Khanidov shoots in and gets a takedown into Stephenson's guard.
Stephenson wants to get back to his feet but Khanidov passes into half guard.

Stephenson controlling the position well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Khanidov escapes and gets back to his feet.
Mohamed Khanidov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stephenson gets caught napping as Khanidov dives in and scores a takedown. Stephenson manages to retain guard.
Khanidov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Khanidov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Khanidov passes into half guard.
My spies in Cozad MMA St Petersburg inform me that Khanidov has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Khanidov seems to be looking for submissions.
Khanidov stops Stephenson from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Khanidov stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Khanidov swats away the attempt to clinch by Stephenson.
Khanidov flicks out a counter leg kick but Stephenson steps away.
Khanidov throws a nice head kick!

Stephenson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Khanidov did well to prevent Stephenson getting side control.

Stephenson is working for a submission of some sort.
Khanidov tries to roll over but Stephenson keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khanidov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Stephenson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Khanidov defending well though.
Stephenson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Khanidov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Stephenson is trying to control. Khanidov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's four 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.
Stephenson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Khanidov wants to clinch.
Stephenson dives in for a single leg takedown but Khanidov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stephenson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Britt Stephenson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A decent looking body kick lands there for Khanidov.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mohamed Khanidov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Khanidov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mohamed Khanidov!