PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rahkim Abdullah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anzhor Azhiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anzhor Azhiev has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Abdullah
vs
Azhiev

190 cm
31
150 lbs
15 - 13 - 0

177 cm
36
144 lbs
18 - 57 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rahkim Abdullah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 57 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Anzhor Azhiev!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azhiev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Azhiev closes the distance and clinches up with Abdullah, looking for a takedown. Azhiev pushes Abdullah against the cage but Abdullah circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Azhiev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Abdullah tries to avoid it but Azhiev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Abdullah to the ground. Abdullah escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Abdullah drops down looking for a counter takedown but Azhiev sprawls and moves away.
Rahkim Abdullah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anzhor Azhiev.
Azhiev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Abdullah swivels and escapes.
Abdullah tries to counter with a takedown but Azhiev is quick to defend against it.
Azhiev tries for a takedown but Abdullah sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Abdullah changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Azhiev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Abdullah is fending him off so far but Azhiev persists. Nope, Abdullah circles away and we're back to standing.
Azhiev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Abdullah's waist but Abdullah gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Azhiev off to one side.
Azhiev misses with a takedown attempt

and Abdullah counters with a nice double leg into side control. Azhiev won't be happy with that.
Azhiev tries to bench press Abdullah off him but Abdullah keeps the position.

Abdullah stands up and beckons Azhiev to his feet.
Azhiev shoots in looking for a takedown but Abdullah manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Azhiev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Abdullah tries to counter with a takedown but Azhiev is quick to defend against it.
Azhiev misses with a takedown

and Abdullah counters with a shoot takedown. Azhiev fights it but they end up in guard.
Abdullah really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Abdullah gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Azhiev misses with a takedown attempt

and Abdullah counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Abdullah.

Abdullah gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Azhiev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Abdullah tries to avoid it but Azhiev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Abdullah to the ground. Abdullah escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Abdullah half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Azhiev shoots in for a double leg but Abdullah sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Azhiev looks winded!
Azhiev has his takedown stuffed

and Abdullah counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Abdullah stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Azhiev to get to his feet.
Azhiev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Azhiev shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Abdullah defends it nicely.
Abdullah half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Azhiev doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Abdullah counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Abdullah has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Abdullah displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Azhiev.
Azhiev tries for a takedown but Abdullah circles away easily

and Abdullah counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Abdullah.

Azhiev is working an open guard so Abdullah takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Azhiev closes this distance looking for a takedown but Abdullah circles away.
Abdullah drops down looking for a counter takedown but Azhiev sprawls and moves away.
Azhiev doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Abdullah counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Abdullah decides to stand up.
Azhiev shoots in and drives through. Abdullah sprawls well.
Azhiev misses with a takedown

and Abdullah counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Abdullah gets to his feet - Azhiev follows without any prompting.
Azhiev with a poor takedown

and Abdullah counters with a nice double leg into side control. Azhiev won't be happy with that.
Azhiev tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Abdullah decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Azhiev with a lazy takedown attempt

and Abdullah decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Azhiev's guard.

Abdullah stands and steps away. Azhiev gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Azhiev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Abdullah's waist but Abdullah gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Azhiev off to one side.
Abdullah tries to counter with a takedown but Azhiev is quick to defend against it.
Azhiev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Abdullah counters with a takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Abdullah decides to stand back up. Abdullah steps back and let's Azhiev get back to his feet.
Azhiev misses with a takedown attempt

and Abdullah counters with a single leg into guard. Azhiev didn't expect that.

Abdullah stands and steps away. Azhiev gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Azhiev fails with the takedown

and Abdullah decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Azhiev's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Abdullah stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Azhiev shoots in looking for a takedown. Abdullah tries to sprawl out of it but Azhiev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Abdullah manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Azhiev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Abdullah counters with a single leg into guard. Azhiev didn't expect that.

Abdullah stands and steps away. Azhiev gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Azhiev doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Abdullah counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Azhiev!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Abdullah stands up and beckons Azhiev to his feet.
Azhiev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Azhiev with a poor takedown

and Abdullah counters with a shoot takedown. Azhiev fights it but they end up in guard.

Abdullah stands up and waves to Azhiev to follow him.
Azhiev with a poor takedown

and Abdullah counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Abdullah gets to his feet. Azhiev looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Azhiev closes the distance and clinches up with Abdullah, looking for a takedown. Azhiev pushes Abdullah against the cage but Abdullah circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Abdullah drops down looking for a counter takedown but Azhiev sprawls and moves away.
Rahkim Abdullah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anzhor Azhiev.
Azhiev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Abdullah counters with a single leg into guard. Azhiev didn't expect that.
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!

Abdullah stands up and waves to Azhiev to follow him.
Azhiev misses with a takedown

and Abdullah counters with a nice double leg into side control. Azhiev won't be happy with that.

Abdullah decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Azhiev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Abdullah counters with a single leg into guard. Azhiev didn't expect that.
Azhiev is breathing heavily.

Abdullah stands up from Azhiev's guard - Abdullah perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhiev fails with the takedown

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

Azhiev is working an open guard so Abdullah takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Azhiev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Abdullah tries to avoid it but Azhiev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Abdullah to the ground. Abdullah escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Abdullah attempts a counter takedown but Azhiev avoids it well and moves away.
Azhiev tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Abdullah defends well and Azhiev ends up having to push Abdullah into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Azhiev shoots in looking for a takedown but Abdullah manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Azhiev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nice takedown defense from Abdullah. No joy for Azhiev on that attempt.
Anzhor Azhiev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Azhiev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Abdullah counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Abdullah stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Azhiev misses with a takedown attempt

and Abdullah counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Abdullah.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Abdullah decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Azhiev misses with a takedown

and Abdullah counters with a single leg into guard. Azhiev didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Abdullah gets to his feet. Azhiev looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Azhiev misses with a takedown

and Abdullah counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Azhiev is working an open guard so Abdullah takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Azhiev misses with a takedown attempt

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

Abdullah stands and steps away. Azhiev gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Azhiev misses with a takedown attempt

and Abdullah counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Abdullah stands up from Azhiev's guard - Abdullah perhaps looking for a knockout.
Azhiev misses with a takedown

and Abdullah counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Abdullah stands up from Azhiev's guard - Abdullah perhaps looking for a knockout.
Azhiev doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Abdullah counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Abdullah gets to his feet - Azhiev follows without any prompting.
Nice takedown defense from Abdullah. No joy for Azhiev on that attempt.
Azhiev tries for a takedown but Abdullah circles away easily

and Abdullah counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Abdullah.

Azhiev is working an open guard so Abdullah takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Azhiev shoots in for a double leg but Abdullah sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Azhiev shoots in for a takedown but Abdullah shows good takedown defense.
Azhiev with a lazy takedown attempt

and Abdullah counters with a single leg into guard. Azhiev didn't expect that.

Abdullah stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Azhiev has his takedown stuffed

and Abdullah counters with a single leg into guard. Azhiev didn't expect that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Abdullah gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Azhiev tries for a takedown but Abdullah circles away easily

and Abdullah counters with a takedown into side control.
Azhiev looks to move to half guard but instead Abdullah has passed into mount! Damn!

Abdullah stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Azhiev with a poor takedown

and Abdullah counters with a nice double leg into side control. Azhiev won't be happy with that.

Abdullah stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Azhiev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Abdullah but Abdullah pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Abdullah feinted with a counter takedown.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Azhiev with a lazy takedown attempt

and Abdullah counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Abdullah stands up from half guard.
Azhiev misses with a takedown

and Abdullah counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rahkim Abdullah dominated that second 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Azhiev with a poor takedown

and Abdullah counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rahkim Abdullah overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Abdullah stands and steps away. Azhiev gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Abdullah is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Azhiev can do to turn this around?
Azhiev has a takedown stuffed.
Azhiev shoots in but no luck this time.
Abdullah half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Rahkim Abdullah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anzhor Azhiev.
Azhiev with a lazy takedown attempt

and Abdullah counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Abdullah stands up and waves to Azhiev to follow him.
Rahkim Abdullah is winning the standup battle so far.
Abdullah stuffs the takedown.
Abdullah displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Azhiev.
Azhiev with a poor takedown

so Abdullah counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Abdullah stands up and waves to Azhiev to follow him.
Azhiev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Azhiev misses with a takedown

and Abdullah counters with a single leg into guard. Azhiev didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Abdullah stands up from Azhiev's guard - Abdullah perhaps looking for a knockout.
Abdullah stuffs the takedown attempt from Azhiev. Azhiev gets slowly back to his feet.
Azhiev misses with a takedown attempt

and Abdullah counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Abdullah decides to stand and escape the position.
Azhiev has his takedown stuffed

and Abdullah counters with a takedown into side control.

Abdullah stands up and beckons Azhiev to his feet.
Azhiev tries for a takedown but Abdullah circles away easily

so Abdullah counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Abdullah gets to his feet. Azhiev looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Azhiev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Abdullah counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Azhiev!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Abdullah stands up and beckons Azhiev to his feet.
Azhiev with a lazy takedown attempt

and Abdullah counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Abdullah decides to return to a standing position.
Rahkim Abdullah is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Azhiev tries for a takedown but Abdullah circles away easily

and Abdullah decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Azhiev's guard.

Abdullah decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Azhiev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Abdullah as he jumps to the side.
Abdullah appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Azhiev has a takedown stuffed.
Abdullah attempts a counter takedown but Azhiev avoids it well and moves away.
Anzhor Azhiev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Azhiev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Abdullah tries to counter with a takedown but Azhiev is quick to defend against it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Abdullah as he jumps to the side.
Abdullah attempts a counter takedown but Azhiev avoids it well and moves away.
Azhiev tries for a takedown but Abdullah circles away easily

and Abdullah counters with a nice double leg into side control. Azhiev won't be happy with that.

Abdullah stands up and beckons Azhiev to his feet.
Azhiev doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Abdullah counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Abdullah.

Abdullah decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Azhiev fails with the takedown

and Abdullah counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Abdullah decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Abdullah sprawls well. Abdullah wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Azhiev gets slowly back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Azhiev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Abdullah counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Abdullah.

Abdullah stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Horrible takedown attempt by Azhiev or perhaps it was just good defense by Abdullah, which made it look bad.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Azhiev.
Abdullah drops down looking for a counter takedown but Azhiev sprawls and moves away.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Azhiev throws a right hand that misses

and Abdullah counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Abdullah.

Abdullah stands up and waves to Azhiev to follow him.
Azhiev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Abdullah counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rahkim Abdullah showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Abdullah has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:24
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:24
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rahkim Abdullah!
The defeated Anzhor Azhiev had this to say: 'I still want that title shot. Im the most experienced fighter here and everyday wants to see me smash the champ so lets do it whenever he starts ducking me.'.