PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ramazan Magomedov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Volkan Xhaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Magomedov
vs
Xhaka

180 cm
23
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
23
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ramazan Magomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Volkan Xhaka!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Daniel Blasius and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Magomedov enables Xhaka to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Magomedov manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Magomedov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Xhaka is one step ahead there.
Xhaka wants to control from the top but Magomedov keeps moving.
Xhaka is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Xhaka throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Xhaka wanted to stand there but Magomedov had control of the position.
Magomedov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xhaka cracks Magomedov with a solid left hand.

Magomedov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Xhaka doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Xhaka manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Xhaka with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov has a closed guard, preventing Xhaka from standing up.
Magomedov working a defensive guard here.
Xhaka preventing the sweep.
Magomedov looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Xhaka 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.
Xhaka trying to control but Magomedov is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.
Xhaka will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Xhaka closes the distance and pushes Magomedov back into the cage.
Xhaka tries for a takedown. No joy.

Magomedov manages to break the clinch.
Xhaka moves in looking to clinch but Magomedov pushes him off.
Xhaka shoots and misses

and Magomedov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Xhaka's guard.
Ramazan Magomedov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Volkan Xhaka.
Xhaka is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Xhaka looking for a sweep. Not yet Xhaka, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xhaka controls Magomedov momentarily but Magomedov frees himself.

Xhaka looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Xhaka has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Xhaka tries to strike from the bottom.

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.
Xhaka fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Magomedov avoids it really well and circles away.
Xhaka tries to clinch up but Magomedov circles away and keeps his distance.
Xhaka shoots in for a double leg but Magomedov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Magomedov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Magomedov successfully pulls guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Magomedov holds on and takes a little breather.
Magomedov continues to stall.
Magomedov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Xhaka on the ground.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Magomedov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ramazan Magomedov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Magomedov gets a takedown into half guard.
Xhaka makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Xhaka.

Xhaka isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Magomedov stacks Xhaka on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Magomedov!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xhaka is trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Magomedov working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Xhaka being controlled for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Xhaka prevents Magomedov from improving position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Xhaka manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Xhaka is trying to stand back up but Magomedov is controlling him
Xhaka gets full guard.
Xhaka is trying to keep Magomedov in close.
Magomedov 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Xhaka is keeping the position for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Magomedov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Xhaka!
Xhaka tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xhaka struggling a bit here.
Xhaka is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Magomedov tries to move to mount but Xhaka blocks the move with his legs.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Xhaka trying his best to control but Magomedov has mounted him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ramazan Magomedov dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Magomedov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Xhaka napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Xhaka manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Xhaka wants to improve his position but Magomedov is controlling well.
Magomedov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magomedov is thwarting Xhaka's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xhaka is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Xhaka is looking to control Magomedov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Xhaka avoid being mounted?

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Magomedov throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Magomedov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Magomedov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Xhaka keeps working.
Magomedov content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Ramazan Magomedov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xhaka regains half guard.
Xhaka is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xhaka wants to control but Magomedov passes into side.
Xhaka tries to improve position but can't.
Xhaka is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Xhaka's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The referee asks Magomedov politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Magomedov prefers to stall for the moment though.

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

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.
Magomedov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Magomedov is looking to land body kicks.
Magomedov with a poor takedown

and Xhaka counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Xhaka wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Xhaka stalling in the clinch but Magomedov improves position.
Magomedov wants to take the fight to the mat but Xhaka manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Magomedov stalling the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Magomedov breaks the clinch.

Xhaka closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Volkan Xhaka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ramazan Magomedov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Xhaka jumps into guard, dragging Magomedov to the mat.
Magomedov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Magomedov passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.

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 Ramazan Magomedov.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Magomedov, 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight for Ramazan Magomedov!
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight for Ramazan Magomedov!
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight for Ramazan Magomedov!

Ramazan Magomedov wins by unanimous decision!