PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mamed Khalidov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ari Kantola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Khalidov's entrance music is Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up. A fine choice. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Khalidov
vs
Kantola

206 cm
26
241 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

185 cm
38
276 lbs
31 - 15 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Great elbows
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mamed Khalidov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ari Kantola!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Franklyn Lucas and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kantola looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kantola wants to control from the top but Khalidov keeps moving.
Kantola being controlled here momentarily.
Khalidov trying to keep a closed guard but Kantola is proving a slippery customer.

Khalidov looking for a guillotine here but Kantola defends easily.
Khalidov controls Kantola momentarily but Kantola frees himself.
Kantola sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kantola trying to control but Khalidov is working from the bottom.
Khalidov controls Kantola momentarily but Kantola frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kantola passes Khalidov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kantola perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Khalidov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kantola is working away from the top position though.
My spies in 3Band MMA ($500/week) inform me that Kantola has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Kantola is taking a breather. Khalidov says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Khalidov is looking to control Kantola's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Khalidov avoid being mounted?
Kantola is trying to control the action in half guard but Khalidov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Khalidov tries to roll over but Kantola keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Khalidov is trying is best to control the position here.
Kantola controlling the action here.

Khalidov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kantola slows the pace down in half guard.
Kantola wants to take a breather but Khalidov is having none of it.
Khalidov tries to get to full guard but Kantola has control of the leg.
Khalidov preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kantola trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kantola sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Khalidov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kantola is one step ahead there.
Khalidov keeping full guard, as Kantola tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Khalidov looking to control.
Khalidov keeping moving, preventing Kantola from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Khalidov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A head kick misses from Kantola.
Kantola throws a nice looking combination but Khalidov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Khalidov tries to counter by clinching up but Kantola breaks away and moves out of range.

Kantola takes the fight into the clinch.
Kantola is trying to maintain a safe position but Khalidov gets an underhook and turns Kantola into the cage.
Kantola tries to land knees in the clinch but Khalidov avoids the damage to the body.
Kantola misses with a hook to the ribs.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Khalidov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Khalidov stalls.
Khalidov lands with a right to the head.
Stalling in the clinch from Khalidov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Kantola dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kantola misses with a double jab.
Khalidov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kantola.
Kantola misses with a hook. Khalidov ducked under it nicely.
Khalidov throws a body punch but Kantola moves out of range.
Kantola lands with a good body shot.
Kantola checks the leg kick nicely there.
Mamed Khalidov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kantola bobbing and weaving well here. And he's unloaded with a massive right hand that drops Khalidov! He dives into his guard looking to finish!

Khalidov is rocked!

It looks like Mamed Khalidov has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Khalidov pulls Kantola in to control the position.
Oh Khalidov is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kantola trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Khalidov seems to have got his legs back now.
Khalidov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kantola is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Khalidov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidov being controlled here, momentarily.
Kantola wants to control from the top but Khalidov keeps moving.
Khalidov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kantola wants to control from the top but Khalidov keeps moving.
Khalidov is pulling down on Kantola's head. It's preventing any offense from Kantola, at least for the moment.
Kantola is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kantola fails to land with a series of punches.
Khalidov swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kantola tries to score a power double leg takedown but Khalidov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kantola somewhat.

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.

Kantola gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ari Kantola has got the better of the ground game so far.
Khalidov stopping the sweep attempt from Kantola.
Khalidov being controlled here momentarily.
Khalidov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Khalidov preventing the sweep.
Khalidov wants to control from the top but Kantola keeps moving.
Kantola has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kantola not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Khalidov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kantola is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Khalidov trying to control the position from guard on top but Kantola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kantola trying to keep a closed guard but Khalidov is proving a slippery customer.
Kantola looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kantola has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kantola is pulling down on Khalidov's head to control his posture.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Khalidov trying to control the position from guard on top but Kantola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kantola closes the distance looking to clinch
and Khalidov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Ari Kantola has been cut.

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.

Khalidov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Kantola to the ground. Khalidov is now in Kantola's guard.
Kantola trying to control the position.
Khalidov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Khalidov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Khalidov throws a big right hand that misses.
Kantola trying to control the position.
Kantola wants to sweep here but Khalidov controlling him for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kantola can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Khalidov controls the pace.
Kantola has Khalidov pulled in close to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ari Kantola will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kantola closes the distance and clinches up with Khalidov, looking for a takedown. Kantola pushes Khalidov against the cage but Khalidov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Khalidov blocks a head kick by Kantola.
Kantola takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kantola misses with a leg kick.
Khalidov went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Khalidov throws a leg kick which misses Kantola's front leg but catches the back leg as Kantola tries to avoid it.
Kantola tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Khalidov throws a good cross that connects.
Khalidov tests Kantola's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kantola fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Khalidov is looking to counter the offense by Kantola and move into the clinch.
Khalidov blocks the body kick.
Khalidov fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Khalidov shoots in and bounces Kantola off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Khalidov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Khalidov has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Khalidov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Khalidov content to stall in guard here.
Kantola controls Khalidov momentarily but Khalidov frees himself.
Khalidov stopping the sweep attempt from Kantola.
Ari Kantola is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kantola wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Khalidov content to stall in guard here.
Kantola wants to sweep here but Khalidov controlling him for the moment.
Khalidov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kantola can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Khalidov controls the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A jab from Khalidov does it's job there.
Kantola misses with a body kick.
A punch combination from Kantola misses.
Ari Kantola seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Khalidov throws a left and a right that both miss

and Kantola counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kantola wants to stall.
Khalidov lands with a short shot to the head.

Khalidov lands a takedown into guard.
Kantola keeping moving, preventing Khalidov from controlling successfully.
Khalidov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kantola pulls Khalidov in close to his closed guard and prevents Khalidov from doing any damage or advancing position.

Khalidov stands up from Kantola's guard - Khalidov perhaps looking for a knockout.
Ari Kantola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kantola tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Khalidov counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Kantola moves into range and clinches up with Khalidov.
Khalidov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Khalidov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Khalidov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kantola's half guard.
Kantola wants to control but Khalidov is keeping busy.
Khalidov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Kantola moves into full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Khalidov is stalling in the full guard.
Kantola looking to control.
Khalidov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Mamed Khalidov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kantola is adopting a defensive guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mamed Khalidov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kantola has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ari Kantola!
Ari Kantola decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.