PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Raja Abdullaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Skender Hakim (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.

Abdullaev
vs
Hakim

195 cm
18
213 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 St Petersburg, Raja Abdullaev!
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, Skender Hakim!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Dmitry Maklakov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abdullaev fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hakim is out of range.

Hakim drives through with a takedown into Abdullaev's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hakim accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Hakim gets to his feet - Abdullaev follows without any prompting.

Hakim closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Abdullaev to the mat! Abdullaev manages to get full guard.
Abdullaev trying to control the position.
Hakim pushes down on Abdullaev's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Hakim decides to stand and escape the position.
Abdullaev throws a half hearted mid kick.

Hakim dives in and scores a takedown into Abdullaev's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Abdullaev wants to get back to his feet but Hakim is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hakim drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hakim jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Abdullaev trying to control the position.
Hakim engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
It looks like Hakim might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hakim looking to pass the guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Hakim drives through with a takedown into Abdullaev's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Hakim controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hakim stands and steps away. Abdullaev gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Abdullaev misses with a wild combination.
Abdullaev uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hakim.
A little feinted left hand from Abdullaev on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Abdullaev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hakim moves away.
Hakim with the counter takedown but Abdullaev avoids it easily.
Hakim misses with a takedown attempt
and Abdullaev counters with a stiff right hand.
Abdullaev doesn't manage to clinch there - Hakim circles away.
Hakim throws a big counter head kick but Abdullaev avoids it with no problem.
Abdullaev keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Abdullaev was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A head kick misses from Abdullaev.
Abdullaev lands a head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abdullaev lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hakim at a distance.

Hakim drives through with a takedown into Abdullaev's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Hakim trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Hakim thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hakim looks winded!
Hakim pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Abdullaev is keeping the position for now.
Hakim content to stall in guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hakim loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Skender Hakim dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hakim shoots and misses
and Abdullaev counters with a three punch combo that has Hakim backing up. Hakim nods at Abdullaev to acknowledge the strikes.
Hakim misses with a few strikes there.
Abdullaev moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Hakim avoids the head kick by Abdullaev.
Hakim misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Abdullaev lands a lovely overhand right.
Hakim fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Abdullaev lands with an uppercut that bounces Hakim off the cage and back into range.
Hakim avoids the head kick by Abdullaev.
Abdullaev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hakim paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hakim tries to counter by closing the distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hakim avoids the head kick by Abdullaev.
Hakim is looking to clinch.
A quick step to the side and Abdullaev tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Abdullaev connects with a body shot that sends Hakim's belly button to the back.
Hakim is breathing heavily.
Abdullaev tries to clinch but Hakim moves out of range.
Abdullaev throws a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdullaev throws a push kick but Hakim slaps the foot to one side.
Hakim shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Abdullaev sprawls well. Abdullaev wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hakim gets slowly back to his feet.
Raja Abdullaev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Skender Hakim.
Abdullaev misses with an attempted mid kick.
Abdullaev wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Abdullaev is looking to wear down Hakim with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Abdullaev rushes Hakim and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hakim prevents Abdullaev from breaking the clinch.

Abdullaev breaks from the clinch.

Hakim clinches.
Abdullaev wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hakim has him pressed against the cage.
Abdullaev trying to control the position but instead, Hakim has worked for underhooks and has pushed Abdullaev into the cage.
Abdullaev working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hakim breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Abdullaev throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hakim stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Abdullaev darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Abdullaev misses with a kick to the body.
Hakim blocks a head kick by Abdullaev.
Hakim takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Abdullaev forces Hakim back against the cage and clinches.
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!
Hakim tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Abdullaev wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hakim prevents Abdullaev from breaking the clinch.
Abdullaev working hard to break the clinch.

Abdullaev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Raja Abdullaev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hakim tries to move into range but Abdullaev moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abdullaev throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hakim.
Hakim changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Hakim moves into range and clinches up with Abdullaev.
Abdullaev is looking to break free of the clinch but Hakim has double underhooks.
Abdullaev wants to break the clinch but can't.

Hakim breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Raja Abdullaev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Abdullaev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Hakim moves into the clinch successfully.
Hakim is struggling to control the position.
Abdullaev wants to get back to striking at distance but Hakim won't allow it.
Hakim jumps guard but Abdullaev turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Abdullaev misses with a hook to the ribs.
Abdullaev lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hakim is trying to pull guard but Abdullaev turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abdullaev lands a shoulder strike.
Abdullaev is looking to break free of the clinch but Hakim has double underhooks.
Hakim is looking for a takedown.
Abdullaev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hakim can do to turn this around?
Abdullaev has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Abdullaev lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Hakim throws a head punch that misses.
Abdullaev works on Hakim's body with a couple of short punches.
Abdullaev is trying to break free.
Abdullaev is trying to push Hakim away but Hakim has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Abdullaev lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Hakim or not.
Abdullaev wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Abdullaev is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hakim tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Abdullaev smiles and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raja Abdullaev dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Abdullaev closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hakim wants a takedown but no success here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Abdullaev.

Hakim has clasped his hands together around Abdullaev's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Abdullaev wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Hakim wants to control but Abdullaev is keeping him busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abdullaev is letting Hakim control him for a moment.
Skender Hakim has got the better of the ground game so far.

Hakim decides to stand up, so the ref orders Abdullaev to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdullaev pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Hakim has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hakim is trying to pull guard but Abdullaev has him pressed against the cage.

Hakim manages to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hakim takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hakim keeping moving, preventing Abdullaev from controlling successfully.
Abdullaev tries to stand but Hakim is controlling from the bottom.
Abdullaev trying to control the position from guard on top but Hakim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abdullaev wants to stand and escape but instead Hakim has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Hakim trying to control but Abdullaev is working from the bottom.
Abdullaev knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hakim on the ground.
Abdullaev working a defensive guard here.

Hakim stands up and waves to Abdullaev to follow him.
Abdullaev jabs at Hakim's body.
Skender Hakim is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hakim avoids the head kick by Abdullaev.
Abdullaev throws a body kick that misses

and Hakim counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hakim pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Abdullaev is keeping the position for now.
Hakim landing with the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hakim decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Abdullaev, up you get!
Abdullaev throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hakim.
Hakim unleashes a big counter combination but Abdullaev bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Abdullaev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hakim.
Abdullaev looks to score with a jab to the body but Hakim is just out of range.
Hakim throws a hook but Abdullaev avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abdullaev throws a sloppy head kick and Hakim moves out of range easily.
Hakim throws a lazy head kick
and Abdullaev counters with a nice body shot.
Hakim tries to close the distance and clinch but Abdullaev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Abdullaev stuffs the takedown attempt from Hakim. Hakim gets slowly back to his feet.
Raja Abdullaev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Skender Hakim.
Hakim blocks a head kick by Abdullaev.
Abdullaev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hakim shapes to counter with a head kick.
Abdullaev shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Hakim shoots for a takedown but Abdullaev saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Abdullaev scores with a punch to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Abdullaev throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hakim wants to counter the offense by Abdullaev and move into the clinch position.
Abdullaev dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hakim walks into a jab.
Abdullaev tests Hakim's chin there with a solid looking shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raja Abdullaev showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Abdullaev has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raja Abdullaev!