PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sylvester Underwood (ranked 25756 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mahmud Zeynalli (ranked 8945 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Underwood
vs
Zeynalli

198 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

170 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sylvester Underwood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mahmud Zeynalli!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Dmitry Maklakov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Underwood fails to land the takedown.
Underwood fails with a takedown attempt.
Underwood dives in for a single leg takedown but Zeynalli sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sylvester Underwood. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Underwood gets a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Zeynalli - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Zeynalli pulls Underwood into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Underwood loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Zeynalli is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Underwood is aware though and is defending well.
Zeynalli looking for a sweep. Not yet Zeynalli, not yet.
Underwood really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Zeynalli seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zeynalli wants to sweep here but Underwood controlling him for the moment.
Underwood will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Zeynalli utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Underwood drops back looking for a leg! Zeynalli is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zeynalli manages to kick Underwood off! Underwood jumps back into Zeynalli's guard.
Zeynalli is trying to keep Underwood in close.

Underwood stands and steps away. Zeynalli gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
A head kick misses from Zeynalli.
Underwood appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A head kick misses from Underwood.

Zeynalli shoots in and gets a takedown into Underwood's guard.
Zeynalli wants to control from the top but Underwood keeps moving.
Underwood has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Underwood has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zeynalli can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Underwood trying to keep a closed guard but Zeynalli is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zeynalli advances to half guard.
Zeynalli trying to control the pace.
Underwood is trying is best to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zeynalli tries to pass to full mount but Underwood defends it.
Underwood wants to control but Zeynalli is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Underwood is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Zeynalli is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zeynalli not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Zeynalli is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Underwood is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Mahmud Zeynalli!