PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Hodges (ranked 6448 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mahmud Zeynalli (ranked 6086 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Hodges
vs
Zeynalli

176 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aaron Hodges!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mahmud Zeynalli!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Fedor Mirinova and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hodges drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Zeynalli is wriggling around but Hodges manages to pass to half guard.
Hodges throwing shots but Zeynalli is blocking nicely.
Hodges lands with a punch from half guard.
Hodges is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Hodges fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Hodges cracks Zeynalli with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Zeynalli is trying desperately to improve position.
Zeynalli regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zeynalli wants to control but Hodges is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Zeynalli taking some punishment here, with Hodges in his half guard.
Zeynalli trying to control here.
Hodges is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Zeynalli wants to control but Hodges is keeping busy.
Zeynalli really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hodges. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zeynalli wants to get back to full guard.
Hodges 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zeynalli keeps trying to improve his position.

Zeynalli manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Hodges keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Hodges has clasped his hands together around Zeynalli's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Hodges in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Hodges working the head and body with strikes.
Zeynalli is trying to control Hodges's posture but Hodges avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hodges scores with a couple of short elbows.
Check out the look on Hodges's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Check out the look on Hodges's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hodges tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hodges is working Zeynalli over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zeynalli is trying to get back to half guard.
Hodges looks up at the clock and then as Zeynalli takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Hodges smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Hodges scores with punches from side control.
Zeynalli is looking for a sweep.

Hodges tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hodges lands a nice forearm strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hodges circles away from the clinch attempt.

Hodges is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Zeynalli's half guard.

Hodges is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Zeynalli has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hodges scoring with strikes to the body and head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hodges is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Zeynalli is just riding it out for now. Hodges eventually gives up the hold.
Hodges is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zeynalli can do to turn this around?
Zeynalli keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hodges prevents Zeynalli from standing back up.
Zeynalli tries to get to full guard but Hodges has control of the leg.
Hodges prevents Zeynalli from standing back up.
Zeynalli is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Hodges jumps into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Hodges is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Zeynalli is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Aaron Hodges overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hodges cracks Zeynalli with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Zeynalli is trying to work for a sweep but Hodges has mounted him!
Zeynalli is looking to get to half guard.
Hodges scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Hodges is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Zeynalli can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Hodges landing strikes from the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hodges looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Hodges lands a couple of good shots and Zeynalli has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Hodges.

Zeynalli is rocked!

Hodges tightening his grip on Zeynalli, looking for the choke.
Zeynalli is still in real trouble! Can Hodges finish him?

Hodges is working for the choke. He's slipped one arm under the chin. Zeynalli has to defend the other arm for all he's worth... but Hodges has managed to get that arm free too and he's tightening the choke! Zeynalli taps out and looks absolutely disgusted with himself. Hodges doesn't care though - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Aaron Hodges!