PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Liber Alderich (ranked 1703 p4p, 232 weight class) and Argat Khan (ranked 2722 p4p, 352 weight class). Alderich comes to the cage accompanied by Stronger . Liber Alderich has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Alderich
vs
Khan

180 cm
29
180 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

178 cm
21
176 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Dauntless
Project Mayhem

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 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Liber Alderich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Argat Khan!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Sosuke Kotani and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khan takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Khan keeps the fight on the outside.
Khan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Alderich tries to clinch there but Khan circles away.
Alderich tries to clinch there but Khan circles away.
Khan has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

Alderich moves into range and clinches up with Khan.
Khan blocks an uppercut.
Alderich tries to pull guard but Khan holds him up against the cage and eventually Alderich drops back down to his feet.
Alderich tries to pull guard but Khan won't allow it.
Alderich throws a punch but it's blocked by Khan.
Alderich blocks an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Alderich fails to land.
Khan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Alderich jumps into guard, dragging Khan to the mat.
Khan engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Alderich is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alderich keeping moving, preventing Khan from controlling successfully.

Alderich throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Alderich working a defensive guard but Khan passes into half guard.

Alderich with the active half guard here but Khan passes nicely into side control.
Alderich wants to get back to his feet but Khan drags him back down.
Alderich is trying to improve his position.

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.
Khan prevents Alderich from escaping the position.
Alderich tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Khan wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alderich is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Khan's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Khan takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Khan is continuing to stall.

Alderich actively working from the bottom here.

Alderich looking for a kimura from the bottom but Khan passes into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alderich can't do much from the bottom here.
You can see the frustration on Alderich's face as Khan controls the position.
Khan working away.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Khan prevents Alderich from escaping the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Alderich takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Khan walks into a left hand.

Alderich has managed to clinch.
Khan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Alderich pushes Khan back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Khan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Alderich breaks the clinch.
A lazy left from Alderich finds it's target.
Khan misses with a few strikes there.
Alderich throws a head kick that misses.
Khan throws a low kick but it's checked well by Alderich.
Alderich tries to clinch up but Khan circles away and keeps his distance.
Alderich sets himself, and Khan steps forward looking for the clinch! Alderich avoids it this time.
Liber Alderich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alderich throws a sloppy head kick and Khan moves out of range easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alderich dodges the punch combination from Khan.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Khan with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Alderich instigates a clinch.
Alderich fails to pull guard.
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 Liber Alderich will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Alderich misses with a lunging right hand
and Khan counters with a nice leg kick.
A head kick misses from Alderich.
Khan is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Alderich with a body shot.
Alderich moves out of range of the body kick from Khan.
A chopping leg kick lands by Khan.
Khan cracks a nice hook into Alderich's ribs.
We've been told by Alderich's head coaches at FIERCE {{$500/wk}} that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Alderich throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Argat Khan has been cut.
Alderich throws a lazy head kick

and Khan holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A shot in the inside from Alderich.
Alderich fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Alderich is trying to pull guard but Khan turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Khan.
Alderich misses with a punch on the inside.
Alderich wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Alderich jumps guard but Khan stands there with Alderich around his waist. Alderich gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Alderich tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Khan smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liber Alderich. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alderich missing with a left hand there. Khan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Khan tries to counter by closing the distance.
Nice defenses there by Khan.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Khan blocks a head kick by Alderich.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alderich uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Khan.
Khan lands the left hand.
Khan keeps the fight on the outside.
Alderich tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Khan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Khan counters with a body kick.
Khan throws a body shot but no joy.
Khan connects with a solid leg kick.
Khan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Alderich lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Alderich misses with a looping right.
Alderich throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Alderich tries to clinch but Khan is having none of it.
Khan scores with a jab to the head.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Khan.
Khan pushes Alderich away with a front kick.
Alderich throws a head kick that misses

and Khan counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alderich tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Alderich throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khan avoiding damage.
Alderich swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Alderich blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Alderich.

Alderich pulls guard.

Alderich had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Khan defends it easily.

Alderich looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Khan stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Khan is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Alderich rather than just go for the knockout.
Khan misses with a wild combination.
Khan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alderich moves out of range of the body kick from Khan.
Khan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Alderich throws a jab when Khan was well out of range.
Khan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Alderich.
Khan punishes Alderich's body with a nice straight punch.
Alderich moves in looking to clinch but Khan pushes him off.
Alderich doesn't manage to clinch there - Khan circles away.
Alderich dodges the punch combination from Khan.
A head kick misses from Alderich.
Khan is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Alderich is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Khan blocks a head kick by Alderich.
Alderich throws a right hand that misses
enabling Khan to counter with a crisp jab.
Khan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khan fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Khan connects with a solid leg kick.
Khan lands with a thumping leg kick.
Alderich wants to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alderich doesn't manage to clinch there - Khan circles away.
Alderich tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Khan feints a jab promting Alderich to slip. Khan then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Alderich slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Alderich tries to clinch but Khan moves out of range.
Alderich lands with a right hand.
Khan lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Alderich is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Alderich tries to clinch up but Khan circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Argat Khan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Argat Khan's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Khan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Khan uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Alderich.
Alderich tries to close the distance and clinch up but Khan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Khan is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Khan scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Alderich doesn't seem bothered though.
Alderich tries to clinch
and Khan makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Argat Khan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Alderich tries to clinch but Khan moves out of range.
Khan throws a series of punches but Alderich avoids them all with ease.
It looked like Alderich wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Alderich tries to close the distance and clinch up but Khan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Alderich misses with a looping right.
Alderich bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Alderich takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Alderich is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khan turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Khan takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Alderich throws a head kick that misses

and Khan counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Alderich pulls guard effortlessly.

Alderich looking for subs off his back but Khan has passed one foot through into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khan keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Khan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Khan moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Alderich.
Khan remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Alderich is trying to get back to half guard.

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.
Khan is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Alderich is trying to improve his position.
Well,Alderich is on his way to losing a decision here. Can he use his experience to pull something off in the closing minutes?
Khan moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alderich keeps Khan under control for a moment.
Liber Alderich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alderich wants to control but Khan postures up.
Alderich is looking for a sweep.
Khan in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Argat Khan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Alderich tries to get back to half guard but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Alderich throws a sloppy head kick and Khan moves out of range easily.
Khan scores with a kick to the body.
Alderich takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Alderich is looking to clinch.
Alderich tries to clinch up but Khan circles away and keeps his distance.
Khan doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Alderich thuds his right hand into Khan's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Khan misses the shot to the body.
Alderich throws a head kick but Khan moves out of range.
Khan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Khan misses with a body shot.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alderich throws an off balance right hand

and Khan counters by clinching up.
Alderich blocks an uppercut.
Khan lands a body shot in the clinch.
Alderich jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Khan walks away with a smile on his face. Alderich gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That kick from Khan tenderised Alderich's leg. Alderich is trying to keep his angry face on.

And that's the end of the fight!
Argat Khan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Khan 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Argat Khan!
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Argat Khan!
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Argat Khan!

Argat Khan wins by unanimous decision!
After winning the bout, Argat Khan thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.