PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Albert Aliev (ranked 25640 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Stroev (ranked 4381 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Albert Aliev has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Aliev
vs
Stroev

173 cm
18
156 lbs
0 - 18 - 0

175 cm
25
156 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 18 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Albert Aliev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Victor Stroev!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Valeri Chadov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aliev tries for a takedown but Stroev sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Stroev misses with a head kick.
Stroev circles away from the clinch attempt

and Stroev counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Stroev trying to control the pace.
Stroev's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aliev wants to control but Stroev is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Stroev controlling the pace.

Aliev looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stroev sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

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

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

Stroev fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Aliev to the ground. Stroev is now in Aliev's guard.

Aliev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Stroev sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Stroev gets to his feet - Aliev follows without any prompting.
Aliev is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stroev sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stroev scores with a takedown into Aliev's guard.
Stroev tries to free his leg and advance position but Aliev is retaining full guard.

Stroev drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Aliev dives on top into guard.

Aliev looking to sit in guard and control but Stroev gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Stroev is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Stroev works over Aliev with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stroev landing some decent shots from guard.
Stroev is stalling in the full guard.
Aliev is trying to control the position but Stroev postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stroev landing with the ground and pound.

Stroev gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Stroev dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Stroev instigates a clinch.
Aliev drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Stroev gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Stroev is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Stroev pressing his opponent against the cage.

Stroev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stroev closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stroev lands in his opponent's guard.
Aliev wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Stroev manages to pass to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stroev trying to mount his opponent but Aliev defends it.
Aliev is looking to improve his position.
Stroev not doing much here.
Stroev slips a nice elbow through Aliev's hands, connecting with Aliev's forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stroev stalling.
Stroev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stroev takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Victor Stroev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stroev looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Stroev prevents Aliev from improving his position.
Stroev trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stroev is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Stroev is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Aliev is just riding it out for now. Stroev eventually gives up the hold.
Stroev scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Stroev is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Stroev gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Aliev swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A nice combination there by Stroev.

Stroev darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stroev moves into full mount! Aliev won't be happy about that!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Stroev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Stroev shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Aliev napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Stroev thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Aliev seems a little lost for a moment, as Stroev dominates the positioning.
Let's hope that Stroev has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aliev sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Aliev tries to roll over but Stroev keeps him under control.
Stroev is looking to advance position but Aliev won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aliev works his way to full guard. Good work.

Stroev stands and steps away. Aliev gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Stroev rushes Aliev and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Aliev has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Stroev uses from the top position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stroev distracts Aliev with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Stroev is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stroev passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Stroev controls the position from side control.
Stroev is putting a hurting on Aliev here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stroev is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Aliev will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Aliev on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Stroev moves into full mount!
Stroev takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Aliev tries to hold on but Stroev postures up.

That's four 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.
Stroev takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Aliev working to try and regain half guard.

Stroev swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Aliev is now in Stroev's guard. A big mistake from Stroev there, giving up the dominant position!
Albert Aliev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Victor Stroev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stroev bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Aliev's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Victor Stroev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stroev has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Victor Stroev!