PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shamil Mirzamagomedov (ranked 5183 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Stroev (ranked 5339 p4p, 0 weight class). Victor Stroev is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Mirzamagomedov
vs
Stroev

175 cm
25
157 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
156 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shamil Mirzamagomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Victor Stroev!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Ivan Kurochkin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stroev moves into the clinch.
Mirzamagomedov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Stroev gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Stroev stalling the fight.

Stroev pulls guard.
Mirzamagomedov wants to get up but he can't break Stroev's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Mirzamagomedov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Stroev controls Mirzamagomedov momentarily but Mirzamagomedov frees himself.
Mirzamagomedov wants to control from the top but Stroev keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mirzamagomedov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mirzamagomedov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Stroev is pulling down on Mirzamagomedov's head. It's preventing any offense from Mirzamagomedov, at least for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mirzamagomedov passes Stroev's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Mirzamagomedov seems to be working for a kimura but Stroev defends the submission attempt.
Stroev pushes Mirzamagomedov off looking to stand but Mirzamagomedov dives back in and keeps control.
Stroev on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Mirzamagomedov wants to free his trapped foot but Stroev is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stroev wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stroev tries to roll over but Mirzamagomedov keeps him under control.
Stroev wants to get back to his feet.
Mirzamagomedov works his way into side control.
Stroev is trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Mirzamagomedov tries to stand but Stroev is controlling his head.

Mirzamagomedov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Stroev, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stroev stops Mirzamagomedov from passing to mount.
Stroev throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Mirzamagomedov looking to control but instead Stroev has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Mirzamagomedov working over Stroev with some ground and pound. Stroev looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Stroev tries to get to full guard but Mirzamagomedov has control of the leg.
Mirzamagomedov is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Mirzamagomedov wants to work for an arm triangle but Stroev is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stroev trying to control but Mirzamagomedov postures up.
Stroev is trying to get back to full guard.
Stroev is trying to maintain the position but Mirzamagomedov is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Mirzamagomedov passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Stroev!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mirzamagomedov scoring with strikes but Stroev is staying in there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shamil Mirzamagomedov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Stroev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mirzamagomedov scores with a three punch combo!

Stroev closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Stroev gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Mirzamagomedov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stroev can do to turn this around?
Mirzamagomedov has a closed guard, preventing Stroev from standing up.
Mirzamagomedov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stroev manages to get himself to full guard.

Stroev wants to improve his position but instead Mirzamagomedov has moved into half guard.
Stroev is in trouble now - Mirzamagomedov has advanced to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mirzamagomedov lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Mirzamagomedov with a couple of short strikes.

Mirzamagomedov looking for a guillotine from mount but Stroev is having none of it.
Mirzamagomedov is in the full mount, landing strikes.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stroev can do anything to dispel that myth.
Stroev wants to hold on but Mirzamagomedov pushes him away.
Stroev takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Mirzamagomedov landing strikes from the mount and Stroev is in trouble!
Stroev is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You get the feeling that Stroev really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Mirzamagomedov with a couple of short strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Mirzamagomedov cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Shamil Mirzamagomedov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stroev is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Mirzamagomedov looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Mirzamagomedov has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Stroev's face.
Mirzamagomedov connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Mirzamagomedov 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mirzamagomedov content just to control the position here.
Mirzamagomedov with good strikes from the mount here!
Mirzamagomedov looking to finish Stroev with some ground and pound. This is bad for Stroev!
Mirzamagomedov cracks Stroev with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Stroev is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Mirzamagomedov lands with some strikes.
Mirzamagomedov landing shots from mount.
Mirzamagomedov looking to finish Stroev with some ground and pound. This is bad for Stroev!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stroev is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Mirzamagomedov with a couple of short strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mirzamagomedov raining down hammerfists from mount.
Mirzamagomedov raining down hammerfists from mount.
The referee warns Stroev that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Mirzamagomedov working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mirzamagomedov raining down hammerfists from mount.
A nice elbow there by Mirzamagomedov.
Mirzamagomedov cracks Stroev with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shamil Mirzamagomedov dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Mirzamagomedov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Mirzamagomedov is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Stroev!
Mirzamagomedov avoids the attempt from Stroev to control.
Mirzamagomedov pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Mirzamagomedov lands a big shot there that rocks Stroev but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Mirzamagomedov postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Stroev looks a forlorn figure.

Mirzamagomedov goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Stroev is on top in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mirzamagomedov throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mirzamagomedov has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Stroev off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Stroev has a takedown stuffed.
Mirzamagomedov wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Stroev displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mirzamagomedov.
Stroev looks for a takedown but Mirzamagomedov sprawls well.
Stroev fails to land the takedown.
Shamil Mirzamagomedov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Stroev.
Mirzamagomedov swings widly with a right hand

and Stroev counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mirzamagomedov won't be happy with that.
Stroev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mirzamagomedov is looking for a sweep.
Mirzamagomedov gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Stroev looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Mirzamagomedov is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mirzamagomedov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Stroev's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Stroev's back!
Stroev trying to get back to his feet but Mirzamagomedov is in full control for now.

Mirzamagomedov working for a choke but Stroev is defending well.
Stroev wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stroev looking very determined here, making life difficult for Mirzamagomedov.
Mirzamagomedov landing with strikes.
Stroev tries to roll but Mirzamagomedov sticks to his back.
Mirzamagomedov lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Stroev covers up after that shot from Mirzamagomedov.
Stroev tries to escape but Mirzamagomedov has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Mirzamagomedov is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Stroev is defending well though. Mirzamagomedov let's go of the attempt for now.
Victor Stroev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shamil Mirzamagomedov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
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!
Stroev is in bad spot here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shamil Mirzamagomedov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mirzamagomedov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shamil Mirzamagomedov!