PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zhasulan Boranbayev (ranked 4684 p4p, 0 weight class) and Halid Magomedov (ranked 9250 p4p, 0 weight class). Halid Magomedov is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Boranbayev
vs
Magomedov

177 cm
25
157 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

180 cm
19
157 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Pit Bull Development

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zhasulan Boranbayev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Halid Magomedov!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Fedor Mirinova and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Boranbayev changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Magomedov looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Magomedov manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Magomedov is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Magomedov is looking to escape.
Magomedov is controlling Boranbayev's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Magomedov is looking to control Boranbayev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Magomedov avoid being mounted?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Boranbayev feints and as Magomedov raises his hands in defense, Boranbayev changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Magomedov has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Boranbayev is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Magomedov tries to pull guard but Boranbayev holds him up against the cage and eventually Magomedov drops back down to his feet.
The referee calls for Magomedov to work.
Magomedov looks winded!
Magomedov stalling the fight.
Magomedov continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Magomedov has Boranbayev pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov tries a body shot but Boranbayev blocks it.
Boranbayev is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Boranbayev can't get the takedown.
Boranbayev tries to break free but Magomedov pushes him back against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Magomedov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Boranbayev is defending well for now.

Magomedov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Magomedov throws a leg kick
and Boranbayev counters with a three punch combo that has Magomedov backing up. Magomedov nods at Boranbayev to acknowledge the strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Magomedov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boranbayev tries to close the distance and clinch but Magomedov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Boranbayev swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Magomedov.
Boranbayev doesn't manage to clinch there - Magomedov circles away.
Magomedov looks for a takedown but Boranbayev sprawls well.

Boranbayev looking to score a takedown here. Magomedov is defending well but Boranbayev drives through and ends up in Magomedov's guard.
Boranbayev stopping the sweep attempt from Magomedov.
Boranbayev's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Magomedov has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Magomedov working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boranbayev postures up and lands a big shot to Magomedov's brow.
Magomedov controls Boranbayev momentarily but Boranbayev frees himself.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Boranbayev throws a head kick that misses.
Boranbayev wants to clinch.
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 Zhasulan Boranbayev will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Boranbayev blocks a head kick by Magomedov.

Boranbayev drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Magomedov pulls Boranbayev in close to prevent any damage.
Magomedov trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Magomedov looking for a guillotine here but Boranbayev defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magomedov lands an upkick as Boranbayev stands over him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Magomedov is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov looking for a sweep. Not yet Magomedov, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boranbayev won't allow Magomedov to get back to his feet.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Magomedov keeping full guard, as Boranbayev tries to pass.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Boranbayev closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Magomedov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Magomedov wants to control but Boranbayev postures up.
Boranbayev knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Magomedov on the ground.
Boranbayev working the head and body with strikes.
Boranbayev slows the pace down.
Magomedov wants to control but Boranbayev postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Boranbayev has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Boranbayev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Magomedov keeps working.
Boranbayev working away.
Magomedov is pushing Boranbayev's head away, looking to escape. Boranbayev manages to hold on to the position though.
Magomedov prevents Boranbayev from improving position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boranbayev goes for a double leg but Magomedov avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Magomedov continues to drive forward.
Magomedov thows a leg kick but Boranbayev checks it
letting Boranbayev counter with a right hand.
Boranbayev scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Boranbayev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Magomedov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Boranbayev gets the takedown into side control.
Boranbayev is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Magomedov sneaks back into half guard.
Magomedov pushes Boranbayev off looking to stand but Boranbayev dives back in and keeps control.
Boranbayev is looking to take a break and control but Magomedov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Magomedov pushes Boranbayev off looking to stand but Boranbayev dives back in and keeps control.
Boranbayev throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Boranbayev feints and as Magomedov raises his hands in defense, Boranbayev changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Boranbayev prevents Magomedov from getting back to his feet.

Magomedov working for a triangle but Boranbayev defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhasulan Boranbayev dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Boranbayev gets a double leg takedown into Magomedov's guard.
Boranbayev wants to pass the guard but Magomedov is keeping the position.
Magomedov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magomedov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Magomedov wants to sweep but no luck.
Boranbayev has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boranbayev controlling from the top position.
Boranbayev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Magomedov is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Magomedov pushes Boranbayev up against the cage in a clinch.

Magomedov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Magomedov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Boranbayev as he jumps to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Left hook, right uppercut from Boranbayev.

Boranbayev closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Magomedov quickly recovers to half guard.
Magomedov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Boranbayev.
Magomedov tries to kick Boranbayev off but Boranbayev keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Magomedov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Boranbayev.
Magomedov trying to hold on to Boranbayev's head to control him but Boranbayev postures up.
Boranbayev is controlling the pace.
Magomedov keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov is looking to improve his position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boranbayev closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Magomedov tries to clinch up but Boranbayev circles away and keeps his distance.
Boranbayev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Magomedov can do to turn this around?
Magomedov throws a leg kick

and Boranbayev counters with a takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov struggling a bit here.
Boranbayev trying to control the position but Magomedov is working away.
Boranbayev misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Magomedov gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Magomedov is concentrating on defense, preventing Boranbayev from advancing position.
Halid Magomedov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zhasulan Boranbayev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Magomedov throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zhasulan Boranbayev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Boranbayev, 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zhasulan Boranbayev!