PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Anzhor Azhiev (ranked 6950 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Cordolha (ranked 22420 p4p, 0 weight class). Anzhor Azhiev has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Azhiev
vs
Cordolha

177 cm
44
144 lbs
29 - 85 - 0

165 cm
23
135 lbs
5 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 85 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Anzhor Azhiev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jose Cordolha!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Hirohito Nitta and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Azhiev closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Cordolha tries to improve position but can't.

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

Azhiev is trying to get an arm triangle but Cordolha is defending well.

Azhiev is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cordolha has escaped the position, nice work there.
Cordolha is looking for a sweep.

Azhiev is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cordolha is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Cordolha is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Azhiev is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cordolha has escaped the position, nice work there.
Cordolha can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Azhiev wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cordolha, who protects the arm well.
Cordolha gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Azhiev is working for a kimura but Cordolha is defending it quite comfortably.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Azhiev is trying to work for a kimura but Cordolha is defending well.
Cordolha wants to improve his position but Azhiev is controlling well.
Cordolha throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Cordolha is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Azhiev is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cordolha moves into full guard.

Azhiev thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cordolha is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Azhiev is aware though and is defending well.

Azhiev 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.
Azhiev sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Cordolha's guard.

Azhiev is trying to work for a kimura but Cordolha is defending well.
Cordolha trying to control here.

Azhiev seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Azhiev wants to work for an arm triangle but Cordolha is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Cordolha is looking to improve his position.
Azhiev is thwarting Cordolha's attempts to control the position.

Azhiev seems to be working for a kimura but Cordolha defends the submission attempt.
Cordolha wants to get back to full guard.

Azhiev 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.

Azhiev is working for a kimura but Cordolha is defending it quite comfortably.

Azhiev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cordolha defends it well.
Azhiev will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cordolha gets back to full guard.

Azhiev 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.

Azhiev drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Azhiev jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Azhiev tries to free his leg and advance position but Cordolha is retaining full guard.

Azhiev drops back looking for a leg! Cordolha is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cordolha manages to kick Azhiev off! Azhiev jumps back into Cordolha's guard.

Cordolha throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cordolha tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anzhor Azhiev dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Azhiev closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Cordolha looks like he's trying to stand up.

Azhiev is looking for a kimura but Cordolha is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Azhiev to get the leverage.
Azhiev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cordolha can do to turn this around?

Azhiev seems to be looking for submissions.

Azhiev is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cordolha doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Azhiev.
Cordolha wants to improve his position but Azhiev is controlling well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azhiev is thwarting Cordolha's attempts to control the position.

Azhiev is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Azhiev is looking for a kimura but Cordolha is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Azhiev to get the leverage.

Cordolha is defending against the submission attempts here by Azhiev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhiev prevents Cordolha from standing back up.
Cordolha is looking to improve his position.

Azhiev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cordolha defends it well.
Cordolha is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Azhiev's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Azhiev's back!
Azhiev rolls, trying to escape but Cordolha keeps control of the position.
Azhiev tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Cordolha has control of Azhiev's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Azhiev regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Azhiev is looking to improve his position but Cordolha isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev regains half guard.

Cordolha is looking for a kimura here.

Cordolha is looking for a kimura but Azhiev is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cordolha to get the leverage.
Cordolha is breathing heavily.

Azhiev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cordolha pulls his head out easily.

Azhiev is working on a guillotine. He's managed to get to full guard and he's really squeezing tight! Cordolha is tapping! Great win for Azhiev!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Anzhor Azhiev!
Anzhor Azhiev took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.
Jose Cordolha was interviewed post fight and said 'Shiiiiit'.