PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tall Man (ranked 23683 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anzhor Azhiev (ranked 6271 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Man
vs
Azhiev

225 cm
20
130 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

177 cm
44
144 lbs
31 - 85 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tall Man!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 85 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Anzhor Azhiev!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yuuki Gou and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azhiev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Man swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Man slaps away a takedown attempt from Azhiev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Azhiev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Man pinned against the cage. Man gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tall Man has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anzhor Azhiev.
Man takes a swing at Azhiev's ribcage but misses.
Azhiev with the counter takedown but Man avoids it easily.
Azhiev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Man counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A jab from Man misses.
Man defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Azhiev.
Man scores with a one two! Azhiev had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Azhiev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Anzhor Azhiev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azhiev closes the distance and clinches up with Man, looking for a takedown. Azhiev pushes Man against the cage but Man circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Man misses with a body kick.
Azhiev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Azhiev closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
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!

Azhiev is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Man is trying to maintain the position but Azhiev is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Man is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Azhiev stops Man from getting back to his feet.

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 seems to be looking for submissions.
Azhiev is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Man!
Man controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Azhiev working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Man really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Azhiev is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Man has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Azhiev jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Man is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Man and Azhiev has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Azhiev goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Man rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Azhiev's guard! Nice work there by Man!
Man postures up and lands a big shot to Azhiev's brow.

Azhiev working for a triangle but Man defends it easily.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Azhiev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Man is sitting in close to Azhiev's body. Azhiev has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Man is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Man is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Azhiev.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:27 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Anzhor Azhiev!
A pretty intense looking Anzhor Azhiev took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.