PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alik Yaqhar (ranked 4728 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdulrahman Arslanbekov (ranked 4538 p4p, 0 weight class). Abdulrahman Arslanbekov will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Yaqhar
vs
Arslanbekov

171 cm
25
163 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
157 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 The Island, Alik Yaqhar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Abdulrahman Arslanbekov!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Winston Alpacca and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yaqhar shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Yaqhar was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Yaqhar controlling from side mount.
Arslanbekov sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Yaqhar thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Arslanbekov's head.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Yaqhar in particular looking to stall.
Yaqhar thows a huge punch but Arslanbekov dodges it nicely.
Yaqhar prevents Arslanbekov from standing back up.
Yaqhar trying to control the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yaqhar is trying to control. Arslanbekov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yaqhar looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Arslanbekov tries to get to full guard but Yaqhar has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yaqhar stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Abdulrahman Arslanbekov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arslanbekov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Yaqhar defends well and Arslanbekov ends up having to push Yaqhar into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
As Arslanbekov tries to get set, Yaqhar tries to push him back and clinch up but Arslanbekov manages to avoid the attempt.
Arslanbekov dives in and grabs Yaqhar's left leg, looking for a takedown. Yaqhar pushes down on Arslanbekov's head and hops out.
Yaqhar wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Arslanbekov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Yaqhar counters by moving into the clinch.
Yaqhar lands a nice elbow.
Nice elbow from Yaqhar.

Yaqhar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Arslanbekov drives through and clinches with Yaqhar against the cage.
Arslanbekov is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yaqhar breaks the clinch.

Arslanbekov moves into the clinch successfully.
Arslanbekov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Yaqhar gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Yaqhar presses Arslanbekov against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Arslanbekov is trying to break the clinch but Yaqhar is controlling him.

Yaqhar gets control of Arslanbekov's arms and successfully pulls guard. Yaqhar will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yaqhar keeping moving, preventing Arslanbekov from controlling successfully.
Yaqhar is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Yaqhar content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Arslanbekov actively working from the bottom here.
Yaqhar sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Arslanbekov flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Arslanbekov is trying to stand back up but Yaqhar is controlling him
Yaqhar moves into full mount! Arslanbekov won't be happy about that!
Yaqhar wants to control the pace but Arslanbekov is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Yaqhar tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Arslanbekov is trying desperately to improve position.
Yaqhar takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Arslanbekov is squirming around, avoiding Yaqhar's attempts to control the action.
Yaqhar controlling from the full mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arslanbekov is looking to improve his position but Yaqhar isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alik Yaqhar dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Yaqhar has taken the fight to the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Yaqhar takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Yaqhar lands a takedown into guard.
Arslanbekov keeping moving, preventing Yaqhar from controlling successfully.
Yaqhar tries to free his leg and advance position but Arslanbekov is retaining full guard.
Yaqhar looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yaqhar's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yaqhar wants to pass the guard but Arslanbekov is keeping the position.

Arslanbekov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Yaqhar defends it easily.
Yaqhar trying to control but Arslanbekov is working from the bottom.

Arslanbekov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Yaqhar trying to control but Arslanbekov is working from the bottom.
Arslanbekov throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Arslanbekov working for a triangle but Yaqhar defends it easily.
Yaqhar trying to control but Arslanbekov is working from the bottom.
Arslanbekov tries to strike from the bottom.
Yaqhar stays in close to Arslanbekov's body and controls the position.
Further stalling from Yaqhar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yaqhar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Arslanbekov is keeping the position for now.
Yaqhar trying to control the position from guard on top but Arslanbekov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Arslanbekov trying to strike off his back.

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

Arslanbekov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Yaqhar, pushing him back against the cage.
Yaqhar is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yaqhar breaks from the clinch.

Arslanbekov drives through and clinches with Yaqhar against the cage.

Yaqhar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Arslanbekov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Yaqhar is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Arslanbekov.

Arslanbekov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Arslanbekov tries to circle away but Yaqhar has him pinned against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Yaqhar has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Arslanbekov clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Arslanbekov can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Alik Yaqhar will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Arslanbekov fails with the takedown

and Yaqhar counters by clinching up.

Yaqhar has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Arslanbekov regains guard immediately.
Yaqhar is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Yaqhar got a little sloppy there for a moment and Arslanbekov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Yaqhar has managed to get both his arms back between Arslanbekov's legs - danger averted.

Arslanbekov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Yaqhar passes into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yaqhar in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Alik Yaqhar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arslanbekov is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Yaqhar has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Yaqhar is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Arslanbekov's shoulder. That is not cool.
Arslanbekov striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Yaqhar staying calm.

Yaqhar decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Yaqhar takes the fight into the clinch.
Alik Yaqhar is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A bit of stalling here from Yaqhar.
Yaqhar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Arslanbekov's elbow.
Arslanbekov is looking to break free of the clinch but Yaqhar has double underhooks.
Arslanbekov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Yaqhar.

Yaqhar pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
No luck for Yaqhar with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arslanbekov throws a body shot but no joy.
Yaqhar seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Arslanbekov moves into the clinch successfully.
Arslanbekov is looking to break free of the clinch but Yaqhar has double underhooks.
The referee is keeping an eye on Yaqhar - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Yaqhar drags the fight down to the ground.
Arslanbekov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Arslanbekov throwing strikes but missing.
Yaqhar wants to sweep here but Arslanbekov controlling him for the moment.
Yaqhar knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Arslanbekov on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arslanbekov throwing strikes but missing.
Arslanbekov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Arslanbekov lands a couple of digs.
Arslanbekov wants to stand but Yaqhar has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Arslanbekov trying to control but Yaqhar is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alik Yaqhar showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Yaqhar has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alik Yaqhar!