PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abdul Gazimov (ranked 8559 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sikil Papat (ranked 5842 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Gazimov
vs
Papat

193 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

194 cm
25
213 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Abdul Gazimov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sikil Papat!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Daniel Franklin and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Papat with that takedown attempt.
As Papat backs away, Gazimov returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Papat shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gazimov but Gazimov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That kick from Papat tenderised Gazimov's leg. Gazimov is trying to keep his angry face on.
Papat displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Papat avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Gazimov tries to close the distance and clinch but Papat swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Papat looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gazimov is fending him off so far but Papat persists. Nope, Gazimov circles away and we're back to standing.
Abdul Gazimov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sikil Papat.
Gazimov wants to clinch up but Papat keeps it at a distance.
Papat moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Gazimov is looking to clinch but Papat is avoiding it.
Sikil Papat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papat looks for a takedown but Gazimov sprawls well.
Gazimov feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Gazimov moves in looking to clinch but Papat pushes him off.
Papat swats away the attempt to clinch by Gazimov.
Gazimov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Papat is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gazimov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gazimov throws a push kick but Papat slaps the foot to one side.
Gazimov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gazimov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papat takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Gazimov tries to clinch up.
Gazimov tries to clinch but Papat is having none of it.
No luck for Papat with that takedown attempt.
Papat tries for a takedown but Gazimov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Papat goes for a double leg but Gazimov avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Gazimov continues to drive forward.
Papat looks winded!

Gazimov moves into the clinch successfully.
A short right from Papat.
Papat leaning his opponent against the cage.
Gazimov tries to circle away but Papat has him pinned against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Papat as the two fighters clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gazimov.
Gazimov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gazimov misses with an elbow over the top.
Gazimov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Papat breaks the clinch.
Papat avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gazimov tries to clinch but Papat moves out of range.
Papat appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Papat dives in for a single leg takedown but Gazimov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Gazimov stuffs the takedown.
A quick step to the side and Gazimov tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Papat on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Gazimov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gazimov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Papat manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Papat misses with a takedown
and Gazimov counters with a nice leg kick.
Gazimov scores with a kick to the midsection.
Gazimov tries to clinch there but Papat circles away.
As Gazimov backs off Papat throws a huge counter combo but Gazimov manages to avoid it all.
Gazimov dips to his left and cracks Papat with an uppercut!
Gazimov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Papat let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Gazimov tries to clinch up.
No luck for Papat with that takedown attempt.

Gazimov takes the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gazimov throws a leg kick but Papat sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Papat shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gazimov defends it nicely.
Gazimov wants to clinch up but Papat keeps it at a distance.
Papat swats away the attempt to clinch by Gazimov.
Abdul Gazimov is winning the standup battle so far.
Gazimov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gazimov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Papat paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gazimov moves in looking to clinch but Papat pushes him off.
Papat keeps the fight on the outside.
Papat is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papat avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Gazimov. No joy for Papat on that attempt.
Good shot there by Gazimov.
Papat fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Abdul Gazimov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sikil Papat.
Gazimov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Papat tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gazimov was well out of range. Poor timing from Papat.
Nice takedown defense from Gazimov. No joy for Papat on that attempt.
Papat is breathing heavily.
Papat tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gazimov tries to clinch but Papat moves out of range.
Papat throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papat shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gazimov defends it nicely.
Gazimov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Papat will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Papat shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gazimov sprawls well. Gazimov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Papat gets slowly back to his feet.
Gazimov fires out a quick counter leg kick but Papat just manages to avoid it.
Gazimov tries to clinch but Papat moves out of range.
Papat tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Abdul Gazimov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gazimov is looking to clinch but Papat is avoiding it.
Gazimov wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gazimov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Papat manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Despite the aggression on Papat's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Papat pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gazimov is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Papat throws a nice looking combination but Gazimov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gazimov is looking to clinch.
Papat shapes to counter with a head kick.
Papat swats away the attempt to clinch by Gazimov.

Papat drives through and clinches with Gazimov against the cage.
Gazimov avoiding damage.
A bit of stalling here from Gazimov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Papat breaks the clinch.
Gazimov doesn't manage to clinch there - Papat circles away.
Gazimov tries to clinch there but Papat circles away.
Gazimov is looking to clinch.
Papat shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Gazimov counters with a straight right hand.
Gazimov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Papat with the counter takedown but Gazimov avoids it easily.
Gazimov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Papat swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gazimov wants to clinch up but Papat keeps it at a distance.
Papat looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Abdul Gazimov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Papat tries to land a front kick but Gazimov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gazimov looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sikil Papat will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Gazimov catches Papat with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Gazimov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gazimov wants it to stay on the feet.
Gazimov misses with a hook

and Papat counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Papat tries to work over Gazimov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Papat.
Gazimov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Gazimov tries a knee to the head but Papat blocks it.
Nice elbow from Papat.
Gazimov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Papat lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Papat manages to break the clinch.
Gazimov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Papat throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gazimov counters with a one-two to the body.

Papat is rocked!
Papat takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gazimov tries to clinch up but Papat circles away and keeps his distance.
Papat is still on wobbly legs! Can Gazimov finish him?
Gazimov tries to clinch there but Papat circles away.
Papat backs away from a small jab... but Gazimov lunges forward with a huge superman punch! Papat crumples to the ground as his mouth piece is sent flying! Gazimov with a spectacular finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:10 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Superman Punch). Abdul Gazimov!