PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shamil Mirzamagomedov (ranked 4080 p4p, 444 weight class) and Mark Mitchell (ranked 3027 p4p, 337 weight class). Mark Mitchell will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Mirzamagomedov
vs
Mitchell

175 cm
26
157 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

186 cm
26
155 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Enjoys gardening

Sportivité

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shamil Mirzamagomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark Mitchell!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Anthony Taglia and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mirzamagomedov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mitchell swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mitchell falls off balance throwing a combination

and Mirzamagomedov counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Mitchell!
Mitchell can't do much from the bottom here.
Mitchell manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Mirzamagomedov keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Mirzamagomedov is not content to let Mitchell control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mirzamagomedov trying to hold on to Mitchell's head to control him but Mitchell postures up.

Mitchell seems to be working for a kimura but Mirzamagomedov defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mitchell throwing shots but Mirzamagomedov is blocking nicely.
Mirzamagomedov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mitchell's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mitchell's back!

Mirzamagomedov looking for the choke from the back.
Mitchell is in bad spot here.
Mitchell just trying to survive but Mirzamagomedov is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Mitchell wants to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mitchell trying to get back to his feet but Mirzamagomedov is in full control for now.
Mirzamagomedov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mitchell on the ground.
Mitchell tries to escape but Mirzamagomedov has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Mitchell turns into Mirzamagomedov and is now in his guard.
Mirzamagomedov wants to sweep but no luck.

Mirzamagomedov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mitchell trying to control the position from guard on top but Mirzamagomedov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mirzamagomedov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mirzamagomedov wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Mitchell is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mirzamagomedov is working an open guard so Mitchell takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Mitchell throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Mitchell misses with a wild combination.
Mirzamagomedov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mitchell swats him away and circles back towards the center.
As Mirzamagomedov backs off Mitchell throws a huge counter combo but Mirzamagomedov manages to avoid it all.
Mitchell lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Mitchell.
Mitchell closes the distance and clinches up with Mirzamagomedov, looking for a takedown. Mitchell pushes Mirzamagomedov against the cage but Mirzamagomedov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
It looked like Mirzamagomedov was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Mirzamagomedov dodges the punch combination from Mitchell.
Mitchell pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Mirzamagomedov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Mitchell looks winded!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mirzamagomedov works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mirzamagomedov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mitchell knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Mitchell taking a bit of punishment here - Mirzamagomedov scoring with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mirzamagomedov is chipping away with strikes.

Mirzamagomedov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Mitchell manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mark Mitchell will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mirzamagomedov drives through with a takedown into guard.

Mirzamagomedov postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Mitchell is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Mirzamagomedov, into his guard.

Mirzamagomedov wants to control but Mitchell passes easily into half guard.

Mitchell 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mirzamagomedov is staying active underneath Mitchell, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mitchell wants to stand up but Mirzamagomedov is controlling the position.
Mirzamagomedov is trying to get back to full guard.
Mitchell throwing shots but Mirzamagomedov is blocking nicely.
Mirzamagomedov is trying is best to control the position here.
Mitchell is trying to control the action in half guard but Mirzamagomedov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mirzamagomedov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mirzamagomedov tries to get out of the position.

Mitchell seems to be working for a kimura but Mirzamagomedov defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Mirzamagomedov wants to get back to full guard.
Mirzamagomedov trying to control but Mitchell postures up.

Mitchell is working for a kimura but Mirzamagomedov is defending it quite comfortably.
Mitchell trying to control the action but Mirzamagomedov is working from the bottom.
Mirzamagomedov is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mirzamagomedov tries to clinch but Mitchell is having none of it.
Mirzamagomedov shoots in for a takedown but Mitchell shows good takedown defense.
Mitchell cracks Mirzamagomedov with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Mitchell throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mirzamagomedov's waist but Mirzamagomedov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mitchell off to one side.
Mitchell misses with a series of wild punches.
Mitchell rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mirzamagomedov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Shamil Mirzamagomedov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mitchell shoots in looking for a takedown. Mirzamagomedov tries to sprawl out of it but Mitchell keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mirzamagomedov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mitchell is breathing heavily.

Mirzamagomedov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Mitchell napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mirzamagomedov grinds an elbow into Mitchell's temple.
Mitchell is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Mirzamagomedov off and has taken his back!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
I really don't envy Mirzamagomedov right now.
Mitchell avoiding Mirzamagomedov 's attempts to control his hands.

Mitchell is looking for a rear naked choke here but Mirzamagomedov reverses the position brilliantly into Mitchell's guard!
Mirzamagomedov cracks Mitchell with a solid left hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mirzamagomedov is working Mitchell over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mark Mitchell will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mirzamagomedov goes for a double leg but Mitchell avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mitchell continues to drive forward.

Mirzamagomedov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Mitchell is trying to get back to half guard.
Mirzamagomedov wants to stand but Mitchell has his arm trapped.
Mirzamagomedov working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mirzamagomedov swings around for an armbar but Mitchell sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Mirzamagomedov's guard.
Mirzamagomedov wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mitchell trying to control the position from guard on top but Mirzamagomedov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mirzamagomedov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mitchell can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mirzamagomedov scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Mitchell would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Mitchell postures up in Mirzamagomedov's guard and throws a big left but Mirzamagomedov blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Mirzamagomedov is looking to stand up but Mitchell isn't so interested in that idea.
Mirzamagomedov trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Mitchell looking to sit in guard and control but Mirzamagomedov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Mitchell working for a triangle but Mirzamagomedov defends it easily.
Mitchell controls Mirzamagomedov momentarily but Mirzamagomedov frees himself.
Mitchell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mirzamagomedov scoring with some ground and pound.
Mirzamagomedov postures up and lands a big shot to Mitchell's brow.

Mitchell is rocked!
Mirzamagomedov lands a couple of elbows.
Mitchell is still in real trouble! Can Mirzamagomedov finish him?
Mirzamagomedov cracks Mitchell with a solid left hand.
Mirzamagomedov tries to free his leg and advance position but Mitchell is retaining full guard.
Mirzamagomedov gets to his feet and stands over Mitchell, holding his ankles. He dives in with a big left hand that connects! Mitchell felt that one! Mirzamagomedov unloads more punches and elbows and this one is over! The ref has dived in to save Mitchell from any more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Shamil Mirzamagomedov!