PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between George Linwood (ranked 25111 p4p, 0 weight class) and Magomedrasul Hasbullaev (ranked 6505 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Magomedrasul Hasbullaev enters the cage!

Linwood
vs
Hasbullaev

178 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

178 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, George Linwood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Magomedrasul Hasbullaev!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Chris Downing and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hasbullaev moves into the clinch successfully.
Linwood wants to get back to striking at distance but Hasbullaev won't allow it.

Linwood pulls guard effortlessly.
Hasbullaev wants to control from the top but Linwood keeps moving.
Linwood is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hasbullaev is controlling him.
Hasbullaev is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hasbullaev wants to get up but he can't break Linwood's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Linwood manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Hasbullaev stops a takedown attempt from Linwood.
Linwood is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Linwood has picked Hasbullaev up - he's going for a ride! Linwood dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hasbullaev is trying to stand.
Hasbullaev trying to control from the bottom.

Linwood escapes and gets back to his feet.
Linwood tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Linwood shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Linwood shoots in for a double leg but Hasbullaev sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George Linwood. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hasbullaev tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Linwood counters with a nice uppercut.
Linwood dives in and grabs Hasbullaev's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hasbullaev pushes down on Linwood's head and hops out.
Linwood swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Hasbullaev.
Hasbullaev fails with a takedown attempt.
Hasbullaev closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Linwood gets caught napping as Hasbullaev dives in and scores a takedown. Linwood manages to retain guard.

Linwood uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hasbullaev shoots in for a takedown but Linwood shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hasbullaev tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Linwood defends well and Hasbullaev ends up having to push Linwood into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Linwood closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hasbullaev circles away.
Linwood with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hasbullaev counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Linwood is breathing heavily.
Hasbullaev wants to stand but Linwood has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Linwood tries to kick Hasbullaev off but Hasbullaev keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Hasbullaev 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hasbullaev stops Linwood from getting back to his feet.

Linwood manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Linwood misses with a takedown attempt - Hasbullaev sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hasbullaev feints the counter takedown.
Linwood shoots in but no luck this time.
Hasbullaev closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Linwood avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hasbullaev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hasbullaev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hasbullaev.
Linwood stops Hasbullaev from passing to mount.
Linwood is not content to let Hasbullaev control the position.
Hasbullaev happy to just control the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Linwood dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Linwood lands a lovely overhand right.

Hasbullaev closes the distance and clinches.
Hasbullaev is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Linwood to keep the fight standing.
Hasbullaev misses with a body punch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Linwood works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Linwood jumps into guard, dragging Hasbullaev to the mat.
Hasbullaev really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Linwood. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Linwood pushes Hasbullaev off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Linwood shoots for a takedown but Hasbullaev saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hasbullaev flicks out a counter leg kick but Linwood steps away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linwood looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hasbullaev is fending him off so far but Linwood persists. Nope, Hasbullaev circles away and we're back to standing.
Linwood has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George Linwood. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Linwood moves out of range of the body kick from Hasbullaev.
Linwood is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hasbullaev can do to turn this around?
The fight stays on the outside here - Linwood looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hasbullaev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Linwood swivels and escapes.
George Linwood is winning the standup battle so far.
Linwood changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hasbullaev tries to avoid it but Linwood manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hasbullaev to the ground. Hasbullaev escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hasbullaev throws a right and a left that both miss.
Linwood throwing a counter right hand but Hasbullaev manages to avoid it.
Hasbullaev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Linwood counters with a three punch combo that has Hasbullaev backing up. Hasbullaev nods at Linwood to acknowledge the strikes.
Linwood fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hasbullaev avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hasbullaev shoots for a takedown but Linwood saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Linwood, as that shot connected.
Linwood misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hasbullaev swings away with a body shot that misses
and Linwood counters with a stiff right hand.
Linwood lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hasbullaev circles away quickly and effectively.
A little jabbing left from Hasbullaev on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hasbullaev closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Linwood is trying to get back to his feet.

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

Hasbullaev is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Linwood knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linwood is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Hasbullaev tries for a kimura but Linwood is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Linwood is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hasbullaev has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hasbullaev controlling the position.
Linwood pushes Hasbullaev away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Hasbullaev gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Linwood is not content to let Hasbullaev control the position.
Linwood is trying to buck Hasbullaev off.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hasbullaev is looking to take a break and control but Linwood is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Linwood throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Linwood dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hasbullaev manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Linwood on his heels. He'll look to pass Linwood's guard now, I'm sure.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Linwood manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Linwood tries for a takedown. No joy.

Hasbullaev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Linwood dives in for a single leg takedown but Hasbullaev sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Hasbullaev doesn't manage to clinch there - Linwood circles away.
Linwood shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hasbullaev pinned against the cage. Hasbullaev gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George Linwood. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hasbullaev shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hasbullaev showed some decent athleticism there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linwood is refusing to be controlled, as Hasbullaev sits in half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hasbullaev not doing much here.
Linwood is trying to stand.

Linwood kicks off Hasbullaev and gets to his feet.
Linwood darts in looking for a takedown but Hasbullaev gets double underhooks and turns Linwood into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hasbullaev shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Hasbullaev was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hasbullaev controls the position.

Hasbullaev is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Linwood knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hasbullaev cracks Linwood with a big right hand but Linwood just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Hasbullaev wants to stand but Linwood is controlling his arm.
Linwood takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Linwood is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hasbullaev has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hasbullaev decides to stand back up.
Linwood looks for a takedown but Hasbullaev sprawls well.
Hasbullaev tries to clinch
and Linwood connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The fight stays on the outside here - Linwood looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
George Linwood is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Hasbullaev scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Linwood pushes Hasbullaev off and gets back to his feet.

Hasbullaev scores with a takedown into Linwood's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Linwood wants to stand and escape but Hasbullaev is having none of it.
Hasbullaev wants to pass the guard but Linwood is keeping the position.
Hasbullaev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hasbullaev controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hasbullaev wants to stand but Linwood has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Magomedrasul Hasbullaev.
I think Linwood has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Linwood!