PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cengiz Toprak (ranked 3687 p4p, 0 weight class) and Magomedrasul Hasbullaev (ranked 24962 p4p, 0 weight class). Magomedrasul Hasbullaev is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Toprak
vs
Hasbullaev

177 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Self confident

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite 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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cengiz Toprak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Magomedrasul Hasbullaev!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Stewart Dunkirk and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Toprak has Hasbullaev up against the cage in a clinch.
Hasbullaev prevents the takedown attempt.

Toprak's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hasbullaev scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Toprak takes the fight into the clinch.
Hasbullaev is trying to pull guard but Toprak turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Toprak blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A left hand lands to the body for Toprak.

Toprak manages to pull guard.
Toprak trying to keep a closed guard but Hasbullaev is proving a slippery customer.
Hasbullaev wants to control from the top but Toprak keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toprak controlling Hasbullaev's posture.
Hasbullaev trying to control but Toprak is working from the bottom.
Toprak on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Toprak tries to get out of the position.
Hasbullaev landing with the ground and pound.
Hasbullaev being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hasbullaev wants to control from the top but Toprak keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Toprak is looking to clinch.

Hasbullaev instigates a clinch.
Hasbullaev stops a takedown attempt from Toprak.
Hasbullaev can't get the takedown.

Hasbullaev jumps guard.
Toprak's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hasbullaev tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Hasbullaev throws his legs up looking for a submission but Toprak uses it to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Toprak crashes against the mat.
Toprak wants to control for a moment but Hasbullaev uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Toprak is thwarting Hasbullaev's attempts to control the position.

Toprak is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hasbullaev has managed to free his arm - good work.

Toprak seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hasbullaev won't allow Toprak to pass to mount.
Hasbullaev is looking to improve his position.
Toprak is stalling here. Hasbullaev is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Toprak seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Hasbullaev has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Hasbullaev tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Toprak wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Magomedrasul Hasbullaev dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Toprak.
Toprak tries to clinch up.
Toprak is looking to clinch but Hasbullaev is avoiding it.
Hasbullaev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hasbullaev moves in looking to clinch but Toprak pushes him off.
Hasbullaev shoots for a takedown but Toprak saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hasbullaev fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Toprak swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hasbullaev is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Toprak keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice takedown defense from Hasbullaev. No joy for Toprak on that attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toprak looking to throw knees to the head but Hasbullaev is blocking nicely.
Toprak misses with a punch to the body.
Toprak is trying to pull guard but Hasbullaev has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cengiz Toprak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Toprak trying to land knees to the body.
Hasbullaev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hasbullaev has a couple of punches blocked by Toprak.

Toprak escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Both fighters circling a little - Toprak finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Toprak rushes Hasbullaev and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Toprak successfully pulls guard.
Toprak trying to keep a closed guard but Hasbullaev is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hasbullaev prevents Toprak from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Toprak working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hasbullaev doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hasbullaev manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hasbullaev wants to stand but Toprak has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Toprak throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Toprak isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Hasbullaev stacks Toprak on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Hasbullaev!
Hasbullaev scores with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hasbullaev controls the position from side control.
Hasbullaev wants to stand but Toprak has his arm trapped.
Hasbullaev scores with a couple of short elbows.
Magomedrasul Hasbullaev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Toprak is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hasbullaev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Toprak keeps working.
Toprak takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Toprak is trying to get back to half guard.
Hasbullaev tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Toprak is looking for a sweep.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hasbullaev wants to stand but Toprak has his arm trapped.
Toprak is looking to regain half guard here but Hasbullaev keeps moving and retains side control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
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 Cengiz Toprak 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Toprak looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Hasbullaev!
Check out the look on Toprak's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Hasbullaev can't do much from the bottom here.
Toprak wants to control but Hasbullaev is keeping him busy.
Hasbullaev is pushing Toprak's head away, looking to escape. Toprak manages to hold on to the position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Toprak working away.
Hasbullaev is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toprak throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Toprak is looking to take a break and control but Hasbullaev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Toprak tries to move into full mount but can't pass Hasbullaev's legs.
Hasbullaev struggling a bit here.
Toprak tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Toprak manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hasbullaev on his heels. He'll look to pass Hasbullaev's guard now, I'm sure.
Toprak seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Toprak passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Hasbullaev pushes Toprak away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Toprak gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Hasbullaev manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toprak prevents Hasbullaev from improving his position.
Hasbullaev wants to control but Toprak is keeping busy.
Hasbullaev is looking to improve his position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Toprak lands a nice short elbow.

Hasbullaev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Toprak is taking a breather. Hasbullaev says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Toprak has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Hasbullaev defend it? Toprak steps over the head and cranks it - Hasbullaev is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Toprak!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Cengiz Toprak!