PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mukhammadgafur Gazimagomedov (ranked 6442 p4p, 0 weight class) and Devonte Blaydes (ranked 6252 p4p, 0 weight class). Gazimagomedov has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Gazimagomedov
vs
Blaydes

175 cm
25
158 lbs
1 - 7 - 0

188 cm
25
159 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

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 1 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mukhammadgafur Gazimagomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Devonte Blaydes!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Dean Styles and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gazimagomedov leaves Blaydes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Blaydes shoots in and bounces Gazimagomedov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Gazimagomedov is breathing heavily.
Blaydes slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Gazimagomedov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gazimagomedov tries to get out of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blaydes is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Blaydes forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaydes not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Blaydes is pressing down on Gazimagomedov's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gazimagomedov is holding on for now.
Blaydes is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Gazimagomedov is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Blaydes jumps into side control!
Blaydes cracks Gazimagomedov with a big right hand but Gazimagomedov just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blaydes staying calm.
Blaydes tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Blaydes tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Blaydes has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Blaydes working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Blaydes is working Gazimagomedov over with some ground and pound from side control.
A lull in the action here as Blaydes stalls from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Blaydes might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Blaydes wants to stand but Gazimagomedov has his arm trapped.
Blaydes lands some shots froms side control.

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.
Blaydes tries to stand but Gazimagomedov is controlling his head.
Blaydes happy to just control the position for now.
Blaydes tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Blaydes has Gazimagomedov up against the cage in a clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gazimagomedov taking a breather.
Blaydes is looking to break free of the clinch but Gazimagomedov has double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Devonte Blaydes 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.

Blaydes shoots in and gets a takedown into Gazimagomedov's guard.
Blaydes passes Gazimagomedov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Blaydes content to control rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaydes is nestled in close to Gazimagomedov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Well, if Blaydes is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Devonte Blaydes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Blaydes is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Blaydes is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Gazimagomedov thows a left - swing and a miss!

Blaydes darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Blaydes works his way into full mount!
A nice elbow there by Blaydes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaydes landing strikes, looking to finish!
Blaydes raining down hammerfists from mount.
Gazimagomedov is in a horrible position here. Blaydes smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Blaydes working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Blaydes working for a guillotine from mount but Gazimagomedov is in no mood to give up.
Gazimagomedov reaches up to try and control the position but Blaydes seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Gazimagomedov rolls and tries to escape and now Blaydes has his back!
Blaydes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gazimagomedov is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Blaydes keeps control of the position as Gazimagomedov tries to break free.

Blaydes patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Blaydes is punishing Gazimagomedov with strikes - can he finish him?!
Gazimagomedov is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Gazimagomedov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Blaydes is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Devonte Blaydes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Gazimagomedov leaves Blaydes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gazimagomedov moves out of range of the strikes.
Gazimagomedov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Blaydes misses with a straight left.
Sloppy strikes from Gazimagomedov. Those never looked like landing.

Gazimagomedov gets caught flat footed, as Blaydes shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Blaydes is stalling in the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blaydes content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaydes passes Gazimagomedov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Blaydes lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Gazimagomedov tries to get to full guard but Blaydes has control of the leg.
Blaydes passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Gazimagomedov!
Blaydes lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Gazimagomedov tries to lock up and control but Blaydes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaydes controlling from the full mount.
Let's hope that Blaydes has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Blaydes wants to finish this one by submission but Gazimagomedov is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Blaydes.
Blaydes controlling his opponent.

Blaydes is working for a guillotine from mount but Gazimagomedov frees his head quite easily.
Blaydes is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaydes punishing his opponent with strikes.
Blaydes working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Blaydes landing shots from mount.
Blaydes controlling from mount.
Blaydes wants to get back to his feet but Gazimagomedov is holding on tight.
Blaydes controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blaydes with shots to the head and body - Gazimagomedov looks very uncomfortable down there.
Blaydes controlling the pace for now.

Blaydes is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Gazimagomedov to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Gazimagomedov shrugs it off.
Blaydes tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Blaydes has hold of Gazimagomedov's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Gazimagomedov manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Mukhammadgafur Gazimagomedov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Devonte Blaydes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Blaydes content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Devonte Blaydes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Blaydes winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Devonte Blaydes!