PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandr Candovski (ranked 6010 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aslan Akishev (ranked 4694 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Candovski
vs
Akishev

184 cm
25
158 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
158 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Aleksandr Candovski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Aslan Akishev!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Franklyn Lucas and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akishev swats away the attempt to clinch by Candovski.
Despite the aggression on Akishev's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Akishev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Akishev is looking to clinch but Candovski is avoiding it.
Candovski changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Akishev tries to avoid it but Candovski manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Akishev to the ground. Akishev escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Akishev throws a right and a left that both miss.
Akishev tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Candovski counters with a three punch combo that has Akishev backing up. Akishev nods at Candovski to acknowledge the strikes.
Akishev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Candovski shoots in for a double leg but Akishev sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Candovski blocks a head kick by Akishev.

Akishev has closed the distance and engaged Candovski in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Candovski breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Akishev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A good leg kick by Akishev.
Akishev explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Candovski looks for a takedown but Akishev sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleksandr Candovski. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Akishev clinches up with Candovski and pushes him back against the cage.
Akishev is trying to break the clinch but Candovski is controlling him.
Akishev swings wildly with an uppercut but Candovski uses good head movement to avoid it.
Akishev misses with a short punch on the inside.
Candovski can't get the takedown.

Candovski breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Akishev tries to clinch but Candovski is having none of it.
Aslan Akishev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Candovski tries to clinch up but Akishev circles away and keeps his distance.
Candovski takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Akishev closes the distance and clinches.
Akishev taking a breather.
Candovski is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Akishev is defending well for now.

Candovski decides to pull guard.

Akishev stands up and waves to Candovski to follow him.

Candovski closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Candovski is looking for a takedown.
Akishev blocks an elbow strike from Candovski.
Candovski is working Akishev over against the cage.

Candovski manages to break the clinch.
Akishev throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Akishev has closed the distance and engaged Candovski in a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Candovski changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Akishev fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Candovski lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Akishev circles away quickly and effectively.
Akishev is looking for the big counter here.
Candovski is breathing heavily.
Akishev misses with a head kick.
Candovski attempts a counter takedown but Akishev avoids it well and moves away.
Akishev throws a head kick that misses.
Candovski keeps the fight on the outside.
Akishev wants to clinch up but Candovski keeps it at a distance.
Akishev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Candovski manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Akishev clinches with his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Candovski wants a takedown but no success here.
Akishev is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Candovski tries to pull guard but Akishev forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Candovski blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Candovski is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Akishev to keep the fight standing.

Akishev breaks from the clinch.
Akishev throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Candovski shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Akishev pinned against the cage. Akishev gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Aslan Akishev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Candovski shoots in but Akishev avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Akishev has Candovski up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Akishev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Akishev fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Candovski, pushing him back against the cage.
Candovski tries to pull guard but Akishev forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Akishev blocks a body shot from Candovski.
Candovski tries to pull guard but Akishev holds him up against the cage and eventually Candovski drops back down to his feet.
Candovski wants a takedown but no success here.

Akishev breaks from the clinch.

Akishev closes the distance and pushes Candovski back into the cage.
Akishev is pushing Candovski up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Candovski wants a takedown.
Akishev stalling in the clinch.
Akishev unloads a knee to the mid-section.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aslan Akishev dominated that round.
That's time! Candovski's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Akishev clinches up against the cage.

Candovski manages to break the clinch.
Akishev is looking to clinch.
Akishev tries to clinch but Candovski moves away
and Candovski counters with a three punch combo that has Akishev backing up. Akishev nods at Candovski to acknowledge the strikes.

Akishev has closed the distance and engaged Candovski in a clinch.
Akishev blocks the elbow strike.
Candovski is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Akishev to keep the fight standing.

Candovski manages to break the clinch.

Akishev closes the distance and clinches.

Akishev breaks from the clinch.
Candovski is looking to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Candovski lets loose with a powerful body kick. Akishev will feel that in the morning.

Candovski clinches with his opponent.
Candovski fails to pull guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Candovski tries to pull guard but Akishev forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleksandr Candovski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Akishev effectively controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akishev tries to land knees in the clinch but Candovski avoids the damage to the body.
Candovski changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Akishev fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Akishev. No joy for Candovski on that attempt.

Akishev has closed the distance and engaged Candovski in a clinch.

Akishev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Candovski shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Akishev as he jumps to the side.
Candovski takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Akishev circles to his right before unloading a perfect head kick! Candovski drops to the canvas, hurt badly! Akishev follows Candovski to the ground and unloads with a series of strikes that force the referee to step in and end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Aslan Akishev!