PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ruslan Temirov (ranked 24922 p4p, 0 weight class) and Youssef Ali Reza (ranked 5944 p4p, 486 weight class). Temirov has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Temirov
vs
Ali Reza

182 cm
25
156 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

195 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Likes musicals

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ruslan Temirov!
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, Youssef Ali Reza!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Russell Pearce and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Temirov moves out of range as Ali Reza throws a body kick.

Ali Reza closes the distance and pushes Temirov back into the cage.

Ali Reza has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Temirov uses from the top position.
Ali Reza throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Ali Reza manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Ali Reza displaying some good clinch control by pressing Temirov up against the cage.

Ali Reza successfully pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali Reza is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Ali Reza has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Temirov has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Temirov throws an elbow that misses.

Ali Reza lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Temirov makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Temirov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ali Reza is looking for the big counter here.
Temirov is breathing heavily.
Ali Reza misses with a series of wild punches.
Ali Reza closes this distance looking for a takedown but Temirov circles away.
Ali Reza shoots in for a takedown but Temirov shows good takedown defense.

Ali Reza darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ali Reza not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Temirov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Temirov trying to hold on to Ali Reza's head to control him but Ali Reza postures up.
Ali Reza throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Temirov taking some punishment here, with Ali Reza in his half guard.
Ali Reza is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ali Reza thows a huge punch but Temirov dodges it nicely.

Ali Reza decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Temirov stuffs the takedown attempt from Ali Reza. Ali Reza gets slowly back to his feet.
Temirov appears to be looking for a big counter.
Ruslan Temirov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Youssef Ali Reza.
No joy there for Ali Reza, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ali Reza moves into the clinch.

Ali Reza wants the takedown. Temirov is fighting it off but Ali Reza persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Temirov's guard against the cage.
Ali Reza trying to control but Temirov is working from the bottom.
Ali Reza looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ali Reza trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali Reza looking to sit in guard and control but Temirov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ali Reza is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ali Reza is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ali Reza pulls Temirov in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Youssef Ali Reza dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Temirov fails with an attempt to clinch.

Ali Reza scores with a takedown into Temirov's guard.
Ali Reza trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ali Reza looking to sit in guard and control but Temirov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ali Reza is trying to control the position but Temirov postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali Reza looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ali Reza has an active guard here but Temirov has managed to pass into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali Reza won't allow Temirov to pass to mount.
Ali Reza wants to get back to his feet.

Ali Reza manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Temirov keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Temirov wants a takedown but no success here.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ali Reza takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Ali Reza has Temirov pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Ali Reza pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Temirov tumbling to the mat - Ali Reza dives into Temirov's guard.
Ali Reza is standing up over Temirov. Temirov looks to escape but Ali Reza dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Temirov is letting Ali Reza control him for a moment.

Ali Reza tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Ali Reza moves into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Temirov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ali Reza throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Ali Reza misses with a head shot.
Ali Reza controlling the pace for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ali Reza throwing strikes here but Temirov is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Ali Reza punching from mount but Temirov doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Ali Reza looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Temirov throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali Reza sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Temirov taking shots to the head.
Ali Reza looking to control but Temirov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Ali Reza thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Ali Reza working the ground and pound effectively.
Ali Reza tries to control but Temirov wriggling away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Youssef Ali Reza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Ali Reza misses with a straight right.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Ali Reza has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Temirov regains guard immediately.
Ali Reza must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ali Reza wants to control from the top but Temirov keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali Reza throws a big elbow that misses.
Ali Reza engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Temirov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ali Reza.
Youssef Ali Reza has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ali Reza postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ali Reza wants to control from the top but Temirov keeps moving.
Ali Reza throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ali Reza misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Temirov seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Ali Reza has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ali Reza fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Temirov dodges the punch combination from Ali Reza.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Temirov is defended easily by Ali Reza.
Ali Reza fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ali Reza shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Temirov as he jumps to the side.
A counter left hand to the body from Temirov misses its target.
Ruslan Temirov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Youssef Ali Reza.
Temirov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ali Reza swivels and escapes.
Ali Reza swings for the body but Temirov moves out of range.
Ali Reza shoots in but Temirov avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ali Reza takes the fight into the clinch.
Temirov tries to pull guard but Ali Reza forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Temirov being controlled against the cage.
Ali Reza tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Temirov's elbow.
Temirov looking to stall.

Ali Reza successfully pulls guard.
Ali Reza is pulling down on Temirov's head. It's preventing any offense from Temirov, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali Reza tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ali Reza is pulling down on Temirov's head. It's preventing any offense from Temirov, at least for the moment.

Ali Reza is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Temirov defends well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ali Reza is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Youssef Ali Reza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ali Reza has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Youssef Ali Reza!