PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bruce White Jr (ranked 3054 p4p, 299 weight class) and Khakim Khadzhimurad (ranked 1782 p4p, 202 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

White Jr
vs
Khadzhimurad

170 cm
25
155 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

186 cm
26
157 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bruce White Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Khakim Khadzhimurad!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Steven Brown and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

White Jr decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Khadzhimurad is holding on to half guard well.

White Jr is looking for a kimura here.
White Jr definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Khadzhimurad is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Khadzhimurad looks like he's trying to stand up.

White Jr is looking for a kimura but Khadzhimurad is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for White Jr to get the leverage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

White Jr wants to work for an arm triangle but Khadzhimurad is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

White Jr is trying to work for a kimura but Khadzhimurad is defending well.

Khadzhimurad is defending against the submission attempts here by White Jr.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White Jr is thwarting Khadzhimurad's attempts to control the position.

Khadzhimurad looking for submissions off his back.
Khadzhimurad trying to control here.
Khadzhimurad is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Khadzhimurad wants to improve his position but White Jr is controlling well.
Khadzhimurad felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Khadzhimurad is trying to maintain the position but White Jr is very close to passing his half guard.

White Jr seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two 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.
Khadzhimurad tries to get to full guard but White Jr has control of the leg.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
White Jr is keen to just control but Khadzhimurad is a slippery customer.
Khadzhimurad makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Khadzhimurad.

Khadzhimurad is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Khadzhimurad looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
White Jr is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Khadzhimurad keeping moving, preventing White Jr from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White Jr pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Khadzhimurad is keeping the position for now.
White Jr wants to control from the top but Khadzhimurad keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Khadzhimurad wants to clinch up but White Jr keeps it at a distance.

White Jr tries to keep at a distance but Khadzhimurad has taken the fight into the clinch.
White Jr is trying to pull guard but Khadzhimurad turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Khadzhimurad misses with a body punch.
Khadzhimurad scores with a shoulder strike.

White Jr escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
White Jr misses with a straight left.
Khadzhimurad tries to clinch but White Jr moves out of range.
Khadzhimurad tries to clinch up but White Jr circles away and keeps his distance.
White Jr is looking to counter the offense by Khadzhimurad and move into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Khadzhimurad gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Khadzhimurad is working White Jr over against the cage.
White Jr lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Khadzhimurad throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Khadzhimurad scores with a shot to the side of White Jr's head.
Khadzhimurad lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

White Jr is trying to trip Khadzhimurad. He has hold of a leg but Khadzhimurad is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. White Jr persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
White Jr wants to control from the top but Khadzhimurad keeps moving.

Khadzhimurad is looking for a triangle but White Jr pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
White Jr 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.
White Jr wants to control from the top but Khadzhimurad keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bruce White Jr will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Khadzhimurad wants to clinch up but White Jr keeps it at a distance.
Khadzhimurad swats away the attempt to clinch by White Jr.

White Jr has taken the fight to the clinch.

Khadzhimurad is fighting off a takedown attempt but White Jr is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Khadzhimurad to the mat. Khadzhimurad regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Khadzhimurad is looking to stand back up but White Jr counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Khadzhimurad.

Khadzhimurad wants to get back to full guard.
Khadzhimurad makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Khadzhimurad.
White Jr preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khadzhimurad can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as White Jr controls the pace.
White Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Khadzhimurad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Khadzhimurad is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and White Jr defends well.
Khadzhimurad looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Khadzhimurad being controlled here, momentarily.

Khadzhimurad working for a triangle but White Jr defends it easily.
Khadzhimurad keeping moving, preventing White Jr from controlling successfully.
Bruce White Jr overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two 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.
White Jr controlling from the top position.

Khadzhimurad looking for a guillotine here but White Jr defends easily.
White Jr wants to control from the top but Khadzhimurad keeps moving.

Khadzhimurad is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and White Jr defends well.
White Jr trying to control but Khadzhimurad is working from the bottom.

Khadzhimurad had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. White Jr defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White Jr looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
White Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Khadzhimurad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Khadzhimurad is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. White Jr is aware though and is defending well.
White Jr advances to half guard.

Khadzhimurad looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
White Jr moves into full mount! Khadzhimurad won't be happy about that!

White Jr is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Khadzhimurad has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khadzhimurad is trying desperately to improve position.
White Jr looking to control but Khadzhimurad is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Khadzhimurad is wriggling around trying to escape.

White Jr is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Khadzhimurad has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Khadzhimurad is looking to get to half guard.

White Jr looking for a guillotine from mount but Khadzhimurad is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Khadzhimurad tries to hold on but White Jr pushes him away.
Khadzhimurad might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control White Jr haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce White Jr dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Khadzhimurad tries to clinch up.

White Jr closes the distance and pushes Khadzhimurad back into the cage.
Khadzhimurad tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Khadzhimurad blocks the elbow strike.
Khadzhimurad lands a hook that snaps the head of White Jr backwards.
Khadzhimurad throws a blind hook that connects with the side of White Jrs head.
White Jr drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Khadzhimurad gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Khadzhimurad tried to land a shot to the body but connects with White Jr's elbow.
White Jr dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Khadzhimurad cracks White Jr with a nice body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khadzhimurad tries a body shot but White Jr blocks it.
Khadzhimurad fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
White Jr wants a takedown.
Khadzhimurad misses with some punches.
White Jr is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Khadzhimurad is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruce White Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White Jr drops down looking for an ankle pick but Khadzhimurad pulls his leg out and moves away.
White Jr looks to score with a jab to the body but Khadzhimurad is just out of range.
Khadzhimurad defending well as White Jr loads up on a big left hand.

Khadzhimurad moves into the clinch.
Khadzhimurad misses with some punches.
Khadzhimurad tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
White Jr wants to take the fight to the mat but Khadzhimurad manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

White Jr pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
White Jr shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Khadzhimurad as he avoids it easily.

Khadzhimurad fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with White Jr, pushing him back against the cage.

White Jr escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Khadzhimurad closes the distance and clinches.

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

Khadzhimurad closes the distance and pushes White Jr back into the cage.
Khadzhimurad misses with a punch on the inside.
Khadzhimurad tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khadzhimurad misses with some punches.
White Jr lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Khadzhimurad backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by White Jr.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
White Jr pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Khadzhimurad tries to work over White Jr's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
White Jr blocks a punch to the side of the head.
White Jr blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Khadzhimurad misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Khadzhimurad.
Khadzhimurad blocks a body shot from White Jr.
Khadzhimurad goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Khadzhimurad misses with a hook from the clinch.
Khadzhimurad blocks an elbow strike from White Jr.
White Jr goes for a takedown in the clinch but Khadzhimurad prevents it.
White Jr lands a damaging elbow.
Khadzhimurad scores with a hook to the body.
White Jr wants a takedown but no success here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khadzhimurad lands a body punch.
White Jr scores with a nice hook to the head.
White Jr wants a takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Khadzhimurad lands an uppercut.
White Jr lands an elbow inside.
Khadzhimurad works on White Jr's body with a couple of short punches.
Khadzhimurad lands with a right to the head.
White Jr throws an elbow but it misses.
Khadzhimurad has a couple of punches blocked by White Jr.

White Jr pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Khadzhimurad dodges the punch combination from White Jr.
Khadzhimurad throws a fast counter high kick but White Jr manages to duck under it in time.
White Jr misses with a body shot.

Khadzhimurad gets in close and instigates a clinch.
White Jr unloads a knee to the mid-section. Khadzhimurad lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Khadzhimurad fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Khadzhimurad misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
White Jr blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
White Jr blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
White Jr wants a takedown but no success here.
Khadzhimurad misses with a hook to the ribs.
Khadzhimurad struggles to land a body shot inside as White Jr controls his hands.
Khadzhimurad misses with a punch on the inside.
White Jr misses with an elbow over the top.
White Jr misses with a knee strike.
White Jr using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Khadzhimurad has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
White Jr tries to land a knee to the head but Khadzhimurad blocks with his arms.
White Jr wants a takedown but no success here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Khadzhimurad.
White Jr blocks a body shot from Khadzhimurad.
Khadzhimurad lands on the inside with an uppercut.

White Jr breaks from the clinch.
White Jr misses with an uppercut. Khadzhimurad saw that one coming.
Khadzhimurad stuffs the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khakim Khadzhimurad comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think White Jr 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 James Atkins scores the fight for Khakim Khadzhimurad!
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight for Bruce White Jr!
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight for Khakim Khadzhimurad!

Khakim Khadzhimurad wins by split decision!
Khakim Khadzhimurad thanked the fans post fight for their support.