PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zhan Dhelan (ranked 1269 p4p, 72 weight class) and Matel Huchkov (ranked 2120 p4p, 233 weight class). Matel Huchkov will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Dhelan
vs
Huchkov

150 cm
30
145 lbs
17 - 7 - 1

170 cm
43
143 lbs
30 - 28 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Zhan Dhelan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 28 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matel Huchkov!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dhelan darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Dhelan is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Dhelan is working for a submission of some sort.

Dhelan is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Huchkov is trying to stand up here but Dhelan is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dhelan trying to mount his opponent but Huchkov defends it.
Dhelan is trying to control the action in half guard but Huchkov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

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

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

Dhelan is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Dhelan is pressing down on Huchkov's thigh, looking to free his foot. Huchkov is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Huchkov is defending against the submission attempts here by Dhelan.
Huchkov is trying to stand up here but Dhelan is controlling him well.

Dhelan is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Huchkov defends it well.
Dhelan is stalling here. Huchkov is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Dhelan seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Huchkov has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Huchkov stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Huchkov misses its intended target.
Dhelan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Huchkov moves away.
Dhelan moves away from the strike by Huchkov.
Huchkov swings for the body but Dhelan moves out of range.
Dhelan tries a low kick but Huchkov avoids it.
Jab from Dhelan.
Dhelan tries for a takedown but Huchkov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Dhelan takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Dhelan manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Huchkov on his heels. He'll look to pass Huchkov's guard now, I'm sure.
Dhelan trying to control the position from guard on top but Huchkov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dhelan tries to free his leg and advance position but Huchkov is retaining full guard.
Dhelan is working hard here to advance position.
Dhelan trying to control but Huchkov is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Huchkov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Dhelan is trying to get an arm triangle but Huchkov is defending well.

Dhelan tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Huchkov is trying to buck Dhelan off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dhelan catches Huchkov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Dhelan lands an overhand right.
Huchkov lands an overhand right.
An inside leg kick lands from Huchkov.
Huchkov throws a poor cross that misses

and Dhelan counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Dhelan has gone for a leg lock! Huchkov slips out almost immediately though and dives into Dhelan's guard.

Huchkov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dhelan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Huchkov has managed to get both his arms back between Dhelan's legs - danger averted.
Dhelan keeping moving, preventing Huchkov from controlling successfully.
Dhelan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Huchkov throwing strikes from guard but Dhelan blocks nicely.

Dhelan is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Huchkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Dhelan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Huchkov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Dhelan has his foot on Huchkov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Huchkov works his way back into a safe position though.
Dhelan looking for a sweep. Not yet Dhelan, not yet.
Huchkov tries to stand but Dhelan is controlling from the bottom.
Huchkov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Dhelan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Huchkov can do to turn this around?
Dhelan keeping moving, preventing Huchkov from controlling successfully.
Dhelan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Huchkov cracks Dhelan with a solid left hand.
Huchkov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Dhelan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Huchkov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Dhelan keeping moving, preventing Huchkov from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dhelan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Huchkov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Huchkov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Huchkov lands a couple of digs.

Dhelan looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Huchkov passes into side control.
Dhelan tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Huchkov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Huchkov is working Dhelan over with some ground and pound from side control.

Huchkov decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Nice uppercut lands for Huchkov. That snapped Dhelan's head back.
Matel Huchkov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Huchkov throws a hook to the side of Dhelan's head but Dhelan sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Huchkov throws a jab but it's blocked by Dhelan.
Dhelan takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Dhelan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Huchkov but Huchkov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dhelan bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Huchkov's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Huchkov manages to avoid it.
Huchkov missing with a left hand there. Dhelan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Huchkov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Dhelan.
Huchkov lands with an uppercut that bounces Dhelan off the cage and back into range.
Dhelan drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Matel Huchkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Dhelan gets a double leg takedown into Huchkov's guard.
Dhelan looking to pass the guard.

Dhelan has gone for a leg lock! Huchkov slips out almost immediately though and dives into Dhelan's guard.

Huchkov controlling from the top position.

Dhelan looking for a guillotine here but Huchkov defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dhelan won't allow Huchkov to get back to his feet.
Dhelan wants to control from the top but Huchkov keeps moving.
Dhelan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Huchkov is keeping the position for now.
Huchkov wants to sweep here but Dhelan controlling him for the moment.

Dhelan drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Huchkov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Dhelan has Huchkov in his guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Matel Huchkov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Dhelan digs a good hook to Huchkov's body.
Huchkov throws a nice inside leg kick.
Dhelan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Huchkov.
Matel Huchkov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dhelan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Huchkov misses with a wild body shot.
Huchkov lands with a nice body punch.
Dhelan moves away from the strike by Huchkov.
Dhelan closes the distance and clinches up with Huchkov, looking for a takedown. Dhelan pushes Huchkov against the cage but Huchkov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dhelan avoids the head kick by Huchkov.
Dhelan fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dhelan dives in and grabs Huchkov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Huchkov pushes down on Dhelan's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhan Dhelan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Huchkov misses with a double jab.
An attempted straight right counter from Dhelan misses the target.
Huchkov sizes up Dhelan with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Huchkov lands a nice looking body shot.
Huchkov tries to clinch but Dhelan moves out of range.
Huchkov loads up on a big right hand but Dhelan slips the punch.
Dhelan throws an overhand right that lands on Huchkov's shoulder, as Huchkov tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huchkov misses with a looping right.
Dhelan motions for Huchkov to come forward. Dhelan throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Huchkov walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Dhelan checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Dhelan shoots in looking for a takedown but Huchkov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dhelan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Huchkov throws a hook but Dhelan blocks it.
Dhelan slips under a jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Huchkov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dhelan throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Huchkov looks to throw the jab but Dhelan is out of range.
Huchkov closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Huchkov is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Dhelan scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Dhelan trying to control the position but Huchkov is working away.
Huchkov can't do much from the bottom here.

Dhelan is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Huchkov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
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Huchkov tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Dhelan is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Huchkov has escaped the position, nice work there.

Dhelan wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Huchkov, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan moves into full mount!

Dhelan goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Huchkov turns into him and now he's in Dhelan's guard.

Huchkov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dhelan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Huchkov has managed to get both his arms back between Dhelan's legs - danger averted.
Dhelan has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Huchkov has passed into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan taking punishment in the form of punches.
Huchkov working away.
Huchkov trying to control the action but Dhelan is working from the bottom.
Huchkov lands a nice forearm strike.
Huchkov cracks Dhelan with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Huchkov scores with punches from side control.
Huchkov wants to control but Dhelan is keeping him busy.
Huchkov scoring with punches from side control.
Huchkov working away.
Dhelan tries to buck Huchkov off but Huchkov is having none of it.
Dhelan is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Huchkov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Dhelan with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Dhelan looking for submissions off his back.
It looks like Huchkov is going to stand back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matel Huchkov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Huchkov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matel Huchkov!
Matel Huchkov thanked the fans post fight for their support.