PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Khizri Aliyev (ranked 2387 p4p, 5799 weight class) and Elam Armis (ranked 339 p4p, 628 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Aliyev
vs
Armis

175 cm
19
160
3 - 1 - 0

177 cm
18
163
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Khizri Aliyev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Elam Armis!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Joseph Jones and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Armis drives through and clinches with Aliyev against the cage.
Aliyev stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Aliyev makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Armis is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Aliyev is keeping busy.
Aliyev lands a body shot in the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Armis as the two fighters clinch.

Armis manages to break the clinch.
Armis blocks a jab.
Armis let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Aliyev comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Khizri Aliyev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aliyev waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Armis.
Aliyev throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Armis sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Armis now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

Armis closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aliyev is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Armis's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Armis's back!
Armis is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
I really don't envy Armis right now.
Aliyev struggling to keep hold of the position.

Aliyev is looking for the choke from the back position but Armis is controlling his hands well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aliyev is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Aliyev looking for the RNC.
Aliyev controlling well, preventing Armis from escaping the position.
Armis keeps trying to improve his position.

Aliyev is persistently looking for the submission but Armis is defending it well.

Aliyev is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Armis has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Aliyev is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Armis defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armis tries to escape but Aliyev has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
A lull in the action here.
Armis is really stuck here.

Aliyev is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Armis defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Armis rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Aliyev is looking to take a break and control but Armis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Aliyev is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Armis is just riding it out for now. Aliyev eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armis is trying to get back to full guard.
Aliyev wants to take a breather but Armis is having none of it.
Armis won't allow Aliyev to pass to mount.
Aliyev trying to control the action but Armis is working from the bottom.

Aliyev is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Armis doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Aliyev.
Armis controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Armis can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four 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.
The fighters are battling for position here. Armis manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Aliyev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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

Armis working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Aliyev's head.
Aliyev 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.
Armis wants to control from the top but Aliyev keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khizri Aliyev dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Aliyev throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Aliyev, as that shot connected.
A slapping leg kick lands for Aliyev.

Armis shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Aliyev manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Armis landing with the ground and pound.
Armis trying to control but Aliyev is working from the bottom.

Aliyev working for submissions but it's allowed Armis to get to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aliyev taking some punishment here, with Armis in his half guard.

Aliyev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Armis lands a nice short elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Armis there.
Aliyev moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Armis keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Aliyev's head.
Armis connects with a couple of short punches.
Armis trying to control the position from guard on top but Aliyev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Armis lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Aliyev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Armis defends well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Armis scoring with punches to the head and body.
Armis lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Armis postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Aliyev escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Armis gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Armis trying to control but Aliyev is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armis connects with a couple of short punches.
Armis postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Armis controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Armis lands a couple of elbows.
Armis tries to free his leg and advance position but Aliyev is retaining full guard.
Aliyev looking for a sweep. Not yet Aliyev, not yet.
Armis lands a couple of elbows.
Armis with a nice head shot there.
Armis is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Armis postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Armis working some strikes from top position.

Aliyev is rocked!
Armis is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Oh Aliyev is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Armis trying to control but Aliyev is working from the bottom.
Aliyev seems to have got his legs back now.
Armis is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armis not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Armis trying to control the position from guard on top but Aliyev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Armis 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.
Aliyev keeping moving, preventing Armis from controlling successfully.

Aliyev working for a triangle but Armis defends it easily.
Armis looking to pass the guard.
Armis must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Armis wants to control from the top but Aliyev keeps moving.
Armis with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Armis lands a couple of elbows.
Aliyev is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Armis lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Armis prevents Aliyev from getting back to his feet.
Armis lands a couple of elbows.
Armis with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Aliyev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Armis defends well.

Aliyev has his foot on Armis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Armis works his way back into a safe position though.
Aliyev has momentary wrist control but Armis slips an elbow through the middle.
Armis is in close to Aliyev's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Armis postures up and lands a big shot to Aliyev's brow.
Armis works over Aliyev with some ground and pound from guard.

Aliyev is looking for a triangle but Armis pushes his legs off easily.
Armis is pushing down on Aliyev's leg trying to pass to half guard. Aliyev is fighting to maintain full guard but Armis has managed to sneak the leg through.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elam Armis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Armis manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Aliyev on his heels. He'll look to pass Aliyev's guard now, I'm sure.
Elam Armis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Aliyev wants to sweep here but Armis controlling him for the moment.

Armis avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Armis connects with a couple of short punches.
Armis landing with the ground and pound.
Armis stops Aliyev from standing up.
Armis distracts Aliyev with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Armis scoring with punches to the head and body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Armis showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Armis stopping the sweep attempt from Aliyev.
Armis landing with the ground and pound.
Aliyev looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armis distracts Aliyev with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Armis with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Armis landing some decent shots from guard.
Armis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Armis stands up over Aliyev, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Armis arches his back and unloads with a massive left and a right! Aliyev's eyes roll back into his head, he's out cold! The ref dives in to stop the fight - wow, they were hard shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Elam Armis!
A relieved looking Elam Armis thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.