PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Magomed Bankalaev (ranked 3815 p4p, 3863 weight class) and Mark O Madsen (ranked 442 p4p, 446 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bankalaev
vs
O Madsen

181 cm
26
191
3 - 3 - 0

180 cm
26
197
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Concrete Clothing (Laundry Re Stock Coming Soon)
Pit Bull Development

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Magomed Bankalaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mark O Madsen!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Aafke Stam and Patrick Alders.

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

Bankalaev fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. O Madsen sprawls well initially but Bankalaev persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bankalaev thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Bankalaev is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Bankalaev perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Bankalaev missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Bankalaev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and O Madsen defends it well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if O Madsen can do anything to dispel that myth.
O Madsen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Bankalaev throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bankalaev is thwarting O Madsen's attempts to control the position.
Bankalaev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bankalaev thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
O Madsen is looking for a sweep. Bankalaev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bankalaev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
O Madsen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bankalaev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bankalaev wants to take a breather but O Madsen is having none of it.
O Madsen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bankalaev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bankalaev lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
O Madsen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bankalaev sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. O Madsen defending well though.
O Madsen wants to get back to full guard but Bankalaev has passed into side control.
O Madsen tries to bench press Bankalaev off him but Bankalaev keeps the position.
O Madsen is trying to escape the position but Bankalaev is controlling the position.
O Madsen dodges the ground and pound from Bankalaev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bankalaev trying to control the action but O Madsen is working from the bottom.
Bankalaev creates some space and throws a big elbow, but O Madsen sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Bankalaev creates some space and throws a big elbow, but O Madsen sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Bankalaev creates some space and throws a big elbow, but O Madsen sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Bankalaev has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
O Madsen is looking to regain half guard here but Bankalaev keeps moving and retains side control.

Bankalaev is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, O Madsen has escaped the position, nice work there.
Bankalaev working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
O Madsen regains half guard, as Bankalaev was trying to land strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Madsen is looking to improve his position.
O Madsen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bankalaev.
O Madsen gets back to full guard.

O Madsen working for a triangle but Bankalaev defends it easily.
Bankalaev looking to sit in guard and control but O Madsen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Bankalaev trying to keep a closed guard but O Madsen is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Madsen trying to control but Bankalaev is working from the bottom.
Bankalaev trying to keep a closed guard but O Madsen is proving a slippery customer.

O Madsen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
O Madsen postures up in Bankalaev's guard and throws a big left but Bankalaev blocks it.
Bankalaev trying to strike off his back.

Bankalaev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and O Madsen defends well.
O Madsen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bankalaev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bankalaev wants to sweep here but O Madsen controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

O Madsen rushes Bankalaev and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

O Madsen wants the takedown. Bankalaev is fighting it off but O Madsen persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Bankalaev's guard against the cage.
O Madsen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Bankalaev's head.
O Madsen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
O Madsen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bankalaev lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Bankalaev won't allow O Madsen to sweep him here.
O Madsen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bankalaev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bankalaev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bankalaev landing some decent shots from guard.
O Madsen trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bankalaev throwing strikes from guard but O Madsen blocks nicely.
Bankalaev won't allow O Madsen to sweep him here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bankalaev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bankalaev throws an elbow that misses. O Madsen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bankalaev's guard. Nice move by O Madsen!

O Madsen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bankalaev looking to hit a scissor sweep but O Madsen is one step ahead there.

Bankalaev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bankalaev trying to control the position.
Bankalaev is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because O Madsen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Madsen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Bankalaev 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.
Bankalaev trying to keep a closed guard but O Madsen is proving a slippery customer.

O Madsen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bankalaev has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, O Madsen has managed to get both his arms back between Bankalaev's legs - danger averted.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bankalaev is on top in guard.

Bankalaev is working O Madsen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
O Madsen wants to sweep here but Bankalaev controlling him for the moment.
Bankalaev trying to control the position from guard on top but O Madsen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
O Madsen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bankalaev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bankalaev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bankalaev landing with the ground and pound.
Bankalaev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bankalaev preventing the sweep.
Bankalaev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bankalaev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
O Madsen wants to stand and escape but Bankalaev is having none of it.
Bankalaev is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bankalaev keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of O Madsen's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Madsen controls Bankalaev momentarily but Bankalaev frees himself.

O Madsen looking for a guillotine here but Bankalaev defends easily.
Bankalaev landing some decent shots from guard.
Bankalaev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that O Madsen can do to turn this around?
Bankalaev throwing strikes but missing.
Bankalaev lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bankalaev throwing strikes from guard but O Madsen blocks nicely.
Bankalaev with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Magomed Bankalaev dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

O Madsen closes the distance and pushes Bankalaev back into the cage.
Bankalaev tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. O Madsen just stands there and leans against the cage.

O Madsen is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Bankalaev can't fight it off and eventually O Madsen manages to take the fight to the floor. Bankalaev looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw O Madsen working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Magomed Bankalaev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
O Madsen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
O Madsen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
O Madsen 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.
Bankalaev trying to control the position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bankalaev looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but O Madsen is defending well. Bankalaev quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! O Madsen has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Bankalaev celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Magomed Bankalaev!