PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Panda One (ranked 2542 p4p, 2358 weight class) and Abdul Kaloev (ranked 330 p4p, 308 weight class). Abdul Kaloev is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

One
vs
Kaloev

150 cm
19
197
2 - 1 - 0

160 cm
25
185
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Panda One!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Abdul Kaloev!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Phil Schofield and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kaloev gets the takedown into side control.
One tries to bench press Kaloev off him but Kaloev keeps the position.

Kaloev thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Kaloev working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
One can't do much from the bottom here.

Kaloev tries for a kimura but One is defending well.

Kaloev is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, One has escaped the position, nice work there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
You can see the frustration on One's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
One is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Kaloev tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Kaloev moves into full mount!
One working to try and regain half guard.

Kaloev moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, One has worked his arm free - good work by One!
One really is a fat lump.
One is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
One tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kaloev is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. One doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kaloev.

One looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
One misses with some strikes from the bottom.
One won't allow Kaloev to pass to mount.
Kaloev throwing shots but One is blocking nicely.
Kaloev passes the guard and advances to mount!
One knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kaloev on the ground.
One manages to regain half guard. Good work.

One looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
One wants to control but Kaloev is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We've been hearing good reports from One's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Kaloev seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but One does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kaloev passes to full mount!
Kaloev trying to control but One is having none of it.
One bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
One postures up.

Kaloev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kaloev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
One regains full guard. Nicely done.
One tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kaloev trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but One manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Kaloev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
One postures up.

Kaloev pushes a forearm under One's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, One is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:50 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Abdul Kaloev!
Abdul Kaloev is the new middleweight champion!
Abdul Kaloev decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.