PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Khabib Numadropov (ranked 4357 p4p, 4235 weight class) and Akiva Dunn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Numadropov
vs
Dunn

180 cm
25
170
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
175
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Khabib Numadropov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Akiva Dunn!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Konstantin Menshow and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Numadropov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Dunn's guard.
Numadropov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dunn is proving hard to escape from.
Numadropov throwing strikes from guard but Dunn blocks nicely.
Numadropov 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.
Dunn working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Numadropov.

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

Dunn wants to stand but Numadropov is controlling his posture from full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Numadropov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dunn is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dunn trying to control the position from guard on top but Numadropov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dunn prevents Numadropov from getting back to his feet.
Dunn stays in close to Numadropov's body and controls the position.
Numadropov lands a couple of shots from the bottom.
Numadropov seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Dunn trying to control the position from guard on top but Numadropov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's two 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.
Dunn stopping the sweep attempt from Numadropov.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dunn fails with a takedown attempt.
Dunn tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A cross from Dunn lands.

Dunn closes the distance and clinches.
Dunn tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Numadropov avoids it.
With the fighters up against the cage, Numadropov throws an elbow but misses.

Numadropov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Dunn uses from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Numadropov has Dunn pulled in close to control his posture.
Numadropov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Dunn is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Well, if Numadropov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Numadropov prevents Dunn from improving his position.
Dunn is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Numadropov scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Numadropov working Dunn over with strikes.
Numadropov is taking a breather. Dunn says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Numadropov is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Dunn!
Numadropov controlling the pace for now.

Numadropov is working for a guillotine from mount but Dunn frees his head quite easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Numadropov scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Dunn?
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Khabib Numadropov dominated that 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.

Numadropov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Dunn sprawls well initially but Numadropov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Dunn won't allow Numadropov to pass to mount.
Dunn gets back to full guard.
Numadropov forces his way into half guard.
Numadropov slows the pace down in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Numadropov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dunn wants to get back to his feet.
Numadropov is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Numadropov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dunn can do to turn this around?
Numadropov wants to stand up but Dunn is controlling the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Dunn can do anything to dispel that myth.

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.

Numadropov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Dunn taking some punishment here, with Numadropov in his half guard.
Numadropov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Numadropov is looking to advance position but Dunn won't allow it.
Well, if Numadropov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Numadropov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Dunn trying to control here.
Khabib Numadropov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dunn tries to roll over but Numadropov keeps him under control.
Numadropov wants to control but Dunn is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Numadropov content to control rather than advance.
It looks like Numadropov is going to stand back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dunn is staying active underneath Numadropov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Khabib Numadropov dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Numadropov shoots in looking for a takedown. Dunn tries to sprawl out of it but Numadropov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dunn manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Numadropov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dunn is trying to defend but Numadropov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Dunn wants to control but Numadropov is keeping busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Numadropov tries to stand and escape but Dunn is controlling the position.
Numadropov lands strikes from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dunn is refusing to be controlled, as Numadropov sits in half guard.

Dunn looking for submissions off his back.
Numadropov is just content to waste time from the top position. Dunn takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Numadropov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Numadropov forces his way into half guard.

That's two 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.
Dunn has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Numadropov is working away from the top position though.
Numadropov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Dunn wants to control but Numadropov is keeping busy.
Numadropov stalling.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Numadropov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Numadropov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Numadropov scores with a jab to the head.
Dunn fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Khabib Numadropov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Numadropov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Dunn did well to prevent Numadropov getting side control.

Numadropov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Dunn doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Numadropov.
Numadropov perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Dunn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Numadropov's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Numadropov seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Dunn for as long as he can get away with.
Numadropov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Numadropov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Numadropov controlling the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khabib Numadropov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Numadropov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khabib Numadropov!