PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zalt Gaanja (ranked 2387 p4p, 2419 weight class) and Abdul Kaloev (ranked 331 p4p, 340 weight class). Gaanja comes to the cage accompanied by Nathan Evans - Wellerman. Abdul Kaloev has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gaanja
vs
Kaloev

195 cm
25
190
3 - 0 - 0

160 cm
29
185
11 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zalt Gaanja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abdul Kaloev!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gaanja dodges the punch combination from Kaloev.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Kaloev has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Gaanja works Kaloev's body with a nice hook.
Abdul Kaloev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gaanja misses with a hook. Kaloev ducked under it nicely.
Kaloev looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Gaanja jabbing away but nothing is landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gaanja connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kaloev misses with a takedown
and Gaanja counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaanja scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kaloev tries to land a body kick
and Gaanja cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kaloev takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Gaanja is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Gaanja checks a low kick from Kaloev.
Gaanja punishes Kaloev's body with a nice straight punch.
Gaanja changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Gaanja dips to his left and cracks Kaloev with an uppercut!

Kaloev changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gaanja looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kaloev is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gaanja knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gaanja is trying to improve his position.
Kaloev working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gaanja wants to control the position but that's not easy when your opponent is in side control! Kaloev seems to be going for some sort of submission here. Hard to say what - oh, it's a Brabo choke! He's got it! Gaanja is tapping! Wow, great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:46 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Brabo Choke). Abdul Kaloev!
Abdul Kaloev very nearly forgot to thank Conquer amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.