PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Magomed Khamzatov (ranked 2830 p4p, 3990 weight class) and Conny Ponny (ranked 355 p4p, 474 weight class). Magomed Khamzatov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Khamzatov
vs
Ponny

188 cm
26
180
2 - 1 - 0

177 cm
23
170
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Magomed Khamzatov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Conny Ponny!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Dillan Fox and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ponny listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Ponny has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Jab, jab by Ponny - just one landing.
Ponny misses with a wild body shot.
Khamzatov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ponny lands with a shot to the body.
Khamzatov shoots in for a takedown but Ponny shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ponny looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Ponny throws a hook but Khamzatov avoids it easily.
Khamzatov definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Khamzatov shoots in and drives through. Ponny sprawls well.
Magomed Khamzatov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ponny displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Khamzatov.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Magomed Khamzatov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Khamzatov darts in looking for a takedown but Ponny gets double underhooks and turns Khamzatov into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ponny gets underhooks to prevent Khamzatov's takedown attempt.
Ponny tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ponny takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Come on Ponny - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Ponny continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khamzatov can't get the takedown.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ponny takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Nice body punch from Ponny - that landed with a thud.
Khamzatov goes for a takedown attempt but Ponny pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Khamzatov takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ponny loads up on a big right hand but Khamzatov slips the punch.
Khamzatov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ponny circles away.
Khamzatov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponny scores with a hook to the body. Khamzatov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Khamzatov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ponny counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Conny Ponny is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
No luck for Khamzatov with that takedown attempt.
A swing and a miss from Ponny.
Khamzatov with a poor takedown
and Ponny counters with a nice body shot.
Khamzatov has his takedown stuffed
and Ponny connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A low kick lands for Ponny.
Khamzatov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Khamzatov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Khamzatov shoots in for a takedown but Ponny shows good takedown defense.
Ponny looks to score with a jab to the body but Khamzatov is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponny lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Ponny gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Ponny's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Khamzatov has his takedown stuffed

and Ponny counters by moving into the clinch.
Ponny stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Khamzatov looking for a takedown.
Ponny gets underhooks to prevent Khamzatov's takedown attempt.
Ponny is working Khamzatov over against the cage.
Ponny misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ponny stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Ponny lands a body punch.
Ponny lands a body shot in the clinch.
Ponny is pushing Khamzatov up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ponny works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Ponny taking a breather.
Ponny throws an elbow but it misses.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Ponny is struggling to control the position.
Khamzatov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ponny is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ponny lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Conny Ponny 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.

Khamzatov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Khamzatov trying to control but Ponny is working from the bottom.
Khamzatov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ponny can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ponny bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Khamzatov's guard.

Ponny must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ponny trying to control the position from guard on top but Khamzatov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khamzatov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ponny.
Khamzatov 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.
Khamzatov has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Khamzatov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ponny gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Khamzatov tries to strike from the bottom.

Khamzatov working for submissions but it's allowed Ponny to get to half guard.
Khamzatov works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ponny with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ponny trying to control but Khamzatov is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ponny stands up out of Khamzatov's guard for a moment - Khamzatov manages to land a nice upkick.
Khamzatov wants to stand and escape but Ponny is having none of it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ponny accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Khamzatov throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Ponny trying to control but Khamzatov is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Khamzatov shoots in for a takedown but Ponny shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Khamzatov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ponny counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Khamzatov thinking.
Ponny bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Ponny throws a shot to the body.
Ponny scores with a punch to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponny fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Khamzatov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ponny throws out the jab.
Khamzatov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Ponny scores with a nice head shot.
Khamzatov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Khamzatov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ponny makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Magomed Khamzatov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ponny throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ponny slaps away a takedown attempt from Khamzatov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ponny keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ponny sizes up Khamzatov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ponny stuffs the takedown.
Ponny misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Khamzatov dives in for a single leg takedown but Ponny sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ponny effectively controlling the action here.
Ponny lands with a right to the head.
The referee calls for Ponny to work.
Still in the clinch, Ponny scores with a nice short uppercut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ponny lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ponny dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ponny manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Ponny works on Khamzatov's body with a couple of short punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Conny Ponny showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Khamzatov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ponny to the mat! Ponny manages to get full guard.
Ponny keeping moving, preventing Khamzatov from controlling successfully.
Khamzatov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ponny has his hands on Khamzatov's head, controlling the position.
Ponny manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Khamzatov manages to get himself to full guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khamzatov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ponny manages to get himself to full guard.

Ponny looking to hit a scissor sweep but Khamzatov is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khamzatov stays in close to Ponny's body and controls the position.
Khamzatov has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Magomed Khamzatov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Khamzatov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Khamzatov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Khamzatov'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.
Khamzatov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Khamzatov sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Khamzatov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ponny tries to avoid it but Khamzatov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ponny to the ground. Ponny escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponny keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ponny feints and then cracks Khamzatov's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Khamzatov down.
Ponny has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ponny lands with a nice body punch.
Ponny stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ponny wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Magomed Khamzatov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ponny clinches up against the cage.
Ponny lands a right hand.
Khamzatov is looking for a takedown.
Khamzatov is trying to drag Ponny to the mat but Ponny just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ponny is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Conny Ponny is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khamzatov tries to score a body lock takedown but Ponny shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Khamzatov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ponny gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A right hook to the body lands for Ponny.
Khamzatov can't get the takedown.
Come on Ponny - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Ponny has Khamzatov pushed against the cage.
Ponny lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Khamzatov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ponny gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Ponny goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ponny effectively controlling the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Conny Ponny comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ponny winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 26:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Conny Ponny!
After the fight, Conny Ponny was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.