PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Aslanbek Akhtankhanov (ranked 2076 p4p, 2018 weight class) and Henry Colt (ranked 128 p4p, 125 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Akhtankhanov
vs
Colt

178 cm
24
145
4 - 2 - 0

173 cm
23
138
8 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aslanbek Akhtankhanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Henry Colt!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Reed Andrews and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Akhtankhanov.
Colt 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.
Akhtankhanov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Colt looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Akhtankhanov missing with a left hand there. Colt was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Akhtankhanov throws a hook but Colt avoids it easily.
Akhtankhanov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Colt's sensitive parts.
Akhtankhanov thuds a left hand into Colt's body.
Colt does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
It looked like Akhtankhanov wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Colt throws a wild body kick that Akhtankhanov sees coming a mile off.
Akhtankhanov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Colt punishes Akhtankhanov's body with a nice straight punch.
We've been told by Akhtankhanov's head coaches at Torcida MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Colt tries to clinch up.
Colt tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Akhtankhanov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A slow jab from Akhtankhanov misses its intended target.
Akhtankhanov drops his hands momentarily and Colt takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Akhtankhanov misses with a hook.
Henry Colt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Colt takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Colt is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Colt tries to clinch there but Akhtankhanov circles away.
Colt keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Colt fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Colt fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Akhtankhanov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Some wild striking there from Colt.
A jab from Colt misses.
Akhtankhanov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Colt swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Colt takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Akhtankhanov takes one to the chin there.
Colt tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Akhtankhanov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Akhtankhanov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Colt.
Colt avoids the body shot from Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Colt misses with a series of wild punches.
Akhtankhanov on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Akhtankhanov just misses with a punch to the body.
Akhtankhanov throws a lazy right hand but Colt sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A big right from Akhtankhanov misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Akhtankhanov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Colt.
Akhtankhanov takes one on the button.
Colt uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Akhtankhanov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akhtankhanov throws out a loose jab but Colt uses good head movement to avoid it.
Akhtankhanov misses with a low kick as Colt jumps back.
Akhtankhanov looks to land a right hand but Colt moved out of range.
Colt throws a good cross that connects.
Colt throws a head kick that misses.
Akhtankhanov scores with a sloppy right hand. Colt should have avoided that one.
A nice leg kick from Colt, right into the meat of the thigh.
Colt throws a head kick but Akhtankhanov moves out of range.
Akhtankhanov misses the jab.
Colt lands the left hand.
Akhtankhanov misses with a straight right.
Colt slips a jab from Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Akhtankhanov misses with a wild body shot.
Colt lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Akhtankhanov jabs at Colt's body.
Akhtankhanov throws a poor cross that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Colt misses with a body shot.
Akhtankhanov takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Akhtankhanov throws the left hand but Colt avoids the punch easily.
A solid body kick from Colt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akhtankhanov steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Colt. That one must have hurt.
Akhtankhanov misses with a wild body shot.
Akhtankhanov throws a shot from downtown. Colt moves away and avoids it.
Colt looks for the body kick but Akhtankhanov saw that one coming.
Colt connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Colt lands a head shot.
Colt fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Akhtankhanov.
Colt finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Akhtankhanov throwing a counter right hand but Colt manages to avoid it.
A telegraphed right hand from Akhtankhanov misses the target.
Akhtankhanov cracks Colt with a good jab.
Colt lands a nice looking body shot.
Colt thumps Akhtankhanov with a low kick.
Colt throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Colt moves away from the strike by Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Colt ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A little jabbing left from Colt on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Akhtankhanov misses with a straight right.
Colt looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A swing and a miss from Akhtankhanov.
Colt is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Akhtankhanov had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Colt feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Akhtankhanovs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov throws a shot from downtown. Colt moves away and avoids it.
Colt follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Akhtankhanov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Colt has time to react.
A big left from Colt misses.
Colt is looking to clinch but Akhtankhanov is avoiding it.
Akhtankhanov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Akhtankhanov with the inside leg kick.
Colt jabs at Akhtankhanov's body.
Akhtankhanov scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Colt lands with a nice body punch.
Akhtankhanov keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Akhtankhanov was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Akhtankhanov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Akhtankhanov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Colt can pounce on him.
Akhtankhanov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Akhtankhanov throws out a leg kick but Colt moves out of range and Akhtankhanov only half commits.
Akhtankhanov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Akhtankhanov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Colt swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Colt uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Akhtankhanov has time to react.
Akhtankhanov fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Henry Colt will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Colt is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Akhtankhanov.
Aslanbek Akhtankhanov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Colt swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Colt scores with a body shot.
Colt looks to throw the jab but Akhtankhanov is out of range.
Colt thuds a left hand into Akhtankhanov's body.
Good leg kick by Colt.
Colt scores with a kick to the midsection.
Colt scores with a jab to the head.
Akhtankhanov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Akhtankhanov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Colt scores with the left hand. Akhtankhanov knows he should have avoided that one.
Colt throws a nice inside leg kick.
Colt listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good exchange - Akhtankhanov coming out on top.
Colt connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Akhtankhanov momentarily.
Akhtankhanov moves out of range of the body kick.
Jab from Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Akhtankhanov swings for the body but Colt moves out of range.
Akhtankhanov lands a right hook to the body.
Colt lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Akhtankhanov misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akhtankhanov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Akhtankhanov misses with a straight left.
Colt jabs at Akhtankhanov's body.
Colt steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Akhtankhanov. That one must have hurt.
Colt is looking to clinch.
Colt takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Akhtankhanov takes one to the side of the head.
Akhtankhanov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Colt moves away.
A nice leg kick lands there from Colt.
Akhtankhanov misses with a series of wild punches.
Colt throws a head kick that misses.
Akhtankhanov swings for the body but Colt moves out of range.
Colt misses the shot to the body.
Akhtankhanov swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Akhtankhanov throws the left hand but Colt avoids the punch easily.
Good shot there by Colt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Akhtankhanov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Colt moves away.
Colt scores with a decent looking hook.
Colt fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Akhtankhanov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Akhtankhanov misses.
Colt tries to clinch up but Akhtankhanov circles away and keeps his distance.
Henry Colt seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Akhtankhanov throws a body punch but Colt moves out of range.
Colt scores with a hook.
Akhtankhanov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Colt tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Akhtankhanov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Akhtankhanov throws an off balance right hand
and Colt counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Colt uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Akhtankhanov.
Colt is looking to clinch.
Colt tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Akhtankhanov was well out of range. Poor timing from Colt.
Colt misses with a kick to the body.
Colt lands with a slapping head kick.
Colt misses the body punch
and Akhtankhanov counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Colt ducks under a wild hook from Akhtankhanov.
Colt goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Colt misses with a jab, cross combination.
Akhtankhanov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Akhtankhanov lands a leg kick that knocks Colt off balance momentarily.
Akhtankhanov moves in looking to clinch but Colt pushes him off.
Akhtankhanov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akhtankhanov moves out of range of the body kick from Colt.
Colt scores with a kick to the midsection.
Colt tries to land a front kick but Akhtankhanov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Colt stuns Akhtankhanov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Akhtankhanov misses the shot to the body.
Colt let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Colt lands a nice shot to the body.
Akhtankhanov takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Akhtankhanov looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Colt looks to land a body kick but Akhtankhanov moved away.
Colt keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Akhtankhanov moves away from the strike by Colt.
Colt blocks a leg kick.
Colt swings for the body but Akhtankhanov moves out of range.
Akhtankhanov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A nice leg kick from Colt, right into the meat of the thigh.
Akhtankhanov has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Akhtankhanov keeps the fight on the outside.
Akhtankhanov takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Akhtankhanov looks to land a left hand but Colt moved out of range nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Colt pushes Akhtankhanov up against the cage in a clinch.
Colt tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Akhtankhanov - that landed with a thud.
A short left from Colt.
Colt working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Akhtankhanov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Akhtankhanov is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Colt is keeping busy.

Colt breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Akhtankhanov blocks a jab.
Akhtankhanov throwing a counter right hand but Colt manages to avoid it.
Akhtankhanov moves out of range of the body kick from Colt.
Akhtankhanov misses with a looping left.
Colt moves out of range of the body kick.
Nice defenses there by Akhtankhanov.
Colt lands with a shot to the body.
Akhtankhanov throws a hook to the side of Colt's head but Colt sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Akhtankhanov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Akhtankhanov has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Colt.
Akhtankhanov gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Akhtankhanov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Colt doesn't seem bothered though.
A cross from Colt lands.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Colt showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Colt misses with a looping left.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Colt.
Akhtankhanov throws a front kick aimed at Colt's knee but Colt avoids it well.
Colt chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Akhtankhanov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Akhtankhanov checks the leg kick nicely there.
Nice uppercut lands for Colt. That snapped Akhtankhanov's head back.
Colt throws a wild body kick that Akhtankhanov sees coming a mile off.
Akhtankhanov turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Akhtankhanov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
No joy there for Colt, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Colt is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Colt ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Colt throws a push kick but Akhtankhanov slaps the foot to one side.
Akhtankhanov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Akhtankhanov takes a jab right on the kisser.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Akhtankhanov misses with an uppercut. Colt saw that one coming.
Akhtankhanov checks a low kick from Colt.
Akhtankhanov throws the left hand but Colt avoids the punch easily.
Colt checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Colt cracks a nice hook into Akhtankhanov's ribs.
Akhtankhanov throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Akhtankhanov will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Colt fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Colt stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Akhtankhanov scores with a body shot.
Colt ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Akhtankhanov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Akhtankhanov blocks a head kick by Colt.
Colt tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Colt tries a low kick but Akhtankhanov avoids it.
Colt misses with an attempted mid kick.

Akhtankhanov forces Colt back against the cage and clinches.
Akhtankhanov tries to work over Colt's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A right hand to the body from Colt.
Akhtankhanov swings wildly with an uppercut but Colt uses good head movement to avoid it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Colt creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Akhtankhanov lands a left hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Colt scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Akhtankhanov fails to land.
Colt doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Akhtankhanov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Colt backwards.
Akhtankhanov gets through Colt's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Akhtankhanov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Akhtankhanov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Colt throws a punch but it's blocked by Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov prevents a body shot from Colt.
Akhtankhanov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Colt backwards.
Colt lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Akhtankhanov or not.
Colt lands with a short shot to the head.
Colt lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Akhtankhanov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
That kick from Colt tenderised Akhtankhanov's leg. Akhtankhanov is trying to keep his angry face on.
Akhtankhanov throws a body kick that misses.
Colt avoids the body shot from Akhtankhanov.
Colt lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Akhtankhanov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Colt is looking to score with low kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akhtankhanov throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Colt to counter with a crisp jab.
Akhtankhanov misses with a straight left.
Colt throws a low kick but it's checked well by Akhtankhanov.
Colt connects with a body shot.
Akhtankhanov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Colt thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Akhtankhanov if he has to take too many more of those.
Colt wants to clinch.
It looked like Akhtankhanov was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Colt.
Colt swats away the attempt to clinch by Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov connects with a crisp jab.
Colt misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Akhtankhanov.
A jab from Akhtankhanov misses.
Colt lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Akhtankhanov moves forwards but Colt connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Nice uppercut lands for Colt. That snapped Akhtankhanov's head back.
Akhtankhanov lands with a good body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Colt fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Akhtankhanov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Akhtankhanov ducks under a wild hook from Colt.
Colt misses with an attempted mid kick.
The crowd cheers as Akhtankhanov lands an impressive looking overhand right. Colt doesn't seem phased though.
Akhtankhanov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Colt.
Akhtankhanov scores with a jab to the head.
Colt throws a shot from downtown. Akhtankhanov moves away and avoids it.
A quick step to the side and Akhtankhanov tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Colt fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Colt can pounce on him.
Colt waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Akhtankhanov.
Colt punishes Akhtankhanov's body with a nice straight punch.
A thudding body kick lands there by Colt!
A nice inside leg kick there by Colt. That's going to slow Akhtankhanov down.
Colt chopping away at his opponent's legs.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Akhtankhanov fails in his attempt to clinch.
It seemed like Colt was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Colt closes the distance but Akhtankhanov moves to the side
and Akhtankhanov counters with a nice uppercut.
Akhtankhanov lands a jab to the head.

Colt is rocked!

And that's the end of the fight!
Henry Colt comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Colt has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henry Colt!
During a confident post fight interview, Henry Colt thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.