PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Islam Aliyev (ranked 2588 p4p, 3948 weight class) and Ben Licht (ranked 347 p4p, 487 weight class). Aliyev comes into the arena with Gandangana blaring out of the sound system. Licht has chosen The Exies - What You Deserve as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Aliyev
vs
Licht

177 cm
25
182
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
180
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Islam Aliyev!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ben Licht!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Chris Downing and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Licht tries to keep at a distance but Aliyev has taken the fight into the clinch.
I was talking to Aliyev's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Licht avoids the elbow strike from Aliyev, against the cage.
Aliyev creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Licht's defenses.

It looks like Ben Licht has been cut.
Licht takes an elbow to the forehead.
Aliyev comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Aliyev lands a damaging elbow.
Aliyev misses with an elbow over the top.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aliyev lands a nice elbow.
Aliyev looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Aliyev creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Licht's defenses.
Aliyev gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aliyev throws an elbow but it misses.
Licht dodges an elbow strike from Aliyev.
Licht taking a breather.
Aliyev looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Aliyev throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Licht blocks an elbow strike from Aliyev.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Aliyev throws an elbow but it misses.
Aliyev pushes off an throws an elbow but Licht leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Aliyev pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev throws a knee to the head but misses.
Licht takes an elbow to the forehead.

That has opened up Ben Licht's cut even more.
Licht is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
The referee is keeping an eye on Licht - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The crowd are getting on Licht's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Aliyev pushes off an throws an elbow but Licht leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Licht trying to stall but Aliyev improves his position.
Aliyev lands an elbow inside.
Aliyev looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev with an attempt at a knee that misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Aliyev throws an elbow but misses.
Aliyev lands an elbow that stopped Licht in his tracks for a moment.
Aliyev comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Aliyev tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Licht blocks an elbow strike from Aliyev.
Aliyev lands an elbow inside.

The cut above Ben Licht's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Aliyev lands a damaging elbow.
Aliyev lands an elbow just above Licht 's eye.
Aliyev lands a nice elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Aliyev throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Aliyev lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Licht dodges an elbow strike from Aliyev.
Aliyev misses with an elbow over the top.
Aliyev misses with an elbow over the top.
Aliyev throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Aliyev lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Licht is trying to maintain a safe position but Aliyev gets an underhook and turns Licht into the cage.
Licht blocks the elbow strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Islam Aliyev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ben Licht's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Aliyev fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Licht, pushing him back against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Licht has Aliyev pushed against the cage.
Aliyev throws an elbow but it misses.
Aliyev creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Licht's defenses.
Licht blocks the elbow strike.
Licht avoiding damage.
We've been informed that Licht has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aliyev lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Islam Aliyev has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Nice elbow from Aliyev.

Ben Licht's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Licht takes an elbow to the temple.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Ben Licht's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Islam Aliyev!
Islam Aliyev is the new welterweight champion!
Islam Aliyev was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
Ben Licht was interviewed post fight and said 'Damn'.