PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sultanbek Akhtankhanov (ranked 2005 p4p, 1659 weight class) and Nils Hoglander (ranked 263 p4p, 226 weight class). Sultanbek Akhtankhanov had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Akhtankhanov
vs
Hoglander

176 cm
26
155
8 - 5 - 0

180 cm
25
157
11 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sultanbek Akhtankhanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nils Hoglander!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, John Kavanagh and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hoglander has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hoglander there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hoglander throws a lazy right hand but Akhtankhanov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Akhtankhanov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hoglander misses with an uppercut.
Hoglander throws a jab when Akhtankhanov was well out of range.
Akhtankhanov swings for the body but Hoglander moves out of range.
Akhtankhanov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hoglander.
An inside leg kick lands from Akhtankhanov.

Akhtankhanov closes the distance and clinches.
Hoglander is trying to break the clinch but Akhtankhanov is controlling him.
Akhtankhanov misses with the head strike.
Hoglander looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Akhtankhanov working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Akhtankhanov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hoglander's elbow.
Hoglander looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Akhtankhanov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Hoglander breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Akhtankhanov throws a low kick but Hoglander moves out of range easily.
Akhtankhanov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hoglander misses with a body shot.
Akhtankhanov lands a nice looking body shot.
A cross from Hoglander lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoglander uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Akhtankhanov has time to react.
A left lands for Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Torcida MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Akhtankhanov misses the jab.
Sultanbek Akhtankhanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hoglander fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Akhtankhanov manages to avoid it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hoglander.
Hoglander checks a leg kick nicely.
A jab from Hoglander misses.
Akhtankhanov misses with a body shot.
Akhtankhanov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Akhtankhanov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hoglander.
Hoglander ducks under a wild hook from Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov scores with a hook.
Akhtankhanov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hoglander throws a hook but Akhtankhanov blocks it.
Akhtankhanov throws out a loose jab but Hoglander uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hoglander closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Akhtankhanov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hoglander doesn't seem bothered though.
Hoglander ducks under a wild hook from Akhtankhanov.
Hoglander doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akhtankhanov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Akhtankhanov lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Akhtankhanov is looking to clinch.
Hoglander throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Akhtankhanov throws a chopping leg kick but Hoglander manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Hoglander ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Akhtankhanov moves away.
Hoglander jabs Akhtankhanov to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Hoglander tries to work over Akhtankhanov's front leg with a kick but Akhtankhanov checks it.
Hoglander throws a lazy right hand but Akhtankhanov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hoglander misses with a body punch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Hoglander cracks Akhtankhanov with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Akhtankhanov misses the shot to the body.
Hoglander looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Akhtankhanov throws a head kick that misses.
A jab lands there for Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov's corner calls for a 1-2. Akhtankhanov obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Akhtankhanov misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Hoglander cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hoglander fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Akhtankhanov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Akhtankhanov just misses with a punch to the body.

Akhtankhanov drives through and clinches with Hoglander against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akhtankhanov working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Akhtankhanov throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Akhtankhanov has Hoglander pressed against the cage, preventing Hoglander from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Hoglander escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Akhtankhanov throws a leg kick which misses Hoglander's front leg but catches the back leg as Hoglander tries to avoid it.
Hoglander ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A good leg kick by Akhtankhanov.
Hoglander takes a jab right on the kisser.
Akhtankhanov connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Hoglander thuds his right hand into Akhtankhanov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Akhtankhanov is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Hoglander throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Akhtankhanov misses with a looping left.
Akhtankhanov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hoglander uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Akhtankhanov.

Akhtankhanov closes the distance and pushes Hoglander back into the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hoglander is trying to break the clinch but Akhtankhanov has him pressed against the cage.

Hoglander escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hoglander misses the shot to the body.
Akhtankhanov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hoglander moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Akhtankhanov instigates a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Akhtankhanov.
Hoglander is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Akhtankhanov pushes Hoglander back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A left hand lands to the body for Hoglander.
Hoglander wants to break free but Akhtankhanov has control.
Akhtankhanov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hoglanders head.
Hoglander wants to break free but Akhtankhanov has control.
Akhtankhanov stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Akhtankhanov makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Akhtankhanov working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Hoglander pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hoglander misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Good shot there by Akhtankhanov.
Hoglander throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Akhtankhanov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
It looked like Akhtankhanov was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Hoglander.
Akhtankhanov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A swing and a miss from Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov moves out of range as Hoglander strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sultanbek Akhtankhanov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hoglander throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A right-left combo lands from Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov just misses with a punch to the body.
Akhtankhanov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hoglander sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hoglander pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A solid leg kick lands there for Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hoglander manages to avoid it.
Akhtankhanov lunges at Hoglander with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hoglander's hand.
A decent looking cross lands there for Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hoglander can do to turn this around?
Akhtankhanov is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Akhtankhanov ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hoglander lands a jab to the head.
Hoglander walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Akhtankhanov bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Hoglander's head backwards.
Akhtankhanov wants to slow Hoglander down by chopping away at his legs.
Hoglander sizes up Akhtankhanov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Akhtankhanov instigates a clinch.
Hoglander has had enough of the clinch but Akhtankhanov keeps him there for the moment.
Akhtankhanov makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoglander can't break the clinch.
Akhtankhanov presses Hoglander against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Sultanbek Akhtankhanov has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Akhtankhanov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hoglander backwards.
Akhtankhanov scores with a nice hook to the head.
Akhtankhanov has Hoglander pressed against the cage, preventing Hoglander from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Akhtankhanov can't find room to land a body shot as Hoglander controls the action.
Akhtankhanov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Still in the clinch, Akhtankhanov scores with a nice short uppercut.

Hoglander is rocked!
A frustrated look appears on Hoglander's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hoglander is still on wobbly legs! Can Akhtankhanov finish him?
Hoglander looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hoglander tries to break free but Akhtankhanov pushes him back against the cage.
Akhtankhanov is leaning against Hoglander and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Hoglander is trying to force a seperation but Akhtankhanov has the dominant position.
Hoglander is looking to break free of the clinch but Akhtankhanov has double underhooks.
Akhtankhanov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A nice left hand lands by Akhtankhanov.
Hoglander wants to break free but Akhtankhanov has control.
Akhtankhanov lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hoglander backwards.
Akhtankhanov creates some distance for himself and unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Hoglander's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Hoglander drops to his knees and Akhtankhanov pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sultanbek Akhtankhanov!
A victorious Sultanbek Akhtankhanov thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.