PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Aziz Mehamedov (ranked 3828 p4p, 3154 weight class) and Elim Garak (ranked 294 p4p, 247 weight class). Elim Garak told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Mehamedov
vs
Garak

176 cm
20
155
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
145
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Aziz Mehamedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Elim Garak!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Paulsen Ambrosius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garak's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Mehamedov connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Garak scrambles back to his feet.

Garak clinches with his opponent.

Garak has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Mehamedov uses from the top position.
Mehamedov being controlled here momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Garak trying to control the position.
Mehamedov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Garak has his foot on Mehamedov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mehamedov works his way back into a safe position though.
Mehamedov definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Garak working for a triangle but Mehamedov defends it easily.
Mehamedov passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garak can't do much from the bottom here.
Garak tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mehamedov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mehamedov controlling the position from side mount.
The ground and pound from Mehamedov seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Garak is letting Mehamedov control him for a moment.
Mehamedov continues to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Garak is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Garak is being controlled here.
Garak sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Garak regains full guard. Nicely done.
Mehamedov's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Garak is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mehamedov defends well.

Garak has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mehamedov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mehamedov is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Garak is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mehamedov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Mehamedov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Garak is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mehamedov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Mehamedov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mehamedov throws a strike but Garak rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Garak loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Garak thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Garak postures up in Mehamedov's guard and throws a big left but Mehamedov blocks it.
Mehamedov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Elim Garak will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mehamedov looks to throw the jab but Garak is out of range.
Garak steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Mehamedov.
Mehamedov cracks Garak with a good jab.
Mehamedov throws a body shot but no joy.
Garak feints the counter takedown.
Mehamedov connects with a single shot there.
Aziz Mehamedov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Garak on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

It looks like Elim Garak has been cut.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Mehamedov.

Garak is rocked!
Mehamedov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Garak can do to turn this around?
Garak gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Garak is still on wobbly legs! Can Mehamedov finish him?
Mehamedov takes a swing at Garak's ribcage but misses.
A big left from Mehamedov misses.
Mehamedov misses with a straight right.
Garak seems to have recovered his senses.
Garak fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mehamedov avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mehamedov throws a big overhand right that connects, sending Garak tumbling to the canvas!
Garak is trying to keep Mehamedov in close.
Mehamedov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Garak is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mehamedov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Garak working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mehamedov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mehamedov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mehamedov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
More hug and hope from Mehamedov.
Mehamedov wants to pass the guard but Garak is keeping the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Mehamedov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's four 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.
A swing and a miss from Mehamedov.
Mehamedov lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Mehamedov takes a swing at Garak's ribcage but misses.
A cross from Mehamedov lands.
Mehamedov lands a jab to the nose.
Garak displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mehamedov throws out the jab.
A jab from Mehamedov misses.
Garak is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A jab from Mehamedov misses.
Garak on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Garak is looking to clinch but Mehamedov is avoiding it.
Garak wants to clinch up but Mehamedov keeps it at a distance.
Mehamedov throws a jab when Garak was well out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aziz Mehamedov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Elim Garak's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mehamedov throws a hook but Garak blocks it.
Mehamedov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Mehamedov fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Garak on the side of the head.
Garak ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Garak uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mehamedov.
Aziz Mehamedov is winning the standup battle so far.
A telegraphed right hand from Mehamedov misses the target.
Garak on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Garak doesn't manage to clinch there - Mehamedov circles away.
A little feinted left hand from Mehamedov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mehamedov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mehamedov misses with a looping right.
Mehamedov scores with a crisp jab that stopped Garak in his tracks.
Mehamedov looks to score with a jab to the body but Garak is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mehamedov throws a hook but Garak blocks it.
Mehamedov misses with a lunging right hand

and Garak counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Mehamedov!
Mehamedov struggling a bit here.
Mehamedov stops Garak from passing to mount.

Garak thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Garak scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Mehamedov to see if he's OK.
Mehamedov tries to buck Garak off but Garak is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Garak wants to control but Mehamedov is keeping him busy.
Garak throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Mehamedov is looking for a sweep.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Garak working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Mehamedov can't do much from the bottom here.
Mehamedov taking a bit of punishment here - Garak scoring with strikes.
Garak in side control, throwing shots but Mehamedov defends.
Mehamedov struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mehamedov dodges the ground and pound from Garak.
Mehamedov gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Mehamedov wants to control but Garak is keeping busy.
Garak sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mehamedov defending well though.
Garak missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Garak is nestled in close to Mehamedov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Garak wants to control but Mehamedov is keeping him busy.
Garak wants to free his trapped foot but Mehamedov is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Garak is trying to work for a kimura but Mehamedov is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Garak.
Garak wants to pass the guard but Mehamedov is defending well.

Mehamedov is defending against the submission attempts here by Garak.
Mehamedov is trying to control but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Elim Garak.
I think Garak has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:28
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!