PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jon Lodge (ranked 2331 p4p, 5411 weight class) and Timur Makhmudova (ranked 286 p4p, 519 weight class). The key to victory for Jon Lodge has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Lodge
vs
Makhmudova

186 cm
20
260
5 - 1 - 0

193 cm
20
255
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ajax Cloth

BRAZEN - Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jon Lodge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Timur Makhmudova!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Daniel Blasius and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Makhmudova thuds his right hand into Lodge's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

It looks like Jon Lodge has been cut.
Lodge shoots in for a takedown but Makhmudova shows good takedown defense.
Makhmudova drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Lodge defends it well.

Lodge gets tackled into the cage by Makhmudova. Makhmudova maintains the clinch.
Makhmudova utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Makhmudova tightens his grip and picks Lodge up, before dumping him to the ground. Lodge manages to land in guard.
Lodge 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.
Lodge can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Makhmudova controls the pace.
Makhmudova must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makhmudova stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lodge swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makhmudova slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Lodge is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Makhmudova closes the distance and pushes Lodge back into the cage.
Makhmudova stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Lodge tries to pull guard but Makhmudova holds him up against the cage and eventually Lodge drops back down to his feet.
Lodge fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Lodge. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Makhmudova breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lodge misses with a body shot.
Lodge closes this distance looking for a takedown but Makhmudova circles away.

Makhmudova clinches up with Lodge and pushes him back against the cage.
Makhmudova digs a right hand underneath Lodge's ribcage. Lodge let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Lodge is breathing heavily.

Makhmudova has clasped his hands together around Lodge's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Makhmudova is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Lodge's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makhmudova tries to advance to mount but can't.
Makhmudova is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Lodge prevents Makhmudova from moving into mount.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Makhmudova controls the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Makhmudova closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Lodge is trying to escape back to his feet but Makhmudova uses the scramble to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lodge trying to remain calm as Makhmudova controls from the top position.
Lodge prevents Makhmudova from moving into mount.
Makhmudova taking a breather here.
Makhmudova has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Lodge!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Makhmudova is working for a guillotine from mount but Lodge frees his head quite easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Timur Makhmudova dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jon Lodge's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lodge tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Makhmudova defends well and Lodge ends up having to push Makhmudova into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Makhmudova escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lodge goes for a double leg but Makhmudova avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Makhmudova continues to drive forward.

Makhmudova gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Lodge trying to control the position.
Makhmudova controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lodge is trying to control the position but Makhmudova postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Lodge wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Lodge misses with a two punch combination.
Makhmudova with the counter takedown but Lodge avoids it easily.
Lodge takes one to the chin there.
A combination from Makhmudova does no damage.
Makhmudova swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jon Lodge is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Makhmudova gets a double leg takedown into Lodge's guard.
Makhmudova slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Makhmudova postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Lodge is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Makhmudova, into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makhmudova keeping moving, preventing Lodge from controlling successfully.
Makhmudova is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Makhmudova is pressing down on Lodge's thigh, looking to free his foot. Lodge is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lodge manages to get to full guard.
Lodge is looking to stand back up but Makhmudova counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Lodge.
Lodge wants to control the action here but instead Makhmudova manages to pass to full mount!
Makhmudova controlling the pace for now.
Makhmudova has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makhmudova's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Makhmudova works his way to his opponent's back.
Lodge is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
What can Lodge do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Timur Makhmudova showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jon Lodge's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lodge shoots in for a takedown but Makhmudova shows good takedown defense.

Makhmudova shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Lodge manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Makhmudova controlling from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Lodge wants to sweep here but Makhmudova controlling him for the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Lodge gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Makhmudova.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Lodge misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Makhmudova gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lodge tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Makhmudova just leaning against Lodge, taking a breather.

Makhmudova is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Lodge can't fight it off and eventually Makhmudova manages to take the fight to the floor. Lodge looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Makhmudova stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lodge swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Makhmudova is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Let's hope that Makhmudova has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makhmudova wants to pass the guard but Lodge is keeping the position.
Lodge seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Lodge is looking to sweep but instead, Makhmudova has passed into half guard.
Lodge is trying to maintain the position but Makhmudova is very close to passing his half guard.
Makhmudova keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Timur Makhmudova is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Makhmudova ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lodge moves away.
Lodge tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jon Lodge has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A right-left combo lands from Lodge.

And that's the end of the fight!
Timur Makhmudova comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Makhmudova 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Timur Makhmudova!