PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vinicius Honorio (ranked 213 p4p, 267 weight class) and Zabit Magomedov (ranked 28 p4p, 36 weight class). Honorio comes to the cage accompanied by Through the Darkness by Vinicius Honorio. Zabit Magomedov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Honorio
vs
Magomedov

182 cm
27
180
13 - 4 - 0

179 cm
34
175
18 - 13 - 1

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Shadow Realm Apparel
NARCOS

Conviction
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vinicius Honorio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 13 - 1, fighting out of London, Zabit Magomedov!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Ackerman and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Magomedov connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Magomedov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Honorio manages to avoid it.
Good work by Honorio as he checks the leg kick.
Honorio looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Honorio dips to his left and cracks Magomedov with an uppercut!
Magomedov thows a leg kick but Honorio checks it

and Honorio decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Magomedov's guard.
Magomedov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Magomedov keeping full guard, as Honorio tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Magomedov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Honorio is one step ahead there.
Honorio trying to control the position from guard on top but Magomedov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Honorio has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Honorio scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Honorio not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Magomedov pulls Honorio in close to his closed guard and prevents Honorio from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Honorio lands a couple of digs.
Honorio trying to control the position from guard on top but Magomedov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Honorio looking to sit in guard and control but Magomedov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Magomedov wants to control from the top but Honorio keeps moving.

Honorio has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Magomedov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Magomedov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Honorio. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Honorio swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Honorio 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.
Magomedov looking to sit in guard and control but Honorio gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hammerfist, elbow! yells Honorio's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Honorio drops back looking for a leg! Magomedov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Magomedov manages to kick Honorio off! Honorio jumps back into Magomedov's guard.
Magomedov seems keen to control Honorio's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov wants to improve his position but instead Honorio has moved into half guard.
Magomedov is trying to control but Honorio passes into side control!
A lull in the action here.
Magomedov parries the strikes from Honorio easily there. Honorio is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Magomedov to escape.

Honorio is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Magomedov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Honorio looks up at the clock and then as Magomedov takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Honorio smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Honorio wants to control but Magomedov is keeping him busy.
Honorio working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Honorio is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Magomedov has escaped the position, nice work there.
The strikes coming from Honorio are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Magomedov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Magomedov sneaks back into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Magomedov wants to improve his position but Honorio is controlling well.

Honorio wants to work for an arm triangle but Magomedov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vinicius Honorio dominated that round.
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.

Magomedov tries to land a body kick

so Honorio counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Honorio lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Honorio stands up over Magomedov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Magomedov controlling the position.
Honorio trying to control but Magomedov is working from the bottom.
Honorio postures up in Magomedov's guard and throws a big left but Magomedov blocks it.
Magomedov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Magomedov looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Honorio wants to control from the top but Magomedov keeps moving.
Honorio pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Magomedov is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Honorio trying to control the position from guard on top but Magomedov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Honorio is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Magomedov can do to turn this around?
Honorio sitting in guard here, content to control.
Honorio wants to pass the guard but Magomedov is keeping the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Honorio sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Magomedov's guard.
Magomedov is looking for a sweep. Honorio is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Magomedov wants to control but Honorio is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Honorio controlling the action here.

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.
Magomedov is looking to improve his position.
Honorio thows a huge punch but Magomedov dodges it nicely.
Honorio looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Honorio sitting and controlling from the half guard.

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

Honorio fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Magomedov sprawls well initially but Honorio persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Honorio working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Magomedov manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Honorio looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Honorio postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Honorio working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Magomedov's head.
Magomedov is looking to stand up but Honorio isn't so interested in that idea.
Magomedov trying to control the position.
Magomedov pulls Honorio in close to prevent any damage.

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.
Honorio slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Honorio tries to free his leg and advance position but Magomedov is retaining full guard.
Honorio postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Honorio trying to control but Magomedov is working from the bottom.
Honorio works over Magomedov with some ground and pound from guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Honorio in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Honorio scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Honorio trying to control the position from guard on top but Magomedov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vinicius Honorio dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Magomedov plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Honorio slips a jab from Magomedov.
Vinicius Honorio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
An inside leg kick from Magomedov misses.
Magomedov swings for the body but Honorio moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Magomedov. No joy for Honorio on that attempt.
Magomedov takes a swing at Honorio's ribcage but misses.
Magomedov swings for the body but Honorio moves out of range.
Magomedov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Honorio uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Magomedov.
Magomedov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Honorio tries to clinch but Magomedov is having none of it.
Magomedov wants to land a leg kick but Honorio is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Magomedov avoids the body shot from Honorio.
Magomedov only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Magomedov is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Honorio rather than just go for the knockout.
Honorio dives in and grabs Magomedov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Magomedov pushes down on Honorio's head and hops out.
Honorio on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Honorio avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Honorio changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Magomedov takes a swing at Honorio's ribcage but misses.
Honorio thows a left - swing and a miss!
Magomedov follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Magomedov stuffs the takedown attempt from Honorio. Honorio gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vinicius Honorio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good exchange - Magomedov coming out on top.
Zabit Magomedov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov jabs at Honorio's body.

Honorio shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Magomedov napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Magomedov throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Magomedov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Honorio avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
It looked like Honorio was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Magomedov misses with a head kick.
Honorio uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Magomedov throws a leg kick but Honorio sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Zabit Magomedov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Magomedov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Honorio throws a shot to the body.
Zabit Magomedov seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Honorio closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Magomedov quickly recovers to half guard.

Magomedov is defending against the submission attempts here by Honorio.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Honorio sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Honorio is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Magomedov is just riding it out for now. Honorio eventually gives up the hold.
Honorio is trying to control. Magomedov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four 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.
Magomedov is trying to get back to full guard.

Honorio is trying to work for a kimura but Magomedov is defending well.
Honorio wants to advance to full mount but Magomedov doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Magomedov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Honorio.
Honorio content to stall in guard here.
Honorio is in close to Magomedov's body, working some short punches and elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zabit Magomedov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Honorio has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vinicius Honorio!
An out of breath Vinicius Honorio thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.