PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tico Tico (ranked 816 p4p, 1126 weight class) and Aslanbek Akhtankhanov (ranked 59 p4p, 79 weight class). Tico comes to the cage accompanied by Paco De Lucia - Tico Tico . Aslanbek Akhtankhanov will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Tico
vs
Akhtankhanov

163 cm
29
139
20 - 12 - 0

178 cm
29
145
12 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tico Tico!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aslanbek Akhtankhanov!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tico keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Akhtankhanov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Tico takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Tico drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Akhtankhanov takes a swing at Tico's ribcage but misses.
Aslanbek Akhtankhanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tico throws a quick inside leg kick.
Akhtankhanov just misses with a punch to the body.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Tico.
Tico swings away with a body shot that misses
and Akhtankhanov counters with a leg kick.
A shot to the body from Tico misses
and Akhtankhanov counters with a stiff right hand.
Akhtankhanov scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Tico takes a swing at Akhtankhanov's ribcage but misses.
Tico has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Hidden in the buildup to the fight.
Akhtankhanov throws a big shot that misses.
Tico swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
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!
Tico fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Akhtankhanov checks it well.
Tico throws a front kick aimed at Akhtankhanov's knee but Akhtankhanov avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Akhtankhanov misses.
Tico is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov throws a front kick aimed at Tico's knee but Tico avoids it well.
Tico has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Tico throws a shot from downtown. Akhtankhanov moves away and avoids it.
A nice side step and Akhtankhanov releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Akhtankhanov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Tico moves away from the strike by Akhtankhanov.
Tico tried to score with a low kick but Akhtankhanov checks it.
Tico with a nice calf kick.
Akhtankhanov throws a shot to the body.
Akhtankhanov throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Tico swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Akhtankhanov connects with a body shot that sends Tico's belly button to the back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Akhtankhanov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tico scores with a decent looking hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Akhtankhanov misses
and Tico counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tico takes a swing at Akhtankhanov's ribcage but misses.
Akhtankhanov tries a low kick but Tico avoids it.
Akhtankhanov misses with a hook.
Akhtankhanov connects with a crisp jab.
Akhtankhanov misses with a straight right.
Tico appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Tico with a hook.
Akhtankhanov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Akhtankhanov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tico. Akhtankhanov does a little dance to reset his feet.
A little jabbing left from Akhtankhanov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Tico walks into a straight right hand from Akhtankhanov.
Tico takes one on the button.
Tico looks to land a left hand but Akhtankhanov moved out of range nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tico with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Akhtankhanov connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Akhtankhanov has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Tico motions for Akhtankhanov to come forward. Tico throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Akhtankhanov dips to his left and cracks Tico with an uppercut!
A slow jab from Akhtankhanov misses its intended target.
Akhtankhanov lands a head shot.
Tico's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Akhtankhanov connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Tico scrambles back to his feet.
Akhtankhanov is looking to slow Tico down with leg kicks.
Akhtankhanov misses with a low kick as Tico jumps back.
Tico looks to score with a jab to the body but Akhtankhanov is just out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Akhtankhanov throws out a powerful jab.
Akhtankhanov is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Tico had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Akhtankhanov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tico throws a hook but Akhtankhanov avoids it easily.
Akhtankhanov looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Tico throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tico has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Tico there as he acknowledges the shot.
Akhtankhanov slips a jab from Tico.
Akhtankhanov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tico.
Tico swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Akhtankhanov misses with a two punch combination.
Akhtankhanov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Akhtankhanov cracks Tico with a right hand to the side of the head.
Tico misses the shot to the body.
Tico on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Akhtankhanov is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Tico takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Akhtankhanov feints a jab promting Tico to slip. Akhtankhanov then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Tico slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Tico throws a predictable looking body shot
and Akhtankhanov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tico throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aslanbek Akhtankhanov dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Akhtankhanov slips a jab from Tico.
Akhtankhanov lands a really nice looking cross but Tico seems unphased.
Tico misses the jab.
Akhtankhanov throws a shot from downtown. Tico moves away and avoids it.
Aslanbek Akhtankhanov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tico connects with a crisp jab.
Akhtankhanov misses with a body punch
and Tico counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Akhtankhanov throws a hook to the side of Tico's head but Tico sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A counter left hand to the body from Tico misses its target.
Tico drops his hands momentarily and Akhtankhanov takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Akhtankhanov bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Tico's head.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Tico might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Tico fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Akhtankhanov manages to avoid it.
Tico misses with a kick to the body
and Akhtankhanov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Akhtankhanov throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Akhtankhanov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Tico looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big left from Tico misses.
Akhtankhanov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tico connects with a leg kick.
Akhtankhanov connects with a single shot there.
Akhtankhanov wants to land a leg kick but Tico is out of range.
Akhtankhanov throws a big shot that misses.
Tico looks to score with a jab to the body but Akhtankhanov is just out of range.
Tico missing with a left hand there. Akhtankhanov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Akhtankhanov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Both fighters circling a little - Tico finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Akhtankhanov misses with a low kick.
Tico has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Tico throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A head kick misses from Tico.
Tico takes a swing at Akhtankhanov's ribcage but misses.
Akhtankhanov sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tico walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Akhtankhanov checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
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.
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!
Tico misses with a body shot.
Tico jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tico lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Tico with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Akhtankhanov to score with a decent uppercut.
Nice defenses there by Akhtankhanov.
Tico throws a right hand that Akhtankhanov ducks under and follows up with a left that Akhtankhanov also avoids with ease.
Some bone on bone action there as Tico checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Tico was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Tico takes one to the side of the head.
A good leg kick by Akhtankhanov.
A nice leg kick lands there from Akhtankhanov.
Tico misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tico looks to throw the jab but Akhtankhanov is out of range.
A nice leg kick from Akhtankhanov, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tico looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Tico has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Akhtankhanov.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Akhtankhanov.
Tico avoids the body shot from Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov misses with a double jab.
It looked like Tico wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Tico connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Akhtankhanov's hands.
Akhtankhanov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Akhtankhanov lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Tico has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Tico and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Akhtankhanov throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A low kick from Akhtankhanov misses
enabling Tico to counter with a crisp jab.
Tico misses with the body kick
and Akhtankhanov counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akhtankhanov throws a low kick, looking for Tico's leg but Tico calmly moves out of range.
Akhtankhanov misses with a lunging right hand
and Tico connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Akhtankhanov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Tico lands a jab.
Akhtankhanov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A slow jab from Akhtankhanov misses its intended target.
Tico swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tico moves out of range of the strikes.
Tico throwing a counter right hand but Akhtankhanov manages to avoid it.
Tico misses with a left hand
and Akhtankhanov counters with a leg kick.
Akhtankhanov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Tico moves away from the strike by Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Tico misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Akhtankhanov.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aslanbek Akhtankhanov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Tico's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Tico motions for Akhtankhanov to come forward. Tico throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Tico has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Tico there as he acknowledges the shot.
A shot to the body from Akhtankhanov misses
and Akhtankhanov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Tico throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Akhtankhanov counters with a nice low kick that buckles Tico's knee momentarily.
Akhtankhanov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tico.
Akhtankhanov misses with a looping left.
Tico misses with a hook. Akhtankhanov ducked under it nicely.
Tico connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Tico fakes the leg kick and cracks Akhtankhanov in the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed right hand from Tico misses the target.
A jab from Akhtankhanov does it's job there.
Akhtankhanov lands with a cross.
Tico takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tico fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Akhtankhanov stuns Tico with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Tico throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tico wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Akhtankhanov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tico dodges the punch combination from Akhtankhanov.
Tico throws a front kick aimed at Akhtankhanov's knee but Akhtankhanov avoids it well.
Akhtankhanov with a nice calf kick.
Akhtankhanov on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Akhtankhanov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tico circles away quickly and effectively.
Tico appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Tico slips a jab from Akhtankhanov.
Tico swings widly with a right hand
enabling Akhtankhanov to counter with a crisp jab.
Tico Tico has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aslanbek Akhtankhanov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akhtankhanov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tico is looking to counter punch.
Tico connects with a body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tico throws a hook but Akhtankhanov blocks it.
Tico bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Akhtankhanov throws a solid leg kick but Tico takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Akhtankhanov.
Tico takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Tico with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Tico ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Akhtankhanov moves away.
Akhtankhanov smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Tico throws a body punch but Akhtankhanov moves out of range.
Akhtankhanov is looking for the big counter here.
Akhtankhanov tries to land a leg kick but Tico saw it coming and moves away.
Akhtankhanov throws a low kick but Tico avoids it.
Tico fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Akhtankhanov manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tico is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Tico misses with a double jab.
Akhtankhanov's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Tico connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Akhtankhanov scrambles back to his feet.
Tico misses with a right hand
and Tico takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Tico misses the jab.
A little jabbing left from Akhtankhanov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Tico jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Akhtankhanov staying out of range there.
Akhtankhanov turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Akhtankhanov lands a jab-cross combination.
Akhtankhanov misses with a low kick as Tico jumps back.
Tico throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Akhtankhanov's jab looks to have found its range, popping Tico under the eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Akhtankhanov tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Tico fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Akhtankhanov manages to avoid it.
Nice uppercut lands for Akhtankhanov. That snapped Tico's head back.
Akhtankhanov throws a hook to the side of Tico's head but Tico sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Akhtankhanov connects with a leg kick.
Akhtankhanov throws a predictable looking body shot
and Tico cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tico misses with a straight right.
Tico throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Tico throws a shot from downtown. Akhtankhanov moves away and avoids it.
Tico lands a right hook to the body.
Akhtankhanov throws a hook but Tico avoids it easily.
It looked like Tico was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Tico feints and then cracks Akhtankhanov's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Akhtankhanov down.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Aslanbek Akhtankhanov.
Well Akhtankhanov 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aslanbek Akhtankhanov!
Our winner, Aslanbek Akhtankhanov, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.