PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chimzat Khamaev (ranked 2806 p4p, 5720 weight class) and Liam Walker (ranked 349 p4p, 547 weight class). Khamaev comes into the arena with Theme Song blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Khamaev
vs
Walker

188 cm
29
170
7 - 7 - 0

182 cm
34
184
7 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Powerful

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 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chimzat Khamaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Liam Walker!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Chris Downing and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Walker feints and then cracks Khamaev's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Khamaev down.

Khamaev takes the fight into the clinch.
Khamaev fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Khamaev takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Chimzat Khamaev has been cut.
Khamaev tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Walker stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Walker just misses with a elbow thrown towards Khamaev's brow.
Khamaev is trying to pull guard but Walker has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chimzat Khamaev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Walker wants to break free but Khamaev has control.

Khamaev decides to pull guard.
Khamaev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Walker.

Khamaev has an active guard here but Walker has managed to pass into half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Khamaev's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khamaev tries to get to full guard but Walker has control of the leg.

Khamaev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Walker pulls his head out easily.
Walker wants to pass to mount but Khamaev is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walker looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Walker is looking to stall here but Khamaev recovers full guard.
Walker keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Khamaev's head.

Walker got a little sloppy there for a moment and Khamaev has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Walker has managed to get both his arms back between Khamaev's legs - danger averted.
Khamaev 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.

Khamaev had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Walker defends it easily.
Walker lands a couple of elbows.
Walker postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walker trying to control but Khamaev is working from the bottom.
Walker slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Walker working the ground and pound.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Walker working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Khamaev sneaks back into half guard.

Khamaev actively working from the bottom here.
Ground and pound from Walker.
Walker trying to control from half guard but Khamaev is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Walker working Khamaev over with strikes.
Walker takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Walker is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Khamaev doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Walker.

Khamaev actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khamaev taking some punishment here, with Walker in his half guard.

Khamaev is rocked!
Walker lands a massive shot from half guard that has rocked Khamaev! More strikes land and this one is all over! Walker jumps to his feet and is applauded loudly by the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:43 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Liam Walker!
Chimzat Khamaev was interviewed post fight and said 'I trained so hard for this fight! I’ll be back! Keel everybody! '.