PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ethan Campbell (ranked 23031 p4p, 4093 weight class) and Samandar Aliyev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Campbell
vs
Aliyev

188 cm
27
178
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
18
170
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Ethan Campbell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Samandar Aliyev!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, William Gold and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Campbell throws a sloppy head kick
and Aliyev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Aliyev looks to land a combination. Campbell sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Aliyev shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Aliyev thows a huge punch but Campbell dodges it nicely.

Aliyev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Campbell defends it well.
Aliyev prevents Campbell from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aliyev missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aliyev sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Campbell is looking for a sweep. Aliyev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Campbell trying to control from the bottom.
Aliyev is looking to take a break and control but Campbell is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Campbell tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Campbell is looking to improve his position.

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

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.
Campbell shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Aliyev as he avoids it easily.
Campbell tries to close the distance and clinch up but Aliyev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Campbell throws a head kick that misses.

Campbell moves into the clinch.
Aliyev wants a takedown but no success here.

Aliyev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Aliyev fails with a takedown attempt.
Campbell shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Aliyev sprawls well. Aliyev wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Campbell gets slowly back to his feet.

Campbell has closed the distance and engaged Aliyev in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aliyev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Campbell defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Aliyev.
Ethan Campbell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Samandar Aliyev.
Aliyev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Campbell throws a head kick but Aliyev moves out of range.
Campbell fails with a takedown attempt.

Aliyev instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aliyev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Aliyev looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Campbell scores with a jab. Aliyev acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Campbell fails with an attempt to clinch.
A jab from Aliyev misses.
Aliyev leaves Campbell with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Aliyev with the counter takedown but Campbell avoids it easily.
Campbell fails in his attempt to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A jab from Aliyev misses.
Aliyev is trying hard to land a takedown here. Campbell sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Campbell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Aliyev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Campbell paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Aliyev swinging wildly here.
Campbell fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
No luck for Aliyev with that takedown attempt.
No luck for Aliyev with that takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aliyev fails with a takedown attempt.
Campbell half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Ethan Campbell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Samandar Aliyev.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Campbell.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Campbell shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Aliyev as he avoids it easily.
Aliyev moves out of range of the body kick from Campbell.
Ethan Campbell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No luck for Aliyev with that takedown attempt.
Aliyev tries for a takedown but Campbell circles away easily
and Campbell counters with a right hand to the body.
Aliyev is breathing heavily.
Campbell darts in looking for a takedown but Aliyev gets double underhooks and turns Campbell into the cage.
Campbell goes for a takedown attempt but Aliyev pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Campbell throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Aliyev shoots in for a takedown but Campbell shows good takedown defense.
Campbell shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Aliyev counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aliyev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Campbell misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Campbell tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Aliyev swivels and escapes.
Campbell tries for a takedown but Aliyev sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Aliyev shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Campbell manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Campbell looking for a guillotine here but Aliyev defends easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Campbell keeping moving, preventing Aliyev from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev throwing strikes from guard but Campbell blocks nicely.
Campbell throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Aliyev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Aliyev wants to control from the top but Campbell keeps moving.
Aliyev is looking to stand up but Campbell won't let him.
Aliyev not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Campbell shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Aliyev sprawls well. Aliyev wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Campbell gets slowly back to his feet.
Aliyev fails with the takedown.
Campbell appears to be looking for a big counter.
Campbell fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Aliyev fails with a takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Aliyev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Campbell looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Samandar Aliyev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Aliyev fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Campbell, pushing him back against the cage.

Campbell drags the fight down to the ground.
Aliyev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Aliyev stands up and waves to Campbell to follow him.
Campbell will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Aliyev slaps away a takedown attempt from Campbell, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aliyev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Aliyev is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Campbell closes this distance looking for a takedown but Aliyev circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice takedown defense from Aliyev. No joy for Campbell on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ethan Campbell. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Campbell closes the distance but Aliyev moves to the side
and Aliyev makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Campbell drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Aliyev breaks from the clinch.
Aliyev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Campbell as he jumps to the side.

Aliyev gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev is trying to pull guard but Campbell turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Campbell.
Aliyev has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Campbell avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Aliyev tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Campbell smiles and moves away.
Campbell shoots in for a takedown but Aliyev shows good takedown defense.
Aliyev avoids the head kick by Campbell.
Aliyev throws a counter combo.
Aliyev blocks a head kick by Campbell.

Aliyev moves into the clinch successfully.
Aliyev wants a takedown.
A left hand lands to the body for Aliyev.
Aliyev trying to control the position but instead, Campbell has worked for underhooks and has pushed Aliyev into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Campbell is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Aliyev has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Campbell uses from the top position.
Campbell content to stall in guard here.
Campbell in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Aliyev has an active guard here but Campbell has managed to pass into half guard.
Campbell sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Aliyev defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aliyev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Aliyev trying to control but Campbell postures up.
Aliyev blocking the ground and pound attempt from Campbell.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Campbell is stalling here. Aliyev is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Campbell seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Aliyev has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Campbell is looking for a sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samandar Aliyev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Aliyev 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 James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Samandar Aliyev!