PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Finlay Standifer (ranked 365 p4p, 291 weight class) and Mamed Khalidovic (ranked 46 p4p, 35 weight class). Khalidovic is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Зима-мама 25/17. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Standifer
vs
Khalidovic

172 cm
27
156
17 - 7 - 0

183 cm
33
156
24 - 12 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Fast

NARCOS
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The Pharmacy Phuket
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Finlay Standifer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Mamed Khalidovic!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khalidovic misses with a straight left.
Standifer uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Khalidovic.
Khalidovic swings widly with a right hand
and Standifer counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Standifer takes a jab right on the kisser.
Standifer misses with a body punch
and Khalidovic counters with an outside leg kick.
Khalidovic throws a nice inside leg kick.
Khalidovic misses with a hook

and Standifer counters with a nice double leg into side control. Khalidovic won't be happy with that.
Standifer scoring with punches and elbows.
Khalidovic is trying to control Standifer's posture but Standifer avoids it.
Khalidovic tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Khalidovic takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
We've been hearing that Standifer has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Khalidovic is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidovic manages to work his way to half guard, despite Standifer's best efforts.
Khalidovic wants to improve his position but Standifer is controlling well.

Standifer is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Khalidovic trying to hold on to Standifer's head to control him but Standifer postures up.
Khalidovic won't allow Standifer to pass to mount.
Khalidovic is trying to get back to full guard.
Standifer not doing much 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.
Khalidovic has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Standifer is working away from the top position though.
Standifer takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Standifer prevents Khalidovic from improving his position.
Khalidovic is trying to control but can't.
Standifer is trying to control. Khalidovic wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Khalidovic gets back to full guard.
Khalidovic is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Standifer looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Standifer ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Standifer doesn't manage to clinch there - Khalidovic circles away.
Standifer moves out of range of the strikes.
Standifer appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Standifer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Khalidovic.
Khalidovic tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Standifer was well out of range. Poor timing from Khalidovic.
A cross from Khalidovic lands.
Khalidovic connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Standifer's hands.
That kick from Khalidovic tenderised Standifer's leg. Standifer is trying to keep his angry face on.
Khalidovic is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Good leg kick by Khalidovic.
Standifer avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Khalidovic misses with a right hand

and Standifer counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Khalidovic.

Khalidovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Standifer on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
An inside leg kick from Khalidovic misses.
As Khalidovic tries to get set, Standifer tries to push him back and clinch up but Khalidovic manages to avoid the attempt.
Standifer lands a lovely overhand right.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Khalidovic takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Khalidovic fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Standifer.
Khalidovic throws a low kick but it's checked well by Standifer.
Standifer is looking to counter the offense by Khalidovic and move into the clinch.
Nice straight punches there by Khalidovic. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Khalidovic.
Khalidovic lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Khalidovic jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Standifer throws a body shot but no joy.
Khalidovic connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Standifer's hands.
Khalidovic fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
As Khalidovic tries to get set, Standifer tries to push him back and clinch up but Khalidovic manages to avoid the attempt.
Standifer throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Khalidovic on the side of the head.

Standifer scores with a takedown into Khalidovic's guard.
Khalidovic is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mamed Khalidovic will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Khalidovic misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Standifer counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Khalidovic is looking to improve his position.

Khalidovic looking for a kimura from the bottom but Standifer passes into side control!
Khalidovic being controlled for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Standifer's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Finlay Standifer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidovic can't do much from the bottom here.
Khalidovic is not content to let Standifer control the position.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Khalidovic is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Khalidovic isn't going anywhere.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Khalidovic is trying to improve his position.
Standifer moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Standifer moves out of range of the strikes.
Standifer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Khalidovic.
Khalidovic listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Mamed Khalidovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Khalidovic tries to sprawl but Standifer drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Khalidovic wants to control but Standifer is keeping busy.
Khalidovic moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Khalidovic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Standifer is one step ahead there.
Standifer showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Khalidovic is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Khalidovic is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Standifer connects with a couple of short punches.
Standifer controls from within his opponent's guard.
Standifer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Khalidovic is keeping the position for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Standifer trying to control the position from guard on top but Khalidovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Finlay Standifer dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Khalidovic lands a right hook to the body.
A lazy body kick from Khalidovic

and Standifer counters with a shoot takedown. Khalidovic fights it but they end up in guard.
Standifer 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.
Standifer postures up.
Standifer is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khalidovic managing to control the position.
Standifer is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Khalidovic throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Standifer trying to control the position from guard on top but Khalidovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Standifer scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Khalidovic throws an overhand right that lands on Standifer's shoulder, as Standifer tries to avoid the shot.
Standifer changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Standifer tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Khalidovic missing with a left hand there. Standifer was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Khalidovic misses.
Khalidovic with a nice calf kick.
Standifer is looking to wear down Khalidovic with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Khalidovic thows a left - swing and a miss!
Standifer feinted with a counter takedown.
Khalidovic scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A nice leg kick lands there from Khalidovic.
Khalidovic connects with a looping right hand.
Khalidovic throws out a powerful jab.
Khalidovic chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Standifer moves into the clinch successfully.
Standifer misses with the head strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Standifer can't find room to land a body shot as Khalidovic controls the action.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Standifer.
Khalidovic misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Khalidovic fails to land.
Khalidovic swings wildly with an uppercut but Standifer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Standifer struggles to land a body shot inside as Khalidovic controls his hands.
Khalidovic misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Standifer.
Standifer takes a shot to the head.
Standifer keeps control of Khalidovic as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Khalidovic working aggressively here.
Standifer lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Standifer works on Khalidovic's body with a couple of short punches.
Khalidovic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Standifer misses with a punch to the body.
Khalidovic blocks a body shot from Standifer.

Khalidovic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Standifer pushes Khalidovic up against the cage in a clinch.
Standifer scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Khalidovic stops a takedown attempt from Standifer.
Khalidovic throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Standifer blocks it with crossed arms.
Khalidovic tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Standifer lands a shoulder strike.
Still in the clinch, Standifer scores with a nice short uppercut.
Standifer digs a right hand into Khalidovic's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Khalidovic's gas tank.
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!
Standifer throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Khalidovics head.
Khalidovic wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Standifer has him pressed against the cage.
Standifer stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Standifer misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Standifer lands a shoulder strike.
Standifer is leaning against Khalidovic and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Standifer lands a right hand.
Standifer lands a body shot in the clinch.
Standifer scores with a shoulder strike.
Standifer prevents Khalidovic from breaking the clinch.
Standifer lands a body punch.
Standifer scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Standifer lands a nice shot to the body.
Standifer misses with a body punch.
A short right from Standifer on the inside.
A hook to the body from Standifer.
Finlay Standifer has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Standifer lands a right hand.
A short right from Standifer on the inside.
A short right from Standifer on the inside.
Khalidovic wants to break the clinch but can't.
Standifer lands with a short shot to the head.
A hook to the body from Standifer.
Standifer misses with a punch to the body.

Khalidovic is fighting off a takedown attempt but Standifer is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Khalidovic to the mat. Khalidovic regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Standifer passes into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Finlay Standifer showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Standifer 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Finlay Standifer!