PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sultanbek Akhtankhanov (ranked 298 p4p, 1137 weight class) and Phil Rivers (ranked 40 p4p, 120 weight class). Rivers is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: RUNNING IN THE 90’s. Sultanbek Akhtankhanov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Akhtankhanov
vs
Rivers

176 cm
32
155
22 - 10 - 2

177 cm
32
155
19 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

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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 22 - 10 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sultanbek Akhtankhanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Phil Rivers!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivers blocks a leg kick.
Rivers displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Akhtankhanov throws out the jab.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A shot to the liver by Akhtankhanov. Beautiful body shot.
Rivers tries to clinch up but Akhtankhanov circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice body punch from Akhtankhanov.
Rivers sizes up Akhtankhanov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Akhtankhanov tries to score with a low kick but Rivers moves his leg out of the way.
Akhtankhanov works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Rivers ducks right into an uppercut from Akhtankhanov.
The fighters circling - Rivers throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Akhtankhanov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rivers.
Rivers rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Akhtankhanov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Akhtankhanov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rivers.
Rivers missing with a left hand there. Akhtankhanov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rivers misses with a series of wild punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Akhtankhanov with a nice calf kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Rivers as he connects with a hook.
Rivers throws the left hand but Akhtankhanov avoids the punch easily.
A little feinted left hand from Akhtankhanov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rivers throws an overhand right that lands on Akhtankhanov's shoulder, as Akhtankhanov tries to avoid the shot.
Akhtankhanov tries to work over Rivers's front leg with a kick but Rivers checks it.
Akhtankhanov takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Akhtankhanov lands with a hook. Rivers tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers throws a jab but it's blocked by Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov staying out of range there.
Rivers fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A jab from Rivers does it's job there.
Akhtankhanov throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rivers on the side of the head.
Rivers throws the left hand but Akhtankhanov avoids the punch easily.
Rivers tries to move into range but Akhtankhanov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Akhtankhanov has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Torcida MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Phil Rivers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rivers misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rivers throws a lazy right hand but Akhtankhanov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rivers might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Rivers jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nice body punch from Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov throws a jab when Rivers was well out of range.
Rivers moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Akhtankhanov lands a glancing blow to the side of Rivers's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A slow jab from Rivers misses its intended target.
Rivers throws a hook but Akhtankhanov avoids it easily.
Akhtankhanov scores with a nice strike.
Rivers throws a hook to the side of Akhtankhanov's head but Akhtankhanov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A little feinted left hand from Akhtankhanov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Akhtankhanov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rivers.
Akhtankhanov slips under a jab from Rivers.
Akhtankhanov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Akhtankhanov appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akhtankhanov slips under a jab.
Rivers throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Akhtankhanov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nice body punch from Akhtankhanov.
Nice defenses there by Rivers.
Rivers falls off balance throwing a combination
and Akhtankhanov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rivers tries to close the distance and clinch up but Akhtankhanov swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Rivers rushes Akhtankhanov and presses him up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rivers.
Akhtankhanov lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Akhtankhanov blocking some punches.
Akhtankhanov blocks an uppercut.
Rivers swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Akhtankhanov lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rivers misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Akhtankhanov lands a hook that snaps the head of Rivers backwards.
Akhtankhanov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rivers lands a left hand that snaps the head of Akhtankhanov backwards.
A shot in the inside from Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov blocks an uppercut.
Rivers lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Akhtankhanov backwards.
Rivers misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akhtankhanov lands a hook to the side of the head.
Akhtankhanov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Riverss head.
Rivers throws a punch but it's blocked by Akhtankhanov.
Rivers lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Akhtankhanov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Akhtankhanov is working Rivers over against the cage.
Rivers makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Akhtankhanov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Still in the clinch, Rivers scores with a nice short uppercut.
Akhtankhanov lands a hook to the side of the head.
Akhtankhanov blocks a body shot from Rivers.
Akhtankhanov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Akhtankhanov misses with the head strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rivers is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Akhtankhanov throws a punch but it's blocked by Rivers.
Rivers tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Akhtankhanov swings wildly with an uppercut but Rivers uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rivers tries to throw a body punch but Akhtankhanov avoids it by throwing Rivers back against the cage.
Akhtankhanov lands with a right to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akhtankhanov misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short left from Akhtankhanov.
Akhtankhanov lands a shoulder strike.
Akhtankhanov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rivers misses with the head strike.
Rivers lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rivers comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Akhtankhanov throws a head punch that misses.
Rivers misses with the head strike.
Nice body punch from Akhtankhanov - that landed with a thud.
Akhtankhanov stalling.
Akhtankhanov misses with some punches.
Akhtankhanov throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Rivers blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rivers throws a head punch that misses.
Rivers misses with the head strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head punch on the inside from Akhtankhanov fails to land.
Akhtankhanov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Akhtankhanov scores with a shot to the side of Rivers's head.
Akhtankhanov pushes Rivers back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Rivers is rocked!
Akhtankhanov lands a body punch.
Rivers is still on wobbly legs! Can Akhtankhanov finish him?
Akhtankhanov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Akhtankhanov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sultanbek Akhtankhanov dominated that round.
That's time! Akhtankhanov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Akhtankhanov steps in with a hook that catches Rivers right on the chin and knocks him to the floor! Akhtankhanov follows him down with more strikes and that's all she wrote! Rivers looks absolutely devastated.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sultanbek Akhtankhanov!
Sultanbek Akhtankhanov seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.