PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ilham Aliyev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sallah Alcoubra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Aliyev might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Why Can't We Be Friends? . Alcoubra comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Counting bodies like sheep to the rhythm of the war drums kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Sallah Alcoubra has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Ilham Aliyev's chin.

Aliyev
vs
Alcoubra

185 cm
25
185 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

185 cm
23
185 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Syndicate Drugs
Cobra Kai Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ilham Aliyev!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sallah Alcoubra!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Sergei Dronov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Aliyev shoots in and bounces Alcoubra off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Aliyev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Alcoubra can do anything to dispel that myth.
Aliyev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Alcoubra not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Aliyev throws a strike but Alcoubra rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Alcoubra preventing the sweep.

Aliyev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Alcoubra is aware though and is defending well.
Alcoubra trying to control the position from guard on top but Aliyev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aliyev being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Alcoubra accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Aliyev utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Aliyev looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Alcoubra trying to control but Aliyev is working from the bottom.
Alcoubra must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alcoubra wanted to stand there but Aliyev had control of the position.
Alcoubra wants to pass the guard but Aliyev is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Aliyev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Alcoubra with a flurry of punches that miss.
Alcoubra wants to stand but Aliyev has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Alcoubra wants to control from the top but Aliyev keeps moving.
Alcoubra really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Aliyev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Alcoubra won't allow Aliyev to sweep him here.
Aliyev keeping moving, preventing Alcoubra from controlling successfully.
Alcoubra is pushing down on Aliyev's leg trying to pass to half guard. Aliyev is fighting to maintain full guard but Alcoubra has managed to sneak the leg through.
Aliyev is trying to get back to full guard.
Aliyev is staying active underneath Alcoubra, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A slow jab from Alcoubra misses its intended target.
Aliyev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Alcoubra tries to keep at a distance but Aliyev has taken the fight into the clinch.
Aliyev unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Alcoubra tries to circle away but Aliyev has him pinned against the cage.
Alcoubra lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Aliyev backwards.
Aliyev tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Alcoubra avoids it.
Aliyev working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Aliyev trying to land knees to the body.
Aliyev misses with an elbow over the top.
Aliyev lands an elbow that stopped Alcoubra in his tracks for a moment.
Aliyev presses Alcoubra against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Aliyev pushes off an throws an elbow but Alcoubra leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Aliyev prevents Alcoubra from breaking the clinch.
Aliyev lands an elbow that stopped Alcoubra in his tracks for a moment.
Alcoubra tries to break free but Aliyev pushes him back against the cage.
Alcoubra avoids a wild elbow strike from Aliyev.
Aliyev trying to land knees to the body.
Aliyev taking a breather.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Aliyev obliges.
Alcoubra on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Alcoubra wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Aliyev throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev throws a head punch that misses.
Nice body punch from Aliyev - that landed with a thud.
Alcoubra is trying to break free.
Aliyev goes for a takedown in the clinch but Alcoubra prevents it.
Alcoubra throws a punch but it's blocked by Aliyev.
Alcoubra doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Alcoubra is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alcoubra.
Aliyev keeps control of Alcoubra as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Alcoubra on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Alcoubra avoiding damage as Aliyev throws knees to the body.
Alcoubra misses with a hook from the clinch.
Alcoubra prevents the takedown attempt.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Aliyev obliges.
Alcoubra takes a knee right on the jaw!
Aliyev landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Aliyev crunches a lovely knee into Alcoubra's ribcage.
Alcoubra has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Alcoubra is looking to break free of the clinch but Aliyev has double underhooks.
Aliyev throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Alcoubra looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Alcoubra tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Aliyev's elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilham Aliyev dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Aliyev tries a head kick but it misses.
A solid leg kick lands there for Aliyev.
Aliyev defending well as Alcoubra loads up on a big left hand.
Aliyev is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Aliyev dives in and grabs Alcoubra's left leg, looking for a takedown. Alcoubra pushes down on Aliyev's head and hops out.
Alcoubra closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Aliyev is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Alcoubra's half guard.

Aliyev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Alcoubra defends it well.
Alcoubra trying to control here.
Alcoubra blocking the ground and pound attempt from Aliyev.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aliyev seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Alcoubra is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Ilham Aliyev!
Ilham Aliyev retains his middleweight title!