PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Raul Cervantes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Amzi Azzan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Amzi Azzan has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Raul Cervantes's chin.

Cervantes
vs
Azzan

190 cm
21
220 lbs
8 - 6 - 1

189 cm
24
217 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Raul Cervantes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Amzi Azzan!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksandr Martynov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Azzan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Azzan can't get the takedown.
Azzan has Cervantes pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cervantes manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Cervantes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Azzan is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Cervantes tries to circle away but Azzan has him pinned against the cage.
Cervantes tries to circle away but Azzan has him pinned against the cage.

Azzan manages to pull guard.
Azzan wants to get back to his feet but Cervantes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cervantes stopping the sweep attempt from Azzan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cervantes gets to his feet - Azzan follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azzan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cervantes trying to keep a closed guard but Azzan is proving a slippery customer.
Azzan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cervantes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Azzan.
Cervantes keeping moving, preventing Azzan from controlling successfully.
Cervantes looking to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Azzan closes the distance and clinches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Azzan tries for a takedown. No joy.
Raul Cervantes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Amzi Azzan.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Azzan is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cervantes gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Azzan gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Cervantes regains guard.
Cervantes is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azzan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Azzan throws a big right hand that misses.
Azzan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cervantes is keeping the position for now.
Azzan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Azzan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cervantes is trying to control the position but Azzan postures up.
Cervantes is really struggling to control Azzan but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Azzan dodges the punch combination from Cervantes.

Azzan shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Azzan looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Cervantes with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azzan thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cervantes blocking the ground and pound attempt from Azzan.
Azzan seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Azzan wants to take a breather but Cervantes is having none of it.
Azzan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cervantes defending well though.
Cervantes is trying to control but can't.

Azzan seems to be working for a kimura but Cervantes defends the submission attempt.
Cervantes is trying to control but can't.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Azzan closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
An elbow from Azzan crashes against the mat.
Cervantes tries to bench press Azzan off him but Azzan keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Azzan working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Cervantes struggling a bit here.
Cervantes is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Azzan has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Azzan trying to control the position but Cervantes is working away.
Cervantes takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Azzan misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Azzan has taken the fight to the clinch.
Azzan tries to score a body lock takedown but Cervantes shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cervantes is trying to stall.
Azzan has Cervantes pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cervantes manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Amzi Azzan dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Azzan throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Cervantes was covering up waiting for the punch and Azzan finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Azzan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cervantes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Azzan connects with a couple of short punches.
Azzan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cervantes controls Azzan momentarily but Azzan frees himself.
Azzan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cervantes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Azzan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cervantes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Azzan is looking to work some ground and pound but Cervantes has wrist control.
Azzan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Cervantes connects with a crisp jab.

It looks like Amzi Azzan has been cut.

Azzan darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azzan thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Azzan seems to be looking for submissions.
Cervantes moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Azzan throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cervantes wants to sweep but no luck.
Azzan postures up and lands a big shot to Cervantes's brow.
Azzan scoring with punches to the head and body.
Azzan lands a couple of digs.
Azzan is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azzan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Azzan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Azzan trying to control but Cervantes is working from the bottom.
Azzan postures up.
Azzan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Azzan scoring with some ground and pound.
Azzan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Azzan closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cervantes did well to prevent Azzan getting side control.
Azzan is thwarting Cervantes's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azzan missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cervantes is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Azzan scores with a couple of nice shots.
Cervantes trying to control from the bottom.
Azzan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cervantes's head.
Azzan throwing shots but Cervantes is blocking nicely.

Azzan is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cervantes sees it coming and defends easily.
Cervantes wants to get back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azzan slips nicely into half guard.
Azzan thows a huge punch but Cervantes dodges it nicely.
Azzan is looking to take a break and control but Cervantes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cervantes is trying to maintain the position but Azzan is very close to passing his half guard.
Cervantes avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Azzan.
Azzan working Cervantes over with strikes.

Azzan is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Cervantes pushes Azzan off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Amzi Azzan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Amzi Azzan's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Azzan gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Azzan drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cervantes pulls his leg out and moves away.
Azzan's corner calls for a 1-2. Azzan obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Azzan has managed to clinch.
Azzan drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cervantes pulls his leg out and moves away.

Azzan closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Azzan lands in his opponent's guard.

Azzan drops back, looking for a kneebar! Cervantes looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Cervantes looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Cervantes!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Azzan seems a little lost for a moment, as Cervantes dominates the positioning.

Cervantes decides to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Azzan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Azzan gets the takedown into side control.
Cervantes is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Azzan landing a few strikes.
Azzan is chipping away with strikes.
Azzan working away.
Azzan trying to control the action but Cervantes is working from the bottom.
Azzan cracks Cervantes with a big elbow.
Cervantes struggling a bit here.
Amzi Azzan has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azzan slows the pace down.
Cervantes is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Cervantes tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Azzan working the ground and pound but Cervantes is defending the strikes.
Cervantes is looking for a sweep.
Azzan is trying to ground and pound but Cervantes uses the momentary lack of control by Azzan to regain half guard.
Azzan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cervantes's head.
Azzan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cervantes defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azzan missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Cervantes gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Azzan to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Azzan is looking to work some ground and pound but Cervantes has wrist control.
Cervantes wants to sweep but no luck.
Azzan throws a strike but Cervantes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Azzan wants to sweep here but Cervantes controlling him for the moment.

Azzan throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Amzi Azzan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cervantes pushes down on Azzan's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azzan is trying to get back to full guard.
Azzan is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cervantes's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cervantes's back!
Cervantes manages to escape to a better position under a series of strikes. Azzan is now in side control.

Azzan wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cervantes, who protects the arm well.
Raul Cervantes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Azzan throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Azzan looks up at the clock and then as Cervantes takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Azzan smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

And that's the end of the fight!
Amzi Azzan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Azzan winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Amzi Azzan!