PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ilham Aliyev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Kaklamanakis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aliyev kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is Why Can't We Be Friends? . Ilham Aliyev has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Aliyev
vs
Kaklamanakis

185 cm
22
185 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

179 cm
18
184 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ilham Aliyev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Kaklamanakis!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Valeri Chadov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kaklamanakis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Aliyev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Aliyev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Aliyev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Aliyev misses with a head kick.
Kaklamanakis takes one on the button.
Aliyev throws a shot from downtown. Kaklamanakis moves away and avoids it.
A big right from Aliyev misses.

Aliyev gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kaklamanakis trying to control the position from guard on top but Aliyev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kaklamanakis thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kaklamanakis stopping the sweep attempt from Aliyev.
Kaklamanakis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kaklamanakis trying to control the position from guard on top but Aliyev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aliyev is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaklamanakis passes Aliyev's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Aliyev wants to get back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Kaklamanakis blocks a head kick by Aliyev.
Kaklamanakis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Aliyev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kaklamanakis throws a body punch but Aliyev moves out of range.
Kaklamanakis avoids the head kick by Aliyev.
Aliyev swats away the attempt to clinch by Kaklamanakis.
Kaklamanakis ducks right into an uppercut from Aliyev.
Kaklamanakis moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Aliyev looks to land a left hand but Kaklamanakis moved out of range nicely.
Kaklamanakis moves out of range of the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kaklamanakis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Aliyev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kaklamanakis shoots in but no luck this time.
Kaklamanakis shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Aliyev as he avoids it easily.
Aliyev tries to clinch but Kaklamanakis is having none of it.
Aliyev looks to score with a jab to the body but Kaklamanakis is just out of range.
Ilham Aliyev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kaklamanakis tries to clinch but Aliyev moves away
and Aliyev counters with a stiff right hand.
Aliyev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Aliyev tries a head kick but it misses.
Aliyev is breathing heavily.
Aliyev throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kaklamanakis shoots in and drives through. Aliyev sprawls well.
Ilham Aliyev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Kaklamanakis.
Aliyev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kaklamanakis swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kaklamanakis shoots and misses
and Aliyev counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Kaklamanakis shoots in but Aliyev avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Kaklamanakis changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Aliyev looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kaklamanakis is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Aliyev is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kaklamanakis wants to take a breather but Aliyev manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Kaklamanakis.
Kaklamanakis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Aliyev wants to get back to his feet but Kaklamanakis is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kaklamanakis scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aliyev being controlled here, momentarily.
Kaklamanakis trying to control the position from guard on top but Aliyev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kaklamanakis works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Aliyev wants to get back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Kaklamanakis winds up and cracks Aliyev with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Kaklamanakis is looking for a kimura but Aliyev is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kaklamanakis to get the leverage.
Kaklamanakis winds up and cracks Aliyev with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Aliyev taking some punishment here, with Kaklamanakis in his half guard.
Kaklamanakis is pressing down on Aliyev's thigh, looking to free his foot. Aliyev is holding on for now.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kaklamanakis in particular looking to stall.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kaklamanakis has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Kaklamanakis is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Aliyev has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Kaklamanakis working for a submission but Aliyev is keeping him at bay.
Aliyev is looking to improve his position but Kaklamanakis isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alexander Kaklamanakis will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Aliyev lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kaklamanakis at a distance.
Kaklamanakis shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Kaklamanakis uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Aliyev.
Aliyev looks to clinch

and Kaklamanakis counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kaklamanakis.
Aliyev crunches a lovely knee into Kaklamanakis's ribcage.
Aliyev misses with a knee to the head.
Aliyev landing knees to the head.
Aliyev misses with a knee strike.
Aliyev tries to land a knee to the head but Kaklamanakis blocks with his arms.
Kaklamanakis trying to stall but Aliyev improves his position.
Kaklamanakis tries to pull guard but Aliyev won't allow it.
Aliyev missing with knees to the body.

Kaklamanakis has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Aliyev uses from the top position.
Aliyev wants to pass the guard but Kaklamanakis is keeping the position.
Kaklamanakis is breathing heavily.
Kaklamanakis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Aliyev.
Aliyev pushing down on Kaklamanakis's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Aliyev controlling the action here.

Aliyev is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aliyev is looking to advance position but Kaklamanakis won't allow it.
Aliyev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Aliyev slips a nice elbow through Kaklamanakis's hands, connecting with Kaklamanakis's forehead.
Kaklamanakis wants to get back to full guard.
Kaklamanakis is in trouble now - Aliyev has advanced to mount!
Aliyev cracks Kaklamanakis with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Kaklamanakis is working to get back to half guard.
Kaklamanakis taking shots to the head.
Kaklamanakis can't escape the position.
Kaklamanakis tries to hold on but Aliyev pushes him away.
Kaklamanakis might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Aliyev kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Aliyev looking for a guillotine from mount but Kaklamanakis is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev lands a big elbow.
Aliyev lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Kaklamanakis hang on?
Aliyev lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Aliyev with shots to the head and body - Kaklamanakis looks very uncomfortable down there.
Aliyev with a couple of short strikes.
Poor strikes thrown by Aliyev there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Aliyev throws some wild stikes that Kaklamanakis manages to avoid easily.
Kaklamanakis tries to lock up and control but Aliyev gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Aliyev scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Kaklamanakis is rocked!

It looks like Alexander Kaklamanakis has been cut.
Aliyev has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Kaklamanakis's face.
Kaklamanakis is still in real trouble! Can Aliyev finish him?
Aliyev unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Kaklamanakis wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Aliyev celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ilham Aliyev!