PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ilham Aliyev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dante Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aliyev comes to the cage accompanied by Why Can't We Be Friends? . These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Aliyev
vs
Santos

185 cm
31
195 lbs
17 - 8 - 1

180 cm
22
183 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 17 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ilham Aliyev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dante Santos!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Albert Achterberg and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Santos as Aliyev shoots in.
Aliyev dives in and grabs Santos's left leg, looking for a takedown. Santos pushes down on Aliyev's head and hops out.
Santos fails with an attempt to clinch.
Aliyev connects with a leg kick. Santos looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Aliyev shoots in and drives through. Santos sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ilham Aliyev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santos attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Aliyev shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Aliyev showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Aliyev thows a huge punch but Santos dodges it nicely.
Aliyev content to control rather than advance.
Santos trying to control but Aliyev postures up.
Aliyev sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Santos defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aliyev controlling the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Santos is looking to regain full guard. He's left an arm up in the air though and Aliyev has latched onto it... Big trouble! Aliyev pivots for an armbar - it's in tight and it Santos is tapping in no time flat! Great counter grappling there from Aliyev!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:31 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ilham Aliyev!
Our winner, Ilham Aliyev, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.