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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Azamat Alikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Benavidez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 187 cm
18
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0 |
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170 cm
25
151 lbs
1 - 1 - 0 |
BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin |
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BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Azamat Alikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrew Benavidez!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksei Zolotukhin.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good shot there by Alikov.
Benavidez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Alikov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Alikov takes a swing at Benavidez's ribcage but misses.
Alikov misses with a hook. Benavidez ducked under it nicely.
Benavidez closes the distance looking to clinch
and Alikov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Alikov checks a leg kick.
Alikov throws out a loose jab but Benavidez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Benavidez misses with a low kick.
Decent striking displayed by Alikov there.
Benavidez takes one on the button.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Benavidez's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Alikov connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Benavidez scrambles back to his feet.
Benavidez takes a jab right on the kisser.
Alikov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Benavidez has time to react.
Alikov lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Alikov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Alikov scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Alikov lands with a nice body punch.
Alikov lands with a cross.
Benavidez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Benavidez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Alikov.
Benavidez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Alikov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Alikov lands with a good body shot.
Benavidez tries to clinch up.
Benavidez moves away from the strike by Alikov.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
An inside leg kick lands from Alikov.
Alikov misses with the combination.
Alikov scores with a leg kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Alikov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Benavidez takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Alikov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Alikov looks to land a left hand but Benavidez moved out of range nicely.
Benavidez throws a leg kick but Alikov sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A low kick from Benavidez is predictable there
enabling Alikov to counter with a crisp jab.
Alikov swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Benavidez.
A jab lands there for Alikov.
Alikov keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez slips a jab and a cross from Alikov.
Benavidez avoids the body shot from Alikov.
Benavidez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Alikov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Benavidez throws a leg kick but Alikov sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Benavidez on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Alikov. Benavidez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Alikov lands a jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alikov throws a hook but Benavidez blocks it.
Alikov throws a looping overhand right but Benavidez ducks down to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Azamat Alikov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Alikov throws a low kick, looking for Benavidez's leg but Benavidez calmly moves out of range.
Alikov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Alikov lands a lovely overhand right.
Alikov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Benavidez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Benavidez slips a straight right by Alikov.
Alikov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Alikov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Benavidez was well out of range. Poor timing from Alikov.
A low kick from Benavidez is predictable there
and Benavidez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Benavidez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Alikov.
Azamat Alikov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Alikov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Benavidez.
Azamat Alikov is winning the standup battle so far.
Alikov misses with an uppercut
and Benavidez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Alikov working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Benavidez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Alikov is defending well for now.
Alikov makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Benavidez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Alikov has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Benavidez clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alikov struggling to keep hold of the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Benavidez tries to roll over but Alikov keeps him under control.
Alikov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Benavidez is looking to control Alikov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Benavidez avoid being mounted?
Azamat Alikov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Benavidez tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Alikov is able to avoid easily.
Alikov lands a slapping body shot.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez has Alikov up against the cage in a clinch.
Alikov tightens his grip and picks Benavidez up, before dumping him to the ground. Benavidez manages to land in guard.
Benavidez trying to control the position.
Benavidez wants to stand but Alikov is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Azamat Alikov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Alikov misses with a body shot.
Alikov attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Alikov misses with a hook. Benavidez ducked under it nicely.
Andrew Benavidez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alikov lands a slapping body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fight stays on the outside here - Benavidez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Benavidez throws a leg kick that is checked
and Alikov counters with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Azamat Alikov dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!
Benavidez gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Alikov scores with a jab. Benavidez acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Some bone on bone action there as Alikov checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Alikov throws an off balance right hand
and Benavidez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Alikov just leaning against Benavidez, taking a breather.
Benavidez fails to pull guard.
Alikov has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Benavidez is trying to keep an underhook but Alikov manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Benavidez tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Alikov seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Benavidez is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Alikov is thwarting Benavidez's attempts to control the position.
The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Andrew Benavidez.
Benavidez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Alikov lands a jab to Benavidez's midsection.
A jab from Alikov misses.
Alikov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Alikov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Benavidez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alikov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Benavidez is looking to chop away at Alikov's legs.
Alikov is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Alikov lands with a nice body punch.
Alikov throws an off balance right hand
and Benavidez counters by moving into the clinch.
Alikov slows down the pace here.
Alikov wants to take the fight to the mat but Benavidez manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Benavidez misses with a short punch on the inside.
Alikov gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez wants to control but Alikov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Benavidez moves into full guard.
Benavidez uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Benavidez throws a low kick but Alikov avoids it.
Benavidez does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Alikov takes a swing at Benavidez's ribcage but misses.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez moves in looking to clinch but Alikov pushes him off.
A swing and a miss from Alikov.
Alikov misses with a wild body shot.
Benavidez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Benavidez thows a leg kick but Alikov checks it
and Alikov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Benavidez attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Benavidez walks into a straight right hand from Alikov.
Azamat Alikov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benavidez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Alikov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Alikov checks a low kick from Benavidez.
Andrew Benavidez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alikov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that's the end of the fight!
Azamat Alikov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Alikov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Azamat Alikov!
A relieved looking Azamat Alikov thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
35% |
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