PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mamed Khalidov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiro Minatako (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Khalidov's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Eto Kavkaz. Minatako has chosen Samurai Champloo - Battlecry as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Hiro Minatako will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Khalidov
vs
Minatako

182 cm
25
181 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mamed Khalidov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiro Minatako!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A cross from Khalidov lands.
Minatako throws a head kick that Khalidov semi-blocks.

Khalidov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Minatako on his heels. He'll look to pass Minatako's guard now, I'm sure.
Khalidov throwing strikes but missing.
Khalidov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Khalidov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Minatako swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Khalidov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mamed Khalidov just wasn't active enough.

Khalidov gets a takedown into half guard.
Minatako looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Khalidov stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Minatako to get to his feet.
Minatako throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Khalidov's waist but Khalidov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Minatako off to one side.
Khalidov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Khalidov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Khalidov misses with a low kick.

Khalidov gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minatako tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Khalidov decides to pull guard.

Khalidov is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Khalidov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Minatako blocks it with crossed arms.

Khalidov jumps into guard, dragging Minatako to the mat.

Khalidov wriggles free and stands up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Khalidov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Khalidov stands up from half guard.

Khalidov clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Khalidov has hold of one of Minatako's legs. Minatako is fighting the takedown attempt but Khalidov gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Minatako looking for subs off his back but Khalidov has passed one foot through into half guard.
Khalidov not doing much here.
Khalidov scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Khalidov in particular looking to stall.

Minatako is defending against the submission attempts here by Khalidov.

Khalidov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Khalidov works his way into full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mamed Khalidov dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A head kick misses from Khalidov.
A head kick misses from Minatako.

Khalidov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Minatako tries to stall but Khalidov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Minatako wants a takedown.

Khalidov gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Khalidov is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Khalidov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Mamed Khalidov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Minatako is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Khalidov cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Khalidov scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Minatako takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Khalidov looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Khalidov lands a nice shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Khalidov looking to control and managing it successfully.
Khalidov punishing his opponent with strikes.

Khalidov wants to finish this one by submission but Minatako is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Khalidov.
Minatako is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Khalidov lands a heavy elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Khalidov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mamed Khalidov dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Khalidov scores with a nice head shot.

Khalidov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Minatako looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Khalidov scores with punches from side control.

Khalidov decides to stand back up.
Khalidov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Khalidov throws a sloppy head kick and Minatako moves out of range easily.
Khalidov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Minatako can do to turn this around?

Khalidov drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Minatako keeping full guard, as Khalidov tries to pass.
Khalidov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Minatako's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Khalidov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Khalidov gets a double leg takedown into Minatako's guard.

Khalidov stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Khalidov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
You can see the frustration on Minatako's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Khalidov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Minatako is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Minatako takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Khalidov working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Minatako takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Khalidov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
A lull in the action here as Khalidov stalls from top position.
Khalidov works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Minatako's face as Khalidov controls the position.

Khalidov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Minatako is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Khalidov in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minatako is looking to reverse the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Khalidov lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Minatako down.
Khalidov looks up at the clock and then as Minatako takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Khalidov smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Hiro Minatako has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mamed Khalidov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Khalidov lands a few punches from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mamed Khalidov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Khalidov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:26
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:25
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mamed Khalidov!