PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ballantine Artois (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anzor Azhiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Artois
vs
Azhiev

175 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
23
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ballantine Artois!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Anzor Azhiev!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Steven Brown and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Artois works over Azhiev's head and body with a nice combination.
Artois falls off balance throwing a combination

and Azhiev moves into the clinch.

Azhiev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Artois falls off balance throwing a combination
and Azhiev counters with a body kick that stops Artois in his tracks momentarily.
Artois stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Artois wants it to stay on the feet.
Artois swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Azhiev closes the distance and clinches up with Artois, looking for a takedown. Azhiev pushes Artois against the cage but Artois circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Artois swings for the body but Azhiev moves out of range.
Azhiev closes the distance and clinches up with Artois, looking for a takedown. Azhiev pushes Artois against the cage but Artois circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ballantine Artois has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anzor Azhiev.

Azhiev rushes Artois and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Azhiev - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Azhiev has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Artois after a bit of a struggle.

Azhiev successfully pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Artois drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Azhiev manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Artois has Azhiev in his guard.

Artois working for a triangle but Azhiev defends it easily.

Azhiev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Artois being controlled here, momentarily.

Artois has an active guard here but Azhiev has managed to pass into half guard.

Artois looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Artois tries to kick Azhiev off but Azhiev keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Artois is breathing heavily.
Azhiev prevents Artois from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Artois wants to control but Azhiev is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Azhiev is pressing down on Artois's thigh, looking to free his foot. Artois is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Artois is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Azhiev pulls his head out easily.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Azhiev prevents Artois from improving his position.
Azhiev performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Azhiev is looking to pass Artois's guard but actually Artois recovers to full guard.

Artois had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Azhiev defends it easily.

Artois looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Artois will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Artois has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Azhiev can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Azhiev stays in close to Artois's body and controls the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Anzor Azhiev will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Azhiev swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Artois fails to land with a series of punches.
Artois throws a head kick but Azhiev moves out of range.
Azhiev should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Azhiev shoots for a double leg takedown but Artois sprawls well. He's pushed Azhiev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Artois misses with a series of wild punches.
Artois tries to close the distance and clinch but Azhiev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Artois throws a right and a left that Azhiev avoids nicely.

Azhiev gets a clinch.

Azhiev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Artois misses with a jab, cross combination.
Azhiev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Artois tries to keep at a distance but Azhiev has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Azhiev manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Artois throwing strikes from guard but Azhiev blocks nicely.
Artois trying to control but Azhiev is working from the bottom.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Azhiev has eaten all the pies!

Artois drops back, looking for a kneebar! Azhiev looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Azhiev looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Azhiev!
Azhiev remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Anzor Azhiev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Azhiev advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Artois is trying desperately to improve position.
Azhiev throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Artois looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Azhiev misses with a punch to the head.
Artois trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Azhiev keeps control of the position easily here as Artois tries to buck him off.
Artois manages to reverse the position and now he's in Azhiev's guard. Nice work there by Artois.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Azhiev pulls Artois in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Artois passes Azhiev's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Azhiev keeping hold of Artois's head, controlling as best he can.
Artois not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Artois is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Azhiev as he works his way to full guard.
Artois trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Artois won't allow Azhiev to get back to his feet.
Artois throws a big elbow that misses.
Artois preventing the sweep.
Azhiev keeping moving, preventing Artois from controlling successfully.

Azhiev decides to stand up, so the ref orders Artois to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Artois throws a series of punches but Azhiev avoids them all with ease.

Azhiev rushes Artois and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Azhiev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anzor Azhiev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Azhiev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sloppy strikes from Artois. Those never looked like landing.
Azhiev fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Artois throws a nice looking combination but Azhiev bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Azhiev closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Artois jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Azhiev walks away with a smile on his face. Artois gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Azhiev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Artois tries to avoid it but Azhiev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Artois to the ground. Artois escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Azhiev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Artois wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Azhiev controlling well, preventing Artois from escaping the position.
Azhiev really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Artois.

Artois fending off the submission attempt from Azhiev.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhiev has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Artois's body.
Azhiev is hanging on to Artois's back as he tries to escape.

Artois is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Azhiev gets his way!
Artois is trying to get back to his feet but Azhiev has full control of the position and if anything, Artois has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev not allowing Artois to control his hands.
Artois rolls, trying to escape but Azhiev keeps control of the position.
Azhiev really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Artois.

Azhiev looking for the choke from the back.
Artois is trying to get back to his feet but Azhiev has full control of the position and if anything, Artois has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Artois tries to break free.
Azhiev misses with an elbow to the head.
Artois covering up well and avoiding damage.
Azhiev really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Artois.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Ballantine Artois has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Azhiev is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Artois knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Artois for a finish.
Azhiev controlling well, preventing Artois from escaping the position.
Azhiev struggling to land strikes to the head as Artois covers up.

Azhiev is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Artois knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Artois for a finish.
Artois manages to reverse the position and now he's in Azhiev's guard. Nice work there by Artois.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Artois in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Artois working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Artois working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Azhiev avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Azhiev is pulling down on Artois's head. It's preventing any offense from Artois, at least for the moment.
Azhiev throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Artois pushes down on Azhiev's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Anzor Azhiev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Anzor Azhiev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Azhiev has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anzor Azhiev!

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
69%

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