PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rajja Khan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kassidy Cullen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Khan kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is tubular bells. Rajja Khan has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Khan
vs
Cullen

179 cm
29
160 lbs
16 - 2 - 2

180 cm
28
167 lbs
19 - 4 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Great elbows
Good gas tank

GTI - 1337 sponsors VERSUS

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 2 - 2, fighting out of London, Rajja Khan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kassidy Cullen!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Ian Loll and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cullen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Khan as he jumps to the side.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Khan.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The strikes coming from Khan are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Cullen tries to improve position but can't.
Khan working the body and head with strikes.
Khan is working Cullen over with some ground and pound from side control.
Cullen takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

Khan has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cullen takes one to the side of the head.
Khan throws a looping overhand right but Cullen ducks down to avoid it.
Cullen just misses with a punch to the body.
A low kick from Cullen misses
and Khan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cullen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Khan tries to close the distance and clinch but Cullen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cullen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cullen throws a leg kick which misses Khan's front leg but catches the back leg as Khan tries to avoid it.
Khan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cullen shoots for a double leg takedown but Khan sprawls well. He's pushed Cullen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cullen connects with a solid leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Khan.
Khan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cullen.
Cullen misses with a leg kick.
Khan shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Khan staying out of range there.
Cullen looks to land a body kick but Khan moved away.
A head kick misses from Cullen.
Khan slips a jab from Cullen.
Cullen throws a hook but Khan avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Cullen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cullen throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Cullen misses with a leg kick
and Khan counters with a nice uppercut.
A nice inside leg kick there by Cullen. That's going to slow Khan down.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cullen throws a sloppy head kick and Khan moves out of range easily.
Cullen is looking to chop away at Khan's legs.

Khan gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Khan is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cullen is defending well for now.
A short uppercut from Khan.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Cullen just misses with a elbow thrown towards Khan's brow.
Khan working hard to break the clinch.
Khan is trying to break free.
Khan dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Cullen pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cullen is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rajja Khan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kassidy Cullen.
With the fighters up against the cage, Khan throws an elbow but misses.
Khan swings wildly with an uppercut but Cullen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cullen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Khan blocks it with crossed arms.
Cullen dodges an elbow strike from Khan.
Cullen lands a hook that snaps the head of Khan backwards.

Khan jumps guard and drags Cullen to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Cullen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Khan is keeping the position for now.

Cullen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Khan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cullen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Khan throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Khan looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cullen passes into side control.
Khan takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cullen working away.
Khan is looking for a sweep.
Khan gets back to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Khan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cullen distracts Khan with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Khan wants to sweep but no luck.

Khan has his foot on Cullen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cullen works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rajja Khan dominated that round.
That's time! Khan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Khan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cullen slips a jab and a cross from Khan.
Khan throws a hook but Cullen avoids it easily.
Nice uppercut lands for Cullen. That snapped Khan's head back.
Cullen throws out a leg kick but Khan moves out of range and Cullen only half commits.
Cullen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Decent striking displayed by Khan there.
Cullen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kassidy Cullen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Khan thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Cullen if he has to take too many more of those.
Cullen slips under a jab from Khan.
Cullen shoots for a double leg takedown but Khan sprawls well. He's pushed Cullen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A lazy left from Khan finds it's target.
Cullen throws the left hand but Khan avoids the punch easily.
Khan lands a head kick. Cullen smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cullen tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Khan is able to avoid easily.

Khan feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Khan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cullen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Khan scoring with punches to the head and body.
Khan throws a strike but Cullen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Khan has his foot on Cullen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cullen works his way back into a safe position though.
Cullen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Khan looking for a sweep. Not yet Khan, not yet.
Khan has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cullen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Khan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Khan lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Khan uses his free foot to push down on Cullen's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Cullen.
Cullen sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Khan is trying to control the action in half guard but Cullen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Cullen wants to improve his position but Khan is controlling well.
Cullen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Cullen gets full guard.
Khan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Cullen working for a triangle but Khan defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Khan gets to his feet - Cullen follows without any prompting.
Khan scores with a leg kick.
Khan getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Cullen walks into a left hand.
Cullen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Khan lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Cullen at a distance.
Cullen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cullen throws a chopping leg kick but Khan manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Khan looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Khan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cullen is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cullen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Khan lands a couple of digs.
Khan throwing strikes from guard but Cullen blocks nicely.
Cullen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Khan manages to get himself to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cullen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Khan has his foot on Cullen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cullen works his way back into a safe position though.
Cullen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Khan is on top in guard.
Cullen wants to sweep here but Khan controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rajja Khan 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.

Khan takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Cullen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Khan.
Khan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cullen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Khan checks a leg kick.
Khan throws a nice outside leg kick.
Cullen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Khan scoring well with a low kick there.
Khan blocks a low kick nicely.
Khan misses with a straight left.
Cullen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cullen tries to land a leg kick but Khan saw it coming and moves away.
Cullen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Khan manages to avoid it.
Khan throws a head kick but Cullen moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cullen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
That kick from Khan tenderised Cullen's leg. Cullen is trying to keep his angry face on.
Khan lands the left hand.
An inside leg kick lands from Cullen.
Cullen misses with the combination.
Cullen throws a low kick but Khan moves out of range easily.

Cullen shoots in and bounces Khan off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Khan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cullen postures up in Khan's guard and throws a big left but Khan blocks it.

Khan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Khan wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cullen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Khan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cullen has managed to get both his arms back between Khan's legs - danger averted.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cullen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Cullen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Khan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cullen is one step ahead there.
Cullen tries to free his leg and advance position but Khan is retaining full guard.

Khan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cullen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Khan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cullen is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cullen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Khan is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cullen is aware though and is defending well.

Khan looking for a guillotine here but Cullen defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Khan wants to sweep but no luck.
Rajja Khan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cullen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Khan's head.
Cullen won't allow Khan to sweep him here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Khan is on top in guard.
Cullen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Khan!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cullen prevents Khan from getting the reversal.
Cullen lands a big elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Khan really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Cullen lands a big elbow.
Khan keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Cullen postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Khan looks a forlorn figure.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cullen is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Khan can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Cullen lands a big shot there that rocks Khan but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Kassidy Cullen just about did enough to take it.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cullen looks for a takedown but Khan sprawls well.
Khan slips under a jab from Cullen.
Khan is looking to clinch but Cullen is avoiding it.

Khan gets the takedown into side control.
Cullen gets back to half guard.
Khan missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Khan wants to free his trapped foot but Cullen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Khan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cullen's head.
Khan trying to control from half guard but Cullen is working away.
Khan throws a strike but Cullen avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cullen keeping moving, preventing Khan from controlling successfully.
Khan forces his way into half guard.
Cullen is pressing down on Khan's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Khan postures up in Cullen's guard and throws a big left but Cullen blocks it.
Khan postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Khan controls from within his opponent's guard.
Khan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Khan looking to pass the guard.
Cullen 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 two minutes gone in the round.
Khan passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Cullen is looking for a sweep.

Khan looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Khan in side control, throwing shots but Cullen defends.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Khan working the ground and pound.
Cullen avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Khan.
Cullen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Khan wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khan scores with punches from side control.
Cullen takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Cullen is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Cullen tries to roll over but Khan keeps him under control.
Khan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cullen tries to get to full guard but Khan has control of the leg.
Cullen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Khan is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Cullen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Cullen is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khan working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Khan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Khan in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Khan scores with punches from side control.
Khan is looking to take a break and control but Cullen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Khan takes a little break here. Cullen wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
An elbow from Khan crashes against the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rajja Khan had his way with Kassidy Cullen in that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Donk. Khan catches Cullen right on the button with a cross.
Cullen throws a head kick that misses.
Khan connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Both fighters circling a little - Cullen finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Khan connects with a high kick.

Khan fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cullen sprawls well initially but Khan persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Cullen works his way to full guard. Good work.
Khan trying to control the position from guard on top but Cullen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cullen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Khan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Cullen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Khan!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khan is trying to escape the mount.
A nice elbow there by Cullen.
Cullen with a couple of short strikes.
Khan keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Khan bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Khan wants to control from the top but Cullen keeps moving.
Khan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cullen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kassidy Cullen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khan throwing strikes but missing.
Khan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cullen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Khan.
Khan stands and throws Cullen's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sloppy strikes there by Khan.
Cullen defending against the ground and pound.
Khan misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Cullen is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Cullen looking for submissions off his back.
Cullen is in trouble now - Khan has advanced to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cullen regains half guard.
Khan passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Cullen!
BOOM! Khan connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Cullen is in a horrible position here. Khan smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Khan landing punches.
Khan lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khan connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cullen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cullen throwing hammer fists to the chest of Khan. What's that going to do exactly?
Khan putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Khan lands with some strikes.
Khan fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Cullen is rocked!
Cullen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cullen in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Cullen is still in real trouble! Can Khan finish him?
Cullen is wriggling around trying to escape.
Cullen is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rajja Khan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Khan looking to control but Cullen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rajja Khan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Khan 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 49:46
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 49:46
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rajja Khan!
Rajja Khan is the new lightweight champion!
Rajja Khan took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, GTI - 1337 sponsors VERSUS for their support in the buildup to the fight.