PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Musa Khamanaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hideki Soto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Khamanaev comes into the arena with A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera – Say Something remix blaring out of the sound system. Soto is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Samurai. Hideki Soto is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Khamanaev
vs
Soto

170 cm
24
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

155 cm
20
133 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Musa Khamanaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hideki Soto!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Khamanaev.
Khamanaev is looking for a counter combo.
Soto tries to clinch but Khamanaev moves out of range.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Soto enables Khamanaev to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Soto manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Soto is trying to control the position but Khamanaev postures up.
Khamanaev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Soto is keeping the position for now.

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

Soto trying to control but Khamanaev is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soto slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Soto prevents Khamanaev from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khamanaev keeping moving, preventing Soto from controlling successfully.

Soto thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Soto advances position into side control!
Soto 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.
Khamanaev wants to control but Soto postures up.
Khamanaev manages to get back to half guard.
Khamanaev wants to get back to full guard.
Soto is keen to just control but Khamanaev is a slippery customer.

Khamanaev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Khamanaev wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soto lands with a punch from half guard.
Khamanaev is staying active underneath Soto, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Khamanaev taking some punishment here, with Soto in his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Khamanaev wants to control but Soto is keeping busy.
Khamanaev tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Soto is trying to control. Khamanaev wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Khamanaev throws the left hand but Soto avoids the punch easily.
Soto looks for the body kick but Khamanaev saw that one coming.
Soto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Soto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khamanaev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hideki Soto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Soto.

Soto is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Khamanaev knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Soto looks winded!
Khamanaev is trying to control Soto's posture but Soto avoids it.
Soto tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Khamanaev can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khamanaev is not content to let Soto control the position.
Khamanaev manages to get back to half guard.
Khamanaev works his way to full guard. Good work.
Khamanaev wants to stand and escape but Soto is having none of it.

Soto got a little sloppy there for a moment and Khamanaev has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Soto has managed to get both his arms back between Khamanaev's legs - danger averted.
Soto throwing strikes from guard but Khamanaev blocks nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Khamanaev working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hideki Soto dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Khamanaev shoots in for a takedown but Soto shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Soto with the counter takedown but Khamanaev avoids it easily.

Soto dives in and scores a takedown into Khamanaev's guard.
Khamanaev wants to sweep but no luck.
Soto is in close to Khamanaev's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Khamanaev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Khamanaev avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Khamanaev is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Soto is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khamanaev wants to sweep but no luck.
Soto trying to control the position from guard on top but Khamanaev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Soto postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Khamanaev is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Soto, into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Khamanaev's guard.

Khamanaev looking to control.
Soto has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Soto wants to pass the guard but Khamanaev is keeping the position.
Soto trying to control but Khamanaev is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Soto drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Soto jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Khamanaev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Soto trying to control the position from guard on top but Khamanaev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hideki Soto has got the better of the ground game so far.
Soto stops Khamanaev from standing up.
Khamanaev keeping moving, preventing Soto from controlling successfully.

Khamanaev looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Soto is defending well. Khamanaev quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Soto has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Khamanaev celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Musa Khamanaev!
During a confident post fight interview, Musa Khamanaev thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.