PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Galen Atkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdulla Quliev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Galen Atkins has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Atkins
vs
Quliev

167 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Can Moonwalk

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Galen Atkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Abdulla Quliev!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Viktor Lagutenko and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Quliev takes the fight into the clinch.
Quliev lands an elbow just above Atkins 's eye.

It looks like Galen Atkins has been cut.

Quliev wants the takedown. Atkins is fighting it off but Quliev persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Atkins's guard against the cage.
Quliev throws a big elbow that misses.
Quliev throws a big elbow that misses.
Atkins might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Quliev is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Atkins is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Atkins has escaped and now he's on top!

Quliev is trying to control the position but Atkins postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Quliev looking for a guillotine here but Atkins defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Quliev keeping moving, preventing Atkins from controlling successfully.
Atkins would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Quliev trying to control the position.
Quliev pulls Atkins in to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Atkins wants to control from the top but Quliev keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Quliev rushes Atkins and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Quliev scores with a nice hook to the head.
Quliev tries to work over Atkins's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Quliev decides to pull guard.

Quliev is working an open guard so Atkins takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Quliev closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Atkins quickly recovers to half guard.
Atkins wants to control but Quliev is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Quliev looks to land a strike but Atkins avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Quliev decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Atkins, up you get!
A combination from Quliev does no damage.
A head kick by Quliev misses

and Atkins counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Atkins.
Atkins seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Atkins throwing strikes from guard but Quliev blocks nicely.
Atkins could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Atkins postures up in Quliev's guard and throws a big left but Quliev blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atkins throws a big right hand that misses.
Atkins working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Quliev pushes Atkins off and gets back to his feet.
Quliev closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Atkins counter with a right hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Atkins moves into the clinch.
Quliev throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Atkins blocks it with crossed arms.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A bit of stalling here from Atkins.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdulla Quliev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Galen Atkins's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Quliev darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Atkins has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Quliev is working away from the top position though.
Atkins avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Quliev.

Atkins makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Atkins feints and as Quliev raises his hands in defense, Atkins changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Atkins trying to control but Quliev is working from the bottom.

Quliev looking for a guillotine here but Atkins defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Quliev is looking to stand up but Atkins isn't so interested in that idea.
Atkins throws a big elbow that misses.
Quliev pulls Atkins in close to prevent any damage.
Atkins prevents Quliev from getting back to his feet.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Quliev has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Atkins off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Atkins lands a glancing blow to the side of Quliev's head.
Quliev tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Atkins counters with a good low kick that Quliev was not able to check.
Atkins waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Quliev.
Quliev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Atkins is looking to counter the offense by Quliev and move into the clinch.
Quliev wants to clinch
and Atkins counters with a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Atkins enables Quliev to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Atkins manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Quliev postures up in Atkins's guard and throws a big left but Atkins blocks it.
Quliev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Quliev passes Atkins's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Quliev is trying to control. Atkins wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Quliev wants to pass to mount but Atkins is defending the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Quliev is trying to control the action in half guard but Atkins is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Quliev is just content to waste time from the top position. Atkins takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Atkins manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Atkins takes a knee right on the jaw!
Quliev is breathing heavily.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Quliev.

Quliev tightens his grip and picks Atkins up, before dumping him to the ground. Atkins manages to land in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Quliev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Atkins swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Atkins has his hands on Quliev's head, controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Abdulla Quliev will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Galen Atkins's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Quliev wants to clinch.
A solid body kick from Quliev.
Quliev tries to clinch there but Atkins circles away.
Quliev fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Quliev closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Atkins's guard.
Quliev preventing the sweep.
Abdulla Quliev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Quliev tries to free his leg and advance position but Atkins is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Quliev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Quliev is looking to pass into half guard but Atkins pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Atkins is in guard.

Quliev wants to control but Atkins passes easily into half guard.
Quliev wants to improve his position but Atkins is controlling well.
Quliev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Atkins stops Quliev from getting back to his feet.
Atkins seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atkins is taking a breather. Quliev says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Atkins trying to mount his opponent but Quliev defends it.
Atkins seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Quliev avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Atkins.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Quliev darts in trying to clinch

so Atkins counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Quliev 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.

Quliev has his feet on Atkins's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Quliev moves into the clinch successfully.
Atkins tries to stall but Quliev uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Quliev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Abdulla Quliev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atkins circles away from the clinch attempt.

Atkins tries to sprawl but Quliev drives through with a takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Quliev is trying to work for a kimura but Atkins is defending well.
Atkins makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Atkins.
Atkins is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Quliev is controlling him.
Galen Atkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Abdulla Quliev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Quliev throwing strikes but missing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abdulla Quliev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Quliev winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abdulla Quliev!