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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joshua Branham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Khabilov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 185 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
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184 cm
23
150 lbs
0 - 2 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Hates pizza |
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Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful |
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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 New York, Joshua Branham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alex Khabilov!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Chad Campbell and Eddie Farnsworth.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Branham tries to clinch but Khabilov is having none of it.
Branham scores with a leg kick.
Branham doesn't manage to clinch there - Khabilov circles away.
Branham fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Khabilov avoids it really well and circles away.
Khabilov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Branham preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Branham continues to stall.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Branham gets back to full guard.
Khabilov postures up.
Khabilov preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Khabilov wants to control from the top but Branham keeps moving.
Branham 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.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Branham shoots in looking for a takedown but Khabilov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Branham's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Khabilov is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Branham clinches with his opponent.
Khabilov taking a breather.
Khabilov is trying to stall.
Khabilov jumps guard but Branham stands there with Khabilov around his waist. Khabilov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Khabilov looks winded!
Khabilov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Branham jumps guard but Khabilov stands there with Branham around his waist. Branham gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joshua Branham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Branham blocks an elbow strike.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Khabilov manages to end up in side control.
Branham bucks up and tries to throw Khabilov off but instead Khabilov has got his back!
Our spies down at at Hard Knocks Gym inform us that Khabilov has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Branham wants to get back to his feet.
Branham trying to control but not successfully.
Branham breaks Khabilov's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Khabilov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Branham passes into half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov is not content to let Branham control the position.
Khabilov is trying to maintain the position but Branham is very close to passing his half guard.
Branham trying to advance position but Khabilov counters by regaining guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Khabilov wants to sweep but no luck.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Branham tries to free his leg and advance position but Khabilov is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Joshua Branham 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.
Branham with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Branham tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Khabilov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Branham fails with a takedown attempt.
Khabilov throws a head kick that misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Branham is defended easily by Khabilov.
Khabilov is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Branham displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Khabilov.
Khabilov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Khabilov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Branham misses with a takedown
and Khabilov counters by clinching up.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joshua Branham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Branham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Branham gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Khabilov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Khabilov is looking to control Branham's arms but Branham gets an underhook and turns him. Now Khabilov has his back to the cage.
Khabilov is trying to push Branham away but Branham has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Branham has Khabilov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Khabilov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Branham on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Branham breaks from the clinch.
Branham moves into the clinch.
Branham jumps guard but Khabilov stands there with Branham around his waist. Branham gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Branham using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Branham is trying to pull guard but Khabilov has him pressed against the cage.
Khabilov is looking to break free of the clinch but Branham has double underhooks.
Branham pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Branham rushes Khabilov and presses him up against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Branham.
Branham wants a takedown but no success here.
Branham jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Khabilov walks away with a smile on his face. Branham gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Branham fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov looks to clinch
and Branham counters with a straight right hand.
Branham really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Khabilov drives through with a takedown into Branham's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Khabilov is in close to Branham's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Branham has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Khabilov off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Branham scores with a head kick. Khabilov tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Khabilov stuffs the takedown.
Branham shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Khabilov sprawls well. Khabilov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Branham gets slowly back to his feet.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Branham kicks off Khabilov and gets to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Khabilov goes for a double leg but Branham avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Branham continues to drive forward.
Branham closes the distance and clinches.
Branham's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Branham closes this distance looking for a takedown but Khabilov circles away.
Khabilov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Branham feinted there with a counter leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Joshua Branham dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!
Branham dives in and grabs Khabilov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Khabilov pushes down on Branham's head and hops out.
Branham tries to clinch up but Khabilov circles away and keeps his distance.
Branham throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Khabilov's waist but Khabilov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Branham off to one side.
Horrible takedown attempt by Branham or perhaps it was just good defense by Khabilov, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joshua Branham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Khabilov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Branham counters with a left and a right that stings Khabilov.
Branham takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Branham tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Khabilov defends well and Branham ends up having to push Khabilov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khabilov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Branham stops Khabilov from passing to mount.
Branham is not content to let Khabilov control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Khabilov decides to stand back up.
Branham tries to close the distance and clinch but Khabilov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Branham shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Khabilov sprawls well. Khabilov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Branham gets slowly back to his feet.
Khabilov with the counter takedown but Branham avoids it easily.
Branham circles away from the clinch attempt.
Branham tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
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.
Branham misses with a takedown
and Khabilov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Khabilov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Branham just stands there and leans against the cage.
Branham tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Khabilov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Khabilov is pressed up against the cage. Branham has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Khabilov down to the mat. Khabilov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Khabilov misses with a head kick.
Branham looks for a takedown but Khabilov sprawls well.
Branham lands a nice leg kick that just misses Khabilov's sensitive parts.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branham slaps away a takedown attempt from Khabilov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nice sprawl there from Branham as Khabilov shoots in.
Branham fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck for Khabilov with that takedown attempt.
Branham went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Branham goes for a double leg but Khabilov avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Khabilov continues to drive forward.
Branham sets himself, and Khabilov steps forward looking for the clinch! Branham avoids it this time.
Joshua Branham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Khabilov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Branham napping and manages to drive through into side control!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branham is trying to improve his position.
Khabilov tries to move to mount but Branham blocks the move with his legs.
Khabilov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Branham is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Branham manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Alex Khabilov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joshua Branham is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Khabilov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Khabilov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Branham 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Joshua Branham!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
37% |
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