PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rasul Mirzaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scott Keene (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mirzaev comes into the arena with Natalie La Rose - Somebody ft. Jeremih blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mirzaev
vs
Keene

170 cm
22
165 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

180 cm
28
158 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Mohito Fightwear

MayheM sportswear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rasul Mirzaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Scott Keene!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yuuki Gou and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Keene throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mirzaev tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Keene counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Keene has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Mirzaev is landing a low percentage of strikes.

Mirzaev gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nice body punch from Mirzaev.
Keene scores with a nice hook to the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Mirzaev takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Keene.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Keene.
Mirzaev blocks a body shot from Keene.
Mirzaev has a couple of punches blocked by Keene.
Keene misses with the head strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch on the inside from Mirzaev fails to land.
Mirzaev misses with a punch to the body.
Keene tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mirzaev misses with some punches.
Mirzaev taking a breather.
Still in the clinch, Keene scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keene goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mirzaev misses with a knee to the head.
We've been hearing reports that Mirzaev has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Mirzaev misses with the head strike.
Keene is trying to push Mirzaev away but Mirzaev has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
A short left from Mirzaev.
Keene lands a right hand.
Keene tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mirzaev pushes off an throws an elbow but Keene leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Mirzaev prevents a body shot from Keene.
Keene misses with a hook to the ribs.
Keene blocks the elbow strike.
A head punch on the inside from Mirzaev fails to land.
Keene tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mirzaev's elbow.
Keene tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mirzaev's elbow.
Mirzaev content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Keene lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Mirzaev prevents Keene from breaking the clinch.
Keene blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Mirzaev.
A short right from Mirzaev on the inside.
Keene tries a body shot but Mirzaev blocks it.
Keene is looking to break free of the clinch but Mirzaev has double underhooks.
Keene is trying to break the clinch but Mirzaev is controlling him.
A right hand to the body from Mirzaev.
Mirzaev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Keene blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mirzaev throws an elbow but it misses.
Keene throws a punch but it's blocked by Mirzaev.
Mirzaev swings wildly with an uppercut but Keene uses good head movement to avoid it.
Keene blocks an uppercut.
Mirzaev working aggressively here.
Keene lands with a short shot to the head.
Mirzaev blocking some punches.
A frustrated look appears on Keene's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keene is working Mirzaev over against the ropes.
Keene blocking some punches.
Keene misses with a body punch.
Keene blocking some punches.
Keene blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Keene misses with a body punch.
Keene struggles to land a body shot inside as Mirzaev controls his hands.
Mirzaev tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Keene's elbow.
Keene lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Keene takes a shot to the head.
Mirzaev misses with a hook from the clinch.
Keene digs a right hand into Mirzaev's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Mirzaev's gas tank.
Keene tries to circle away but Mirzaev has him pinned against the ropes.
Mirzaev misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Mirzaev fails to land.
Mirzaev misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mirzaev tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Keene's elbow.
Mirzaev blocking some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keene wants to break the clinch but can't.
Keene blocks an uppercut.
Mirzaev tries to stall but Keene uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Mirzaev blocks a body shot from Keene.
A right hand to the body from Keene.
Mirzaev tries to work over Keene's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mirzaev.
Mirzaev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mirzaev lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Keene backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Keene presses Mirzaev against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Keene blocks an uppercut.
Mirzaev has a couple of punches blocked by Keene.
A short left from Keene.
Keene is trying to break free.
Keene is looking to break free of the clinch but Mirzaev has double underhooks.
A head punch on the inside from Keene fails to land.
Keene dodges an elbow strike from Mirzaev.
Mirzaev misses with a shot to the kidneys.
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 Rasul Mirzaev will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Mirzaev wants to clinch.
Keene misses with a body shot.

Mirzaev moves into the clinch.
Mirzaev is looking to control Keene's arms but Keene gets an underhook and turns him. Now Mirzaev has his back to the ropes.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Keene blocks an uppercut.
Mirzaev throws a punch but it's blocked by Keene.
Mirzaev lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Keene lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mirzaev backwards.
Mirzaev tries to throw a body punch but Keene avoids it by throwing Mirzaev back against the ropes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Keene has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A shot in the inside from Mirzaev.

Keene breaks the clinch.
Mirzaev with a jab.
Mirzaev misses with a combination
and Mirzaev takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Rasul Mirzaev has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mirzaev tries to clinch up but Keene circles away and keeps his distance.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Keene! But no joy.
Mirzaev tries to clinch up.
Keene throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mirzaev sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mirzaev wants to clinch but Keene slips to the side

and Keene counters with a crisp one two that drops Mirzaev! Keene thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Mirzaev to his feet! Mirzaev is in big trouble!
Keene avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Mirzaev pushes Keene up against the ropes in a clinch.
Mirzaev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Keene's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mirzaev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mirzaev is looking to clinch.
Mirzaev tries to clinch there but Keene circles away.
Mirzaev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Keene paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mirzaev takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Mirzaev tries to clinch up.
Mirzaev tries to clinch but Keene is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mirzaev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Keene paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mirzaev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mirzaev closes the distance but Keene moves to the side
and Keene cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Keene throws a jab when Mirzaev was well out of range.
Mirzaev closes the distance looking to clinch
and Keene connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mirzaev tries to clinch but Keene moves out of range.
Keene takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Keene misses with a looping left.
Mirzaev moves out of range of the strikes.
Mirzaev wants to clinch
and Keene connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Mirzaev is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keene throws a jab but it's blocked by Mirzaev.
Mirzaev was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Mirzaev moves in looking to clinch but Keene pushes him off.
Keene throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It looked like Mirzaev wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Mirzaev misses with a lunging right hand

and Keene counters with a crisp right hand that drops Mirzaev! Keene lets Mirzaev back up to his feet, looking for a finish!
Oh Mirzaev is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Keene fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Keene has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mirzaev is looking to clinch but Keene is avoiding it.
Keene throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Mirzaev stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Keene lands with a shot to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mirzaev doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Keene sees an opening and throws a straight punch right through Mirzaev's defenses. It connects perfectly with Mirzaev's jaw and knocks him out cold! Wow - that's a contender for knockout of the year - absolutely brutal!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Scott Keene!
After winning the bout, Scott Keene thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.