PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ilham Aliyev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Markus Andersson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andersson has chosen Killswitch Engage - Holy Diver as his entrance music. 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.

Aliyev
vs
Andersson

185 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ilham Aliyev!
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, Markus Andersson!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Valeri Chadov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Andersson tries to score with a low kick but Aliyev moves his leg out of the way.
Aliyev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Aliyev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Andersson.
Aliyev thuds a left hand into Andersson's body.
Andersson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Aliyev takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Aliyev scores with a nice body kick.
A good leg kick by Andersson.
Andersson is looking to chop away at Aliyev's legs.
Andersson wants to clinch up but Aliyev keeps it at a distance.

Aliyev has Andersson up against the cage in a clinch.
Andersson struggles to land a body shot inside as Aliyev controls his hands.
Andersson is trying to stall.
Andersson works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Aliyev scores with a shoulder strike.

Andersson is trying to trip Aliyev. He has hold of a leg but Aliyev is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Andersson persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Aliyev doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Aliyev holds on and takes a little breather.
Aliyev keeping full guard, as Andersson tries to pass.
Aliyev 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aliyev is trying to control the position but Andersson postures up.
Aliyev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Aliyev pulls Andersson in to control the position.
Aliyev is trying to control the position but Andersson postures up.
Andersson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Aliyev throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Andersson scores with a leg kick.
Andersson checks a leg kick.
Andersson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Aliyev scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Andersson is looking for a sweep.
Andersson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Andersson tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Aliyev presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Andersson is squirming around, avoiding Aliyev's attempts to control the action.
Aliyev is breathing heavily.
Andersson can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Andersson gets back to half guard.
Andersson is trying to maintain the position but Aliyev is very close to passing his half guard.
Aliyev trying to control from half guard but Andersson is working away.
Andersson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Andersson.
Aliyev passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Andersson wants to get back to full guard.
Andersson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Aliyev's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Aliyev's back!
Aliyev turns into Andersson and is now in his guard.
Aliyev would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Andersson throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Aliyev is in close to Andersson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Andersson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Aliyev's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Andersson is sitting in close to Aliyev's body. Aliyev has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Andersson is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Andersson is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Aliyev.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:20 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Ilham Aliyev!