PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Claud Knowles (ranked 8659 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ibragim Magomedov (ranked 5826 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Knowles
vs
Magomedov

152 cm
21
161 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

177 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Claud Knowles!
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, Ibragim Magomedov!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Igor Prikhodko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Knowles tries to sprawl but Magomedov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Knowles wants to get back to his feet.
Magomedov wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Knowles uses the opportunity to regain full guard.

Knowles had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Magomedov defends it easily.
Knowles keeping full guard, as Magomedov tries to pass.
Magomedov wants to stand but Knowles has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magomedov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Knowles controls Magomedov momentarily but Magomedov frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Magomedov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov chips away with some ground and pound.
Knowles keeping moving, preventing Magomedov from controlling successfully.

Knowles working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Magomedov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Magomedov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Magomedov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Magomedov connects with a couple of short punches.
Magomedov scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Magomedov tries to free his leg and advance position but Knowles is retaining full guard.
Magomedov wants to control from the top but Knowles keeps moving.

Magomedov stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Magomedov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Knowles has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Magomedov is on him like a limpet, forcing Knowles back against the cage.
Magomedov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Knowles's efforts to push away.

Magomedov pulls guard effortlessly.
Magomedov working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knowles postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Knowles stands up over Magomedov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Magomedov controlling Knowles's posture.
Knowles could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Magomedov trying to keep a closed guard but Knowles is proving a slippery customer.
Knowles being controlled here momentarily.
Knowles landing with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Magomedov pulls Knowles in close to his closed guard and prevents Knowles from doing any damage or advancing position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Magomedov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Knowles prevents Magomedov from getting back to his feet.
Magomedov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Magomedov trying to keep a closed guard but Knowles is proving a slippery customer.
Knowles throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Magomedov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Magomedov working for submissions but it's allowed Knowles to get to half guard.
Magomedov looks winded!
Knowles missing with the ground and pound from half 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 Claud Knowles will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Knowles dives in and scores a takedown into Magomedov's guard.
Knowles throws a strike but Magomedov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Knowles trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knowles 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.
Magomedov stopping the sweep attempt from Knowles.
Magomedov wants to control from the top but Knowles keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knowles controls Magomedov momentarily but Magomedov frees himself.
Claud Knowles overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Magomedov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Knowles is keeping the position for now.
Knowles is trying to keep Magomedov in close.
Magomedov sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Knowles scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Knowles tries to keep at a distance but Magomedov has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Knowles pulls guard successfully.
Knowles trying to control the position.
Magomedov cracks Knowles with a solid left hand.

Magomedov has gone for a leg lock! Knowles slips out almost immediately though and dives into Magomedov's guard.

Knowles postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knowles being controlled here momentarily.
Knowles stops Magomedov from standing up.
Knowles throwing strikes from guard but Magomedov blocks nicely.
Magomedov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Magomedov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Magomedov wants to get back to his feet but Knowles is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Magomedov looking to control.
Knowles missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Magomedov working for a triangle but Knowles defends it easily.
Magomedov is breathing heavily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Magomedov is on top in guard.

Knowles is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Knowles throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Knowles not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Knowles lands strikes from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Claud Knowles dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Magomedov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Knowles was covering up waiting for the punch and Magomedov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Knowles looking to control.
Magomedov landing some decent shots from guard.
Knowles looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Magomedov with a nice head shot there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magomedov 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.
Magomedov tries to stand but Knowles is controlling from the bottom.

Knowles looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov lands a couple of elbows.
Magomedov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Magomedov looking to pass the guard.
Knowles bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Magomedov's guard.

Knowles is in close to Magomedov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Knowles might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Knowles scoring with some ground and pound.
Magomedov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Magomedov has an active guard here but Knowles has managed to pass into half guard.
Magomedov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Knowles.
Knowles takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Knowles is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Magomedov has managed to free his arm - good work.
Knowles is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Knowles working over Magomedov with some ground and pound. Magomedov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knowles not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Magomedov looking for submissions off his back.
Knowles is thwarting Magomedov's attempts to control the position.
Magomedov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Knowles.
Magomedov moves into full guard.
Knowles is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Magomedov can do to turn this around?
Knowles throws a big elbow that misses.
Magomedov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Magomedov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Magomedov trying to control the position.
Knowles trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A left lands for Knowles.
Horrible takedown attempt by Knowles or perhaps it was just good defense by Magomedov, which made it look bad.
Magomedov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Knowles swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Knowles seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Knowles closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Magomedov did well to prevent Knowles getting side control.
Ibragim Magomedov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Claud Knowles is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Knowles prevents Magomedov from standing back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Claud Knowles showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Knowles, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Claud Knowles!