PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Magomed Khaibulaev (ranked 2893 p4p, 0 weight class) and Halid Magomedov (ranked 25323 p4p, 0 weight class). Halid Magomedov has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Khaibulaev
vs
Magomedov

177 cm
25
157 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

180 cm
19
157 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Pit Bull Development

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 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Magomed Khaibulaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Halid Magomedov!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Igor Prikhodko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Magomedov thuds a left hand into Khaibulaev's body.
Magomedov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Khaibulaev sprawls well. Khaibulaev wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Magomedov gets slowly back to his feet.
Khaibulaev fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Magomedov wants to counter the offense by Khaibulaev and move into the clinch position.

Khaibulaev shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Magomedov's guard.
Khaibulaev is standing up over Magomedov. Magomedov looks to escape but Khaibulaev dives into side control.

Khaibulaev throwing shots but missing, from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magomedov wants to control but Khaibulaev postures up.
Khaibulaev staying calm.
Magomedov takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khaibulaev lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Magomedov down.
Khaibulaev 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 tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Khaibulaev presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Khaibulaev controlling the position easily from mount.
Khaibulaev sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Khaibulaev lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khaibulaev looking to control but Magomedov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Magomedov is trying to escape the mount.

Khaibulaev working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Magomedov bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Magomedov preventing the sweep.

Khaibulaev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khaibulaev throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Magomedov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Khaibulaev looking to hit a scissor sweep but Magomedov is one step ahead there.
Khaibulaev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Magomedov.
Khaibulaev has his hands on Magomedov's head, controlling the position.
Khaibulaev keeping moving, preventing Magomedov from controlling successfully.

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.
Khaibulaev seems keen to control Magomedov's posture.
Magomedov wants to get up but he can't break Khaibulaev's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Magomedov stopping the sweep attempt from Khaibulaev.
Khaibulaev has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Magomedov has passed into side control.
You can see the frustration on Khaibulaev's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Magomedov working the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Magomed Khaibulaev dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Khaibulaev darts in and clinches Magomedov up against the cage.
Khaibulaev manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Khaibulaev tries to pull guard but Magomedov holds him up against the cage and eventually Khaibulaev drops back down to his feet.
Khaibulaev is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Khaibulaev is trying to force a seperation but Magomedov has the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khaibulaev tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Khaibulaev jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Magomedov walks away with a smile on his face. Khaibulaev gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Magomed Khaibulaev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Khaibulaev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Magomedov as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Khaibulaev.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Khaibulaev has taken the fight to the clinch.
Khaibulaev is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Magomedov to keep the fight standing.
Magomedov jumps guard but Khaibulaev turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Magomedov manages to break the clinch.
Magomedov tries a head kick but it misses.

Khaibulaev pushes Magomedov up against the cage in a clinch.
Khaibulaev on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Magomedov breaks from the clinch.
Magomedov is looking to chop away at Khaibulaev's legs.
Khaibulaev thinks about countering with a head kick.
Horrible takedown attempt by Magomedov or perhaps it was just good defense by Khaibulaev, which made it look bad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov shoots in but no luck this time.
Khaibulaev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Khaibulaev looking to score a takedown here. Magomedov is defending well but Khaibulaev drives through and ends up in Magomedov's guard.
Magomedov trying to control the position.
Khaibulaev sitting in guard, not really doing much.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Magomedov is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khaibulaev wants to sweep here but Magomedov controlling him for the moment.
Khaibulaev pulls Magomedov in close to prevent any damage.
Khaibulaev tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Magomedov wants to control from the top but Khaibulaev keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Khaibulaev avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Khaibulaev not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Khaibulaev is striking but Magomedov is not phased and passes to half guard.
Magomedov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Khaibulaev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Khaibulaev is trying to maintain the position but Magomedov is very close to passing his half guard.
Magomedov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Khaibulaev knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Khaibulaev wants to control but Magomedov is keeping busy.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Halid Magomedov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Khaibulaev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Magomedov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Khaibulaev moves into the clinch successfully.
Magomedov jumps guard but Khaibulaev stands there with Magomedov around his waist. Magomedov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Magomedov is trying to pull guard but Khaibulaev has him pressed against the cage.
Come on Khaibulaev - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Magomedov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Khaibulaev shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Khaibulaev was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magomedov is trying to control Khaibulaev's posture but Khaibulaev avoids it.
Khaibulaev controlling the position from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Magomedov is not content to let Khaibulaev control the position.
Khaibulaev working away.

Khaibulaev stands up and beckons Magomedov to his feet.

Magomedov gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Khaibulaev tries to pull guard but Magomedov forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Khaibulaev has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Magomedov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Khaibulaev is pushing Magomedov up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The referee calls for Magomedov to work.
Khaibulaev tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Magomed Khaibulaev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Magomedov stops a takedown attempt from Khaibulaev.
Magomedov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Khaibulaev pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Magomedov pulls Khaibulaev into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khaibulaev sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Magomedov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Magomedov working a defensive guard here.

Khaibulaev gets to his feet - Magomedov follows without any prompting.
That kick from Khaibulaev tenderised Magomedov's leg. Magomedov is trying to keep his angry face on.
Magomedov shoots in but no luck this time.

Magomedov gets a double leg takedown into Khaibulaev's guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Khaibulaev tries to counter by clinching up but Magomedov breaks away and moves out of range.
Magomedov avoids a punch combination nicely.
And Magomedov tries to counter it with a takedown but Khaibulaev pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A head kick misses from Khaibulaev.

Khaibulaev gets caught flat footed, as Magomedov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Khaibulaev is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Magomedov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Magomedov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Khaibulaev but Khaibulaev pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Khaibulaev seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

And that's the end of the fight!
Magomed Khaibulaev showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Khaibulaev has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Magomed Khaibulaev!