PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hamza Keita (ranked 3845 p4p, 422 weight class) and Zabit Samedov (ranked 2821 p4p, 339 weight class). Keita comes into the arena with Secka - Pointure blaring out of the sound system. Samedov has chosen STVORE - Sgori as his entrance music. Hamza Keita could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Zabit Samedov's chin.

Keita
vs
Samedov

177 cm
25
211 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

182 cm
30
209 lbs
8 - 8 - 1

BJJ Red Belt
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

King Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hamza Keita!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Zabit Samedov!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Samedov moves into the clinch.
Samedov is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Keita pulls guard successfully.
Keita has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Keita trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Samedov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Keita is proving hard to escape from.

Keita is looking for a triangle but Samedov pushes his legs off easily.

Keita working for a triangle but Samedov defends it easily.

Keita escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Samedov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Samedov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Keita is proving hard to escape from.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Keita is looking for a triangle but Samedov pushes his legs off easily.

Samedov decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Samedov darts in and clinches Keita up against the ropes.
Keita is trying to force a seperation but Samedov has the dominant position.
Keita tries to pull guard but Samedov won't allow it.
Keita blocks the elbow strike.
Samedov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Keita blocks the elbow strike.
Keita blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Keita blocks the elbow strike.
Samedov throws an elbow but it misses.
Keita dodges an elbow strike from Samedov.
Samedov is leaning against Keita and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Samedov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Keita dodges an elbow strike from Samedov.
Keita 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 Hamza Keita. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Keita tries to pull guard but Samedov holds him up against the ropes and eventually Keita drops back down to his feet.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Samedov.

It looks like Hamza Keita has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samedov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Samedov lands an elbow inside that Keita shrugs off.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Samedov lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Keita gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Samedov wants to get back to his feet.
Samedov tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Keita manages to move to mount!

Keita jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Samedov manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Samedov is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Keita wants to lay and pray for a moment but Samedov keeps working.
Keita connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Samedov some visible discomfort.

Keita wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Samedov, who protects the arm well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zabit Samedov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hamza Keita's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Keita showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Samedov.
Samedov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Keita is looking to clinch.
Samedov tries to clinch up but Keita circles away and keeps his distance.
Samedov misses with a head kick.
Samedov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Keita drops down looking for a counter takedown but Samedov sprawls and moves away.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A head kick misses from Samedov.
Keita moves out of range of the body kick.
Hamza Keita is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Keita misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Samedov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Keita tries to clinch but Samedov is having none of it.
Samedov tries to clinch there but Keita circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Samedov swings for the body but Keita moves out of range.

Samedov closes the distance and pushes Keita back into the ropes.
Samedov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Samedov throws an elbow but misses.
Samedov lands a nice elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samedov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Keita blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Samedov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Keita's brow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Samedov.
Keita fails to pull guard.
Samedov misses with an elbow over the top.
Keita fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hamza Keita. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Samedov lands a body punch in the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Samedov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Keita's brow.
Samedov throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Keita avoids a wild elbow strike from Samedov.
Keita drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Samedov gets the underhooks and prevents it.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Samedov.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Keita blocks a body shot from Samedov.
Samedov scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keita is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Samedov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Samedov lands a nice elbow.
Samedov makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Keita jumps guard but Samedov turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.
Keita tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Samedov digs a right hand underneath Keita's ribcage. Keita let out a lung full of air as it connected.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Samedov lands a nice elbow.
Keita blocks an uppercut.
Keita takes a shot to the head.
Samedov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Keita dodges an elbow strike from Samedov.
Keita avoids a wild elbow strike from Samedov.
Samedov throws an elbow that misses.
Samedov creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Keita's defenses.
Zabit Samedov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Samedov creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Samedov throws an elbow that misses.
Keita blocking some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zabit Samedov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hamza Keita's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Samedov loads up on a big right hand but Keita slips the punch.
Keita feinted with a counter takedown.

Samedov has closed the distance and engaged Keita in a clinch.
Keita drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Samedov gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Keita drops down looking for an ankle pick but Samedov pulls his leg out and moves away.

Samedov forces Keita back against the ropes and clinches.
Samedov throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Samedov throws an elbow but it misses.
Keita tries to pull guard but Samedov forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hamza Keita. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Keita pulls guard effortlessly.

Keita has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Samedov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Samedov wanted to stand there but Keita had control of the position.
Samedov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Samedov wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of Keita's closed guard. He's half up but Keita has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! Keita pivots and extends the arm, Samedov falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by Keita! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Hamza Keita!
During a confident post fight interview, Hamza Keita thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.