PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alex English (ranked 24319 p4p, 0 weight class) and Siyad Mukhtar (ranked 6349 p4p, 0 weight class). Siyad Mukhtar has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Alex English's chin.

English
vs
Mukhtar

153 cm
25
151 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

167 cm
24
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alex English!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Siyad Mukhtar!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
English shoots in looking for a takedown but Mukhtar manages to keep the fight standing, pushing English's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mukhtar with the counter takedown but English avoids it easily.

Mukhtar shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in English's guard.

English uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Mukhtar scores with a head kick.

It looks like Alex English has been cut.

English moves into range and clinches up with Mukhtar.

Mukhtar lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

English kicks Mukhtar off and gets back to his feet.
Siyad Mukhtar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
English shoots and misses

and Mukhtar counters by clinching up.

Mukhtar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
English moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

English gets caught flat footed, as Mukhtar shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

English scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
English shoots in for a takedown but Mukhtar shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex English. That's going to take a lot out of him.
English tries to clinch but Mukhtar is having none of it.
Mukhtar counters with a body kick.

English clinches.
Mukhtar lands a hook that snaps the head of English backwards.

Mukhtar breaks from the clinch.

Mukhtar closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Mukhtar breaks the clinch.
Mukhtar throws a low kick but it's checked well by English.
English thinks about countering with a body kick.

Mukhtar closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mukhtar stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Mukhtar has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics English uses from the top position.
English really is a fat lump.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mukhtar is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
English wants to control from the top but Mukhtar keeps moving.

English gets to his feet. Mukhtar looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Mukhtar moves into range and clinches up with English.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Mukhtar pulls English into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mukhtar wants to sweep here but English controlling him for the moment.

English decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Mukhtar, up you get!

English looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Mukhtar looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mukhtar is not content to let English control the position.
Mukhtar is trying to defend against the ground and pound but English scores with a couple of nice shots.
English controlling the action here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. English connects with a nice short shot to Mukhtar's temple.
Mukhtar is controlling English's position as best he can from this difficult position.

English is looking for a kimura but Mukhtar is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for English to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
English missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

English is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
English is trying to control. Mukhtar wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
English is looking for a kimura but Mukhtar is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for English to get the leverage.
English missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mukhtar is pressing down on English's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Mukhtar has his foot on English's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. English works his way back into a safe position though.
Mukhtar looking to control.
English stands and throws Mukhtar's legs to the side, diving into side control.

English decides to stand back up. English steps back and let's Mukhtar get back to his feet.
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 Alex English will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alex English's cut.
That's time! English's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nice sprawl there from Mukhtar as English shoots in.
English takes a jab right on the kisser.

Mukhtar throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. English tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Mukhtar is in English's guard.

English has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Mukhtar has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

English breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mukhtar scores with a head kick. English tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

English shoots in and bounces Mukhtar off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
English landing with the ground and pound.
English postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
English working some strikes from top position.

Mukhtar is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. English is aware though and is defending well.
Mukhtar is breathing heavily.
English postures up.
English scoring with punches to the head and body.
Mukhtar wants to sweep but no luck.

English gets to his feet - Mukhtar follows without any prompting.
English lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Mukhtar scores with a takedown into English's guard.

English has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Mukhtar has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Mukhtar has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics English uses from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
English lands a couple of decent looking shots.
English content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Mukhtar has momentary wrist control but English slips an elbow through the middle.

English gets to his feet - Mukhtar follows without any prompting.

English shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mukhtar's guard.
Mukhtar being controlled here, momentarily.
English stands up over Mukhtar, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
English is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
English working some strikes from top position.
English makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

English stands and steps away. Mukhtar gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Mukhtar slaps away a takedown attempt from English, before circling back to the center of the mat.

English moves into range and clinches up with Mukhtar.
Mukhtar is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but English is keeping busy.
Nice elbow from English.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

English pulls guard.
English is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mukhtar can do to turn this around?
Mukhtar being controlled here momentarily.
English manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mukhtar manages to get himself to full guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex English dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alex English's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

English looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Mukhtar has English up against the cage in a clinch.

Mukhtar pulls guard effortlessly.
English with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

English stands up from guard. Let's bang!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mukhtar moves into the clinch.
Mukhtar is stalling here.
Mukhtar working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mukhtar leaning his opponent against the cage.

Mukhtar pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

English rushes Mukhtar and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
English is trying to pull guard but Mukhtar turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

English drags the fight down to the ground.
English 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.

Mukhtar drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mukhtar jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Mukhtar trying to control but English is working from the bottom.
Mukhtar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mukhtar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. English is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mukhtar trying to control but English is working from the bottom.
Mukhtar must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
English striking off his back but it's not causing Mukhtar any problems.

English pushes Mukhtar off and gets back to his feet.
Siyad Mukhtar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Mukhtar clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

English has picked Mukhtar up - he's going for a ride! English dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Mukhtar is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but English pulls his head out easily.
English lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
English landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

English maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Mukhtar could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but English has cracked it and Mukhtar is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by English!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Alex English!