PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between John Wall (ranked 875 p4p, 106 weight class) and Rasul Mirzaev (ranked 1111 p4p, 133 weight class). Wall's entrance music is Metallica - Enter Sandman. A fine choice. Mirzaev is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Killshot - Eminem. 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.

Wall
vs
Mirzaev

193 cm
24
165 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

170 cm
36
157 lbs
23 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John Wall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rasul Mirzaev!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, David Schapiro and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wall misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mirzaev.
Mirzaev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Wall.
Wall keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

It looks like Rasul Mirzaev has been cut.
Mirzaev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mirzaev dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A swing and a miss from Wall.
Mirzaev has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Wall finds it's way round the side to connect with Mirzaev's head.
The fighters circle momentarily. Wall darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Wall tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mirzaev was well out of range. Poor timing from Wall.
Mirzaev is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Wall with a body shot.
Wall throws a leg kick that misses.
Wall throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Mirzaev on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Mirzaev looks to score with a jab to the body but Wall is just out of range.
Wall lands with a nice body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mirzaev misses with a body kick.
Wall with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
An inside leg kick lands from Wall.
Wall looks to score with a jab to the body but Mirzaev is just out of range.
Wall throws a body punch but Mirzaev moves out of range.
Wall turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mirzaev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Wall was well out of range. Poor timing from Mirzaev.
Wall throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Mirzaev is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Wall rather than just go for the knockout.
Mirzaev throws a body shot but no joy.
Wall fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mirzaev manages to avoid it.
Mirzaev walks into a left hand.
Wall throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Wall moves out of range as Mirzaev strikes.
Wall throws a leg kick but Mirzaev sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A swing and a miss from Mirzaev.
Wall appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Mirzaev has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Mirzaev darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Wall throws a head kick but Mirzaev moves out of range.
Mirzaev tests Wall's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Wall throws a half hearted mid kick.
Wall with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Mirzaev to score with a decent uppercut.
Mirzaev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Wall manages to avoid it.
Mirzaev dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wall throws a low kick, looking for Mirzaev's leg but Mirzaev calmly moves out of range.
Mirzaev throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Wall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Wall.
Wall turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Wall on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Wall takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Mirzaev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Wall was well out of range. Poor timing from Mirzaev.
Mirzaev connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Wall tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rasul Mirzaev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mirzaev lands with a right hand.
Mirzaev lands with an overhand left.
Mirzaev lands an overhand right.
Wall tries a head kick but it misses.
No joy there for Mirzaev, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wall throws a head kick that misses.
Wall does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Mirzaev doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Mirzaev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wall lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Mirzaev takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Wall on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wall moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Wall checks a leg kick.
A low kick from Wall is predictable there
and Wall takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Wall is rocked!

Mirzaev cracks Wall with an uppercut from hell and Wall crumples to the canvas, he's out! Oh no, he's recovered and he's grabbed one of Mirzaev's legs and pulled him into guard. The ref thought about stopping it there but he's let it go - good reffing!
Oh Wall is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mirzaev wants to stand but Wall has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Mirzaev wants to stand and escape but instead Wall has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Mirzaev wants to stand and escape but Wall is having none of it.
Wall seems to have got his legs back now.
Wall is stalling in the full guard.
Wall pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mirzaev is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mirzaev wants to stand but Wall is controlling the position.
Wall controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rasul Mirzaev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rasul Mirzaev's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Wall fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mirzaev.
Mirzaev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mirzaev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Wall manages to avoid it.
Wall fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Wall lands with a nice body kick.
Mirzaev checks a low kick from Wall.
Mirzaev throws a nice looking combination but Wall bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Wall lands a front kick.
Wall scores with a kick to the body.
Mirzaev looks to land a left hand but Wall moved out of range nicely.
Mirzaev stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Wall.
Mirzaev connects with a body shot.
Mirzaev connects with a crisp jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A shot to the liver by Mirzaev. Beautiful body shot.
Wall avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Wall takes one on the button.
Wall fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Mirzaev checks it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Mirzaev.
Wall throws a jab when Mirzaev was well out of range.
Mirzaev fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Mirzaev misses with a body shot.
As Mirzaev backs away, Wall returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Wall lands with a hook. Mirzaev tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Wall steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mirzaev.
Wall lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Mirzaev thows a left - swing and a miss!
Wall appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Wall looks for the body kick but Mirzaev saw that one coming.
Mirzaev takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Mirzaev misses with a body kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Wall.
Mirzaev scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Mirzaev ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Mirzaev has managed to clinch.
Wall lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Mirzaev backwards.
Mirzaev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mirzaev doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Wall is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mirzaev gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Wall misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mirzaev.
Wall really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mirzaev misses with a short punch on the inside.
Wall looking for a takedown.
Mirzaev lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Mirzaev tries to work over Wall's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mirzaev misses with a punch to the body.
Mirzaev's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Mirzaev misses with a body punch.
Mirzaev lands a body shot in the clinch.
Mirzaev misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mirzaev misses with some punches.
Mirzaev misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mirzaev pushes Wall back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice body punch from Mirzaev.
Knees to the body from Mirzaev.
Mirzaev tries a body shot but Wall blocks it.
Mirzaev tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wall's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Mirzaev scores with a nice hook to the head.
Mirzaev doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Wall misses with a hook from the clinch.
Wall is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Wall. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mirzaev pushes Wall back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Our sources have told us that Wall has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Wall is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mirzaev pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mirzaev tries to throw a body punch but Wall avoids it by throwing Mirzaev back against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Mirzaev.
Mirzaev lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Wall drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mirzaev pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mirzaev buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Mirzaev staying out of range there.
Mirzaev is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Wall.
Wall was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Mirzaev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Wall.
Mirzaev checks a leg kick.
Rasul Mirzaev seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wall misses with a straight right.
Wall throws a body punch but Mirzaev moves out of range.
Mirzaev unleashes a big counter combination but Wall bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Mirzaev just misses with a punch to the body.
Wall appears to be looking for a big counter.

Mirzaev darts in and clinches Wall up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wall is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A short uppercut from Mirzaev.
Mirzaev misses with a punch to the body.
Wall blocks an uppercut.
Wall blocks a body shot from Mirzaev.
Mirzaev lands a right hand.
Mirzaev stops a takedown attempt from Wall.
Mirzaev tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Still in the clinch, Mirzaev scores with a nice short uppercut.
Wall tries for a takedown but Mirzaev manages to get underhooks.

Wall escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mirzaev lands with a straight right. Wall didn't see that one coming.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wall misses with a low kick as Mirzaev jumps back.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Mirzaev!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rasul Mirzaev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rasul Mirzaev's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Wall takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Today's fight clock is brought to you by... OOOH that's a huge shot by Mirzaev! Wall is in big trouble here - the ref steps in to save him and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:09 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rasul Mirzaev!
As Rasul Mirzaev got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: Who's better!? '.