PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Akhmatbek Zholdoshev (ranked 3873 p4p, 0 weight class) and Norman Young (ranked 6908 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Zholdoshev
vs
Young

185 cm
25
157 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
158 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Akhmatbek Zholdoshev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Norman Young!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, John Roberts and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Young fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zholdoshev avoids it really well and circles away.
Zholdoshev throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Young moves into the clinch.
Zholdoshev wants to break free but Young has control.
Zholdoshev is trying to break free.
Zholdoshev is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Young drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Zholdoshev gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Young keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zholdoshev's efforts to push away.
Young works on Zholdoshev's body with a couple of short punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zholdoshev tries to circle away but Young has him pinned against the cage.
Zholdoshev is trying to break free.
Zholdoshev looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Zholdoshev has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Young jumps guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Young pulls Zholdoshev in to control the position.
Young looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zholdoshev is one step ahead there.
Zholdoshev tries to stand but Young is controlling from the bottom.
Young wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Young wants to sweep here but Zholdoshev controlling him for the moment.

Zholdoshev got a little sloppy there for a moment and Young has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Zholdoshev has managed to get both his arms back between Young's legs - danger averted.
Zholdoshev wanted to stand there but Young had control of the position.
Young lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Zholdoshev can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Young controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Young throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zholdoshev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zholdoshev preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Young engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Young working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zholdoshev wants to stand up but Young is controlling him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Young accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Young is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Young throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Zholdoshev lands a left and a right that sends Young crashing to the canvas! Zholdoshev dives into mount looking to finish!
Young tries to hold on but Zholdoshev pushes him away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zholdoshev wants to stand but Young is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Zholdoshev avoids the attempt from Young to control.
Zholdoshev wants to get back to his feet but Young is holding on tight.
Zholdoshev trying to control but Young is having none of it.
Zholdoshev prevents Young from getting the reversal.
Young has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Young has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Zholdoshev's lack of action.
Zholdoshev is thwarting Young's attempts to control the position.
Zholdoshev wants to stand but Young has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zholdoshev is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Young manages to get to full guard.
Zholdoshev would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Young is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Young is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Young decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
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 Akhmatbek Zholdoshev will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zholdoshev tries to bum rush Young with a series of wild strikes but Young uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Young blocks a head kick by Zholdoshev.
Zholdoshev really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Danga de danga de dang - Zholdoshev scores with a four punch combination!
Young shoots in for a takedown but Zholdoshev shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Zholdoshev drops Young with a nice combination! Zholdoshev dives into Young's guard, looking to finish!

Young is rocked!
Norman Young has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zholdoshev is looking to stand up but Young won't let him.
Young is still in real trouble! Can Zholdoshev finish him?
Young pulls Zholdoshev in close to prevent any damage.
Zholdoshev wanted to stand there but Young had control of the position.

Young is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zholdoshev is aware though and is defending well.
Young has a closed guard, preventing Zholdoshev from standing up.
Young seems to have recovered his senses.
Zholdoshev trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Zholdoshev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Young! But no joy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Young avoids a punch combination nicely.
Young is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zholdoshev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zholdoshev tries to bum rush Young with a series of wild strikes but Young uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Young shoots in for a takedown but Zholdoshev shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Akhmatbek Zholdoshev is winning the standup battle so far.
Zholdoshev tries a head kick but it misses.
Zholdoshev throws a sloppy head kick and Young moves out of range easily.
Zholdoshev displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Young.
Akhmatbek Zholdoshev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Norman Young.
Young shoots in and drives through. Zholdoshev sprawls well.
Zholdoshev throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Young counters with a series of strikes. Zholdoshev will be more careful next time no doubt.
Young fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zholdoshev avoids it really well and circles away.
Zholdoshev throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zholdoshev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Young can do to turn this around?
Zholdoshev pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Zholdoshev gets tackled into the cage by Young. Young maintains the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Young jumps guard.
Zholdoshev has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Young is proving hard to escape from.
Young is pulling down on Zholdoshev's head. It's preventing any offense from Zholdoshev, at least for the moment.

Young has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Zholdoshev off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zholdoshev lands a high kick!
Young fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A right-left combo lands from Zholdoshev.
Zholdoshev throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Young.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zholdoshev leaves Young with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Young tries to clinch but Zholdoshev moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Zholdoshev as Young shoots in.
Zholdoshev tries a head kick but it misses.
Young steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Zholdoshev.
Zholdoshev tries a head kick but it misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Young is defended easily by Zholdoshev.
Zholdoshev lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Akhmatbek Zholdoshev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Young fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zholdoshev, pushing him back against the cage.
Young is stalling here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Young prevents Zholdoshev from breaking the clinch.
Young goes for a takedown in the clinch but Zholdoshev prevents it.

Young tightens his grip and picks Zholdoshev up, before dumping him to the ground. Zholdoshev manages to land in guard.
Zholdoshev is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Young is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Zholdoshev wants to stand and escape but Young is having none of it.
Young's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Zholdoshev is looking to stand up but Young isn't so interested in that idea.
Young postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akhmatbek Zholdoshev dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Zholdoshev throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zholdoshev throws a lazy head kick
and Young counters with a series of strikes. Zholdoshev will be more careful next time no doubt.
Akhmatbek Zholdoshev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Young forces Zholdoshev back against the cage and clinches.
Young wants a takedown but no success here.

Young breaks from the clinch.
A head kick misses from Zholdoshev.
Zholdoshev throws a head kick that misses.
Zholdoshev tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Zholdoshev.
Zholdoshev stuffs the takedown attempt from Young. Young gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Young gets a double leg takedown into Zholdoshev's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Young engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Young is continuing to stall.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Young trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Young advances position into side control!
Young passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Zholdoshev!
Zholdoshev wants to try and get back to his feet.
Young controlling the pace for now.
Young throwing strikes here but Zholdoshev is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Zholdoshev is trying to stand.

Young is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Zholdoshev is surviving well by controlling Young's body position as best he can.
Young sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Young is working for a guillotine from mount but Zholdoshev frees his head quite easily.
Young misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Young tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Zholdoshev's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

Young is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Zholdoshev throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zholdoshev throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Young misses with an attempted mid kick.
A head kick from Zholdoshev lands but Young takes it in his stride.
A head kick misses from Zholdoshev.
Young dives in and grabs Zholdoshev's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zholdoshev pushes down on Young's head and hops out.
Akhmatbek Zholdoshev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Norman Young.
Zholdoshev throws a head kick that misses.

Young rushes Zholdoshev and presses him up against the cage.
Zholdoshev is trying to break free.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Young.

Young pulls guard.
Zholdoshev stopping the sweep attempt from Young.
Zholdoshev wanted to stand there but Young had control of the position.
Young is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Young has a closed guard, preventing Zholdoshev from standing up.
Zholdoshev wants to stand and escape but instead Young has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Young passes Zholdoshev's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Young takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Young is working for a submission of some sort.

Young is working for a kimura but Zholdoshev is defending it quite comfortably.
Zholdoshev looks like he's trying to stand up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Norman Young comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zholdoshev 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akhmatbek Zholdoshev!