PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Arlan Tolkynbekov (ranked 4077 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mamed Khalidov (ranked 25230 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tolkynbekov
vs
Khalidov

182 cm
26
157 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

178 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Arlan Tolkynbekov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mamed Khalidov!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Alyssa Summers and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tolkynbekov tries to clinch

and Khalidov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tolkynbekov is looking to control Khalidov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tolkynbekov avoid being mounted?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tolkynbekov trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Khalidov manages to pass to mount!
Tolkynbekov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Tolkynbekov tries to get out of the position.
Khalidov controlling from mount.

Khalidov with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Khalidov controlling the position easily from mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tolkynbekov wants to control but Khalidov is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidov landing strikes, looking to finish!
Khalidov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Tolkynbekov takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Tolkynbekov is working to get back to half guard.
Khalidov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Khalidov goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Tolkynbekov is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tolkynbekov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Tolkynbekov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Khalidov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tolkynbekov has managed to get both his arms back between Khalidov's legs - danger averted.

Khalidov working for a triangle but Tolkynbekov defends it easily.
Tolkynbekov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Khalidov's guard.

Khalidov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov controls Tolkynbekov momentarily but Tolkynbekov frees himself.

Khalidov is looking for a triangle but Tolkynbekov pushes his legs off easily.
Tolkynbekov trying to control the position from guard on top but Khalidov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Khalidov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tolkynbekov trying to control but Khalidov is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tolkynbekov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Tolkynbekov trying to control but Khalidov is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tolkynbekov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Khalidov.
Tolkynbekov misses with a combination

and Khalidov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tolkynbekov's guard.
Khalidov trying to control the position from guard on top but Tolkynbekov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tolkynbekov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mamed Khalidov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tolkynbekov throws a lazy head kick

and Khalidov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tolkynbekov's guard.
Tolkynbekov wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Khalidov manages to pass to side control.

Khalidov controlling the action here.
Khalidov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tolkynbekov is looking to escape.

Khalidov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Tolkynbekov wants to control but Khalidov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mamed Khalidov has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Tolkynbekov is trying to stand back up but Khalidov is controlling him
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Tolkynbekov is looking for a sweep. Khalidov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tolkynbekov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Khalidov.
Khalidov stops Tolkynbekov from getting back to his feet.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Khalidov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Khalidov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two 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.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tolkynbekov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Khalidov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Tolkynbekov misses with a takedown

and Khalidov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Khalidov.

Tolkynbekov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Arlan Tolkynbekov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Khalidov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Tolkynbekov did well to prevent Khalidov getting side control.
Khalidov has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Khalidov controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tolkynbekov gets back to half guard.

Khalidov is working for a kimura but Tolkynbekov is defending it quite comfortably.

Khalidov stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Tolkynbekov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Khalidov tries to avoid it but Tolkynbekov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Khalidov to the ground. Khalidov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Khalidov is looking for the big counter here.

Khalidov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Khalidov stays in close to Tolkynbekov's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tolkynbekov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Khalidov is aware though and is defending well.
Tolkynbekov looking for a sweep. Not yet Tolkynbekov, not yet.
Khalidov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Khalidov connects with a couple of short punches.
Khalidov trying to control the position from guard on top but Tolkynbekov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Khalidov postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tolkynbekov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Khalidov controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mamed Khalidov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Tolkynbekov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Khalidov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tolkynbekov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Khalidov as he jumps to the side.
Khalidov drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Tolkynbekov defends it well.

Khalidov moves into the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Tolkynbekov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tolkynbekov shoots in for a takedown but Khalidov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arlan Tolkynbekov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tolkynbekov shoots in for a double leg but Khalidov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Khalidov tries to counter by closing the distance.

Khalidov drives through and clinches with Tolkynbekov against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Khalidov manages to break the clinch.
Tolkynbekov misses with a takedown attempt - Khalidov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tolkynbekov fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tolkynbekov avoids the head kick by Khalidov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolkynbekov shoots for a double leg takedown but Khalidov sprawls well. He's pushed Tolkynbekov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Arlan Tolkynbekov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Khalidov tries a head kick but it misses.
Tolkynbekov looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Khalidov stuffs the takedown.

Khalidov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Khalidov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Khalidov postures up and lands a big shot to Tolkynbekov's brow.
Khalidov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov scoring with some ground and pound.
Khalidov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Tolkynbekov's head.

Tolkynbekov is working an open guard so Khalidov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Tolkynbekov tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so Khalidov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Tolkynbekov wants to sweep here but Khalidov controlling him for the moment.
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!
Khalidov throws a strike but Tolkynbekov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tolkynbekov trying to control but Khalidov is working from the bottom.
Khalidov is pulling down on Tolkynbekov's head. It's preventing any offense from Tolkynbekov, at least for the moment.
Khalidov lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Tolkynbekov trying to control the position from guard on top but Khalidov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Khalidov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Tolkynbekov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Tolkynbekov trying to control but Khalidov is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Khalidov working for a triangle but Tolkynbekov defends it easily.
Arlan Tolkynbekov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mamed Khalidov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Tolkynbekov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Khalidov looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Khalidov looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Khalidov!

And that's the end of the fight!
Mamed Khalidov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Khalidov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mamed Khalidov!