PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mahdi Dirjal (ranked 25695 p4p, 25725 weight class) and Januszov Goatov (ranked 722 p4p, 698 weight class). Januszov Goatov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Dirjal
vs
Goatov

178 cm
18
200
1 - 2 - 0

188 cm
18
192
1 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

PEAK

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mahdi Dirjal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Januszov Goatov!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Jorge Garcia and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dirjal throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Goatov gets tackled into the cage by Dirjal. Dirjal maintains the clinch.

Dirjal pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A jab lands there for Dirjal.

It looks like Januszov Goatov has been cut.

Dirjal closes the distance and clinches.
Dirjal works on Goatov's body with a couple of short punches.
Goatov wants to get back to striking at distance but Dirjal won't allow it.
Goatov jumps guard but Dirjal stands there with Goatov around his waist. Goatov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Goatov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Goatov looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dirjal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Dirjal takes the fight into the clinch.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dirjal gets a clinch.
Goatov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Dirjal pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mahdi Dirjal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Januszov Goatov.
Goatov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Goatov working hard to break the clinch.
Goatov goes for a takedown attempt but Dirjal pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Dirjal with a nice cross.
Goatov avoids a punch combination nicely.

Dirjal rushes Goatov and presses him up against the cage.
Dirjal is stalling here.
Goatov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Dirjal just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Dirjal takes the fight into the clinch.
Dirjal throws a knee to the head but misses.
Goatov can't break the clinch.
Goatov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Dirjal breaks the clinch.
Goatov needs to keep his hands up - Dirjal had a free shot at his head there.
A jab from Dirjal does it's job there.
Mahdi Dirjal 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!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Dirjal!

Dirjal instigates a clinch.
I was talking to Dirjal's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Dirjal lands a left hand.

Dirjal breaks the clinch.
Goatov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dirjal swivels and escapes.

Dirjal moves into range and clinches up with Goatov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dirjal throws a knee to the head but misses.

Dirjal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Dirjal instigates a clinch.
Goatov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dirjal lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Dirjal breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Goatov tries to pull guard but Dirjal holds him up against the cage and eventually Goatov drops back down to his feet.
Goatov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Dirjal to keep the fight standing.

Dirjal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Dirjal closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dirjal gets underhooks to prevent Goatov's takedown attempt.
Goatov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Dirjal to keep the fight standing.
Goatov looks winded!

Dirjal's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dirjal stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Goatov takes one to the chin there.

That has opened up Januszov Goatov's cut even more.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Goatov tries to clinch but Dirjal is having none of it.
Dirjal lands a jab to the nose.
Goatov throws a leg kick that is checked

and Dirjal counters with a double leg. Goatov bangs his head on the mat and seems to be on queer street here... Dirjal follows up with punches and the ref steps in to end the fight! It was the slam that caused all the problems.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Slam). Mahdi Dirjal!
Mahdi Dirjal seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.