PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Khadis Ankalaev (ranked 5013 p4p, 5753 weight class) and Jake Neil (ranked 510 p4p, 558 weight class). Jake Neil is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Ankalaev
vs
Neil

178 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
155
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Khadis Ankalaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jake Neil!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Frank Dennis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ankalaev slips a jab and a cross from Neil.
Ankalaev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Neil manages to avoid it.
Neil fails to land with a series of punches.
A low kick from Neil misses

and Ankalaev counters with a takedown into side control.
A lull in the action here.
Neil is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Ankalaev asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neil is letting Ankalaev control him for a moment.
Ankalaev in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neil is looking for a sweep.
The referee asks Ankalaev politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Ankalaev prefers to stall for the moment though.
Neil is pushing Ankalaev's head away, looking to escape. Ankalaev manages to hold on to the position though.

Ankalaev tries for a kimura but Neil is defending well.
Neil is trying to improve his position.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ankalaev's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Ankalaev stands up.

Neil gets caught flat footed, as Ankalaev shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ankalaev prevents Neil from getting back to his feet.
Ankalaev is pushing down on Neil's leg trying to pass to half guard. Neil is fighting to maintain full guard but Ankalaev has managed to sneak the leg through.
Ankalaev is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ankalaev seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Neil for as long as he can get away with.
Ankalaev is looking to advance position but Neil won't allow it.

Ankalaev is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Neil has managed to free his arm - good work.
Neil wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ankalaev stalling.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Ankalaev scoring with strikes to the body and head.
We've been informed that Neil has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Ankalaev tries to pass the half guard into mount. Neil knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Neil is trying to stand up here but Ankalaev is controlling him well.
Ankalaev performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Khadis Ankalaev dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Neil tries to bum rush Ankalaev with a series of wild strikes but Ankalaev uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Neil throws a body punch but Ankalaev moves out of range.
Neil misses with a jab, cross combination.
Neil digs a good hook to Ankalaev's body.
Neil looks to land a combination but Ankalaev avoids it well.
Neil throws a combination that misses

and Ankalaev decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Neil's guard.
Ankalaev controlling from the top position.
Ankalaev passes Neil's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Neil is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ankalaev is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ankalaev looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Neil with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ankalaev controlling the pace.

Ankalaev is looking for a kimura but Neil is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ankalaev to get the leverage.
Ankalaev moves into full mount! Neil won't be happy about that!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ankalaev tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Neil taking shots to the head.
Ankalaev won't let Neil get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Ankalaev takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ankalaev wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Ankalaev content just to control the position here.
Ankalaev continues to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Ankalaev gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Neil throws a leg kick that misses.
Neil fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Neil goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Neil tries to sprawl but Ankalaev drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ankalaev is controlling the pace.
Neil wants to get back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Khadis Ankalaev dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Ankalaev on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Neil misses with a two punch combination.
Neil throws a left and a right that both miss

and Ankalaev counters with a nice double leg into side control. Neil won't be happy with that.
Ankalaev landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Ankalaev controls the position from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ankalaev decides to stand back up.
Neil throws a right and a left that both miss.
Neil takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ankalaev gets the takedown into side control.
Ankalaev taking a breather here.
Ankalaev lands a few punches from side control.
Ankalaev happy to just control the position for now.

Ankalaev stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Neil enables Ankalaev to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Neil manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ankalaev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Neil's head.
Ankalaev stands and throws Neil's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Ankalaev decides to take the fight back to the feet.
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!

Ankalaev fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Neil to the ground. Ankalaev is now in Neil's guard.
Neil can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ankalaev controls the pace.
Neil wants to stand up but Ankalaev is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ankalaev advances position into side control!
Ankalaev connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Neil some visible discomfort.
Ankalaev slows the pace down.

Ankalaev looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Neil is trying to control Ankalaev's posture but Ankalaev avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ankalaev in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Jake Neil has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ankalaev has hold of Neil's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Neil seems comfortable defending it but Ankalaev has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Neil is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Neil is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Ankalaev couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Khadis Ankalaev!
Khadis Ankalaev thanked the fans post fight for their support.