PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Derek Erwin (ranked 581 p4p, 730 weight class) and Aly Magomedov (ranked 88 p4p, 108 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Magomedov's choice of entrance music: Aly Intro RUN!. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Erwin
vs
Magomedov

176 cm
28
175
16 - 7 - 0

184 cm
30
176
10 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction
Altitude Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Derek Erwin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 1, fighting out of New York, Aly Magomedov!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Magomedov has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Erwin.
Erwin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Magomedov just misses with a punch to the body.
Magomedov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Erwin moves away.

Magomedov shoots in and gets a takedown into Erwin's guard.

Erwin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Magomedov looking to pass the guard.

Erwin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Magomedov defends it easily.
Erwin keeping moving, preventing Magomedov from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Erwin is looking for a triangle but Magomedov pushes his legs off easily.

Erwin has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Magomedov is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Erwin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov trying to control the action but Erwin is working from the bottom.

Magomedov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Magomedov lands a few punches from side control.
Erwin is looking to reverse the position.
Magomedov landing a few strikes.
Magomedov is looking to take a break and control but Erwin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Magomedov controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Magomedov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
You can see the frustration on Erwin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Erwin taking punishment in the form of punches.
Erwin is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erwin is trying to get back to half guard.
Magomedov working away.
Erwin tries to escape but Magomedov is in control.
Magomedov landing a few strikes.
Erwin is looking for a sweep.
Erwin is not content to let Magomedov control the position.
Erwin is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Magomedov asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Magomedov is chipping away with strikes.
Erwin can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Erwin taking punishment in the form of punches.
Magomedov is working Erwin over with some ground and pound from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Erwin manages to get back to half guard.

Magomedov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Magomedov wants to take a breather but Erwin is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Magomedov content to control rather than advance.
Erwin is staying active underneath Magomedov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aly Magomedov dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Erwin throws a nice outside leg kick.
Erwin connects with a good right hand that stumbles Magomedov. Magomedov circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Magomedov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Magomedov lands a nice hook to Erwin's body. Erwin takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Magomedov dips to his left and cracks Erwin with an uppercut!
Magomedov scores with a nice right hand.
Magomedov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Erwin sprawls well. Erwin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Magomedov gets slowly back to his feet.
Erwin scores with a nice right hand.
Erwin avoids the body shot from Magomedov.
Erwin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A lazy left from Erwin finds it's target.
Erwin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Magomedov.
Erwin is looking to counter punch.
A slow jab from Magomedov misses its intended target.
Magomedov misses the shot to the body.
A swing and a miss from Magomedov.
Derek Erwin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Magomedov scores with a jab to the head.
Erwin misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov scores with a hook.
Magomedov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Erwin manages to avoid it.
Erwin throws a hook but Magomedov blocks it.
Erwin throws a jab when Magomedov was well out of range.
Magomedov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Erwin throws out the jab.
Magomedov feints the counter takedown.
Magomedov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Derek Erwin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Erwin lands an overhand right.
Erwin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Magomedov was well out of range. Poor timing from Erwin.
Magomedov jabs Erwin right on the nose. Erwin blinks but takes it well.
Erwin tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Magomedov is able to avoid easily.
Magomedov moves out of range of the strikes.
Magomedov slips under a jab.
That kick from Erwin tenderised Magomedov's leg. Magomedov is trying to keep his angry face on.
Erwin misses the shot to the body.
Erwin lands an overhand right.
Magomedov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Magomedov throws a body shot but no joy.
Magomedov misses with an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Magomedov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov landing a few strikes.
Magomedov moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Erwin is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Magomedov's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Erwin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nice strikes from Magomedov there.

Magomedov wants to work for an arm triangle but Erwin is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Magomedov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Magomedov lands a nice short elbow.
Aly Magomedov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Magomedov drops an elbow to the side of Erwin's head.
Magomedov slips a nice elbow through Erwin's hands, connecting with Erwin's forehead.
Erwin is trying to stand up here but Magomedov is controlling him well.
Magomedov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Magomedov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Erwin is not content to let Magomedov control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Erwin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Erwin trying to control but Magomedov postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Erwin looking for submissions off his back.
Erwin is trying to maintain the position but Magomedov is very close to passing his half guard.
Magomedov is keen to just control but Erwin is a slippery customer.

Erwin actively working from the bottom here.
Magomedov tries to pass to full mount but Erwin defends it.
Magomedov prevents Erwin from improving his position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Magomedov connects with a nice short shot to Erwin's temple.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aly Magomedov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Magomedov ducks under a wild hook from Erwin.
Magomedov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Erwin throws a hook but Magomedov avoids it easily.
Magomedov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Erwin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Magomedov throws a big shot that misses.
Erwin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Magomedov moves away.
Magomedov moves out of range of the strikes.
A punch combination from Erwin misses.
Erwin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Magomedov.
Erwin staying out of range there.
Erwin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Erwin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Magomedov moves away.
Magomedov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Erwin lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magomedov cracks Erwin with a right hand to the side of the head.
Magomedov connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Erwin's hands.
Magomedov slips under a jab from Erwin.
Magomedov slips a jab and a cross from Erwin.
Magomedov has a takedown stuffed.
A telegraphed right hand from Magomedov misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erwin misses with a wild combination.
Erwin loads up on a big right hand but Magomedov slips the punch.
Erwin throws a hook but Magomedov avoids it easily.
A big right from Magomedov misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Erwin. Magomedov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Magomedov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Erwin.
Magomedov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Magomedov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Erwin.
Magomedov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
And Magomedov tries to counter it with a takedown but Erwin pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Magomedov slips under a jab from Erwin.
Erwin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Magomedov throws out the jab.
Magomedov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Magomedov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Erwin. Erwin obviously looking to wear him down.

Magomedov shoots in and bounces Erwin off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Erwin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Magomedov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erwin keeping moving, preventing Magomedov from controlling successfully.
Magomedov scoring with punches to the head and body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Erwin has his foot on Magomedov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Magomedov works his way back into a safe position though.

Erwin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Magomedov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Magomedov passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Magomedov trying to control the action but Erwin is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov just content to control the position.
Erwin bucks up and tries to throw Magomedov off but instead Magomedov has got his back!
Magomedov has good solid back control here.
Magomedov controlling well, preventing Erwin from escaping the position.

Erwin preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Magomedov.
Will Magomedov go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Aly Magomedov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov not allowing Erwin to control his hands.
Erwin trying to get back to his feet but Magomedov is in full control for now.
Magomedov lands a shot to the body.
Erwin is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Magomedov gets his hands free as Erwin looks to control.
Erwin wants to escape the position.
Derek Erwin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Erwin is trying to stand back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Aly Magomedov.
I've got Magomedov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aly Magomedov!
A very excited looking Aly Magomedov made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
The defeated Derek Erwin had this to say: 'I didn't lose I just ran out of time'.