PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Khalid Magomedov (ranked 1662 p4p, 1135 weight class) and Tatu Lehto (ranked 225 p4p, 161 weight class). Magomedov comes to the cage accompanied by SABINA feat. Timaro - Dagestan. Tatu Lehto is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Magomedov
vs
Lehto

178 cm
26
183
4 - 2 - 0

180 cm
31
180
13 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Diamond Dogs Outfitters

Brooklyn Apothecary

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Khalid Magomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tatu Lehto!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Paul Aken and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lehto throws a head kick that misses

and Magomedov counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Lehto!
Magomedov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Lehto really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Magomedov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lehto dodges the ground and pound from Magomedov.
Sloppy strikes there by Magomedov.
Magomedov misses with the ground and pound.
Magomedov throws an elbow but Lehto slips to the side and avoids it well.
Magomedov has knee on belly and moves into mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magomedov thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Magomedov with good strikes from the mount here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov unloads with some shots from mount but Lehto bucks and avoids them well.
Lehto'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.
Magomedov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Magomedov throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Magomedov looking for a guillotine from mount but Lehto is having none of it.
Magomedov controlling from mount.
Magomedov 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lehto avoids a series of strikes thrown by Magomedov.
Magomedov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Magomedov controlling from the full mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Magomedov scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Lehto?
Magomedov controlling the pace for now.
Magomedov lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lehto is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Magomedov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Magomedov looking to ground and pound but Lehto is blocking nicely.
Magomedov wants to control the pace but Lehto is squirming around nicely.
Lehto is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Magomedov scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Magomedov lands a big shot there that rocks Lehto but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lehto is in a horrible position here. Magomedov smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Lehto is rocked!

Magomedov moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Lehto has worked his arm free - good work by Lehto!
Magomedov lands a decent elbow from side control.
Magomedov is looking to take a break and control but Lehto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The strikes coming from Magomedov are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Khalid Magomedov dominated that 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.

Lehto throws a head kick that misses.
Magomedov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lehto throws a hook but Magomedov blocks it.
Lehto lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Magomedov blocks a leg kick.
Magomedov half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Nice shot lands for Lehto.
Lehto throws a series of punches but Magomedov moves out of range.
Magomedov drops down looking for a counter takedown but Lehto sprawls and moves away.
A head kick by Lehto misses

and Magomedov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Magomedov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lehto wants to get back to his feet but Magomedov passes into half guard.
Khalid Magomedov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Magomedov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lehto's head.
Magomedov throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Lehto to regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've been hearing that Magomedov has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Lehto wants to get back to his feet but Magomedov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Lehto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Magomedov trying to control the position from guard on top but Lehto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lehto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Magomedov prevents Lehto from getting back to his feet.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Magomedov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Magomedov trying to control but Lehto is working from the bottom.
Magomedov works over Lehto with some ground and pound from guard.
Magomedov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Lehto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Lehto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Magomedov moves out of range of the strikes.
Magomedov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Lehto avoids the head kick by Magomedov.
Lehto throws a sloppy head kick and Magomedov moves out of range easily.
Lehto gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Magomedov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lehto walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Lehto swinging wildly here.
Lehto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lehto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lehto tries a low kick but Magomedov avoids it.
Magomedov scores with a nice strike.
Magomedov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Magomedov looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Lehto throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Magomedov misses with a low kick.
Lehto misses with a few strikes there.
Magomedov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Magomedov.
Lehto with a nice calf kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Lehto takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Magomedov tests Lehto's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lehto looks to throw the jab but Magomedov is out of range.
Magomedov feinted with a counter takedown.
Magomedov dives in and grabs Lehto's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lehto pushes down on Magomedov's head and hops out.
A slow jab from Magomedov misses its intended target.
Lehto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Magomedov.
Lehto throws a sloppy head kick

and Magomedov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Magomedov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Magomedov has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Magomedov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Khalid Magomedov dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Lehto misses with a head kick.
Sloppy strikes from Lehto. Those never looked like landing.
Lehto throws a sloppy head kick

and Magomedov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Magomedov is trying to control. Lehto wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Magomedov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Magomedov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Magomedov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lehto defending well though.

Magomedov is working for a submission of some sort.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lehto is not content to let Magomedov control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Magomedov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Magomedov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lehto can do to turn this around?
Magomedov working the head and body with strikes.
Lehto is trying to stand up here but Magomedov is controlling him well.
Lehto is not content to let Magomedov control the position.
Tatu Lehto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two 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.
Lehto regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Magomedov.
Magomedov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Magomedov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Magomedov landing with the ground and pound.
Magomedov trying to control but Lehto is working from the bottom.
Lehto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov scores with a decent looking hook.
Magomedov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Lehto has time to react.
Lehto swinging wildly here.
Lehto listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Magomedov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lehto is fending him off so far but Magomedov persists. Nope, Lehto circles away and we're back to standing.
Tatu Lehto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lehto smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Some wild striking there from Lehto.
A big right from Lehto misses.
Magomedov blocks a head kick by Lehto.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov throws a quick inside leg kick.
Lehto misses with a lunging right hand

and Magomedov counters with a takedown into side control.
Lehto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Magomedov landing a few strikes.
Magomedov in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Lehto is being controlled here.
Magomedov misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Lehto throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Lehto tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Magomedov looking to control but Lehto is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khalid Magomedov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Magomedov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khalid Magomedov!
A very excited looking Khalid 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.