PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Navid Khurshid (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Lestat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Lestat is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Khurshid
vs
Lestat

185 cm
22
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

200 cm
22
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Navid Khurshid!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Lestat!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Nard Betker and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lestat shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Khurshid as he avoids it easily.

Lestat rushes Khurshid and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Khurshid tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

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

Lestat changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Khurshid looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Lestat stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Lestat shoots for a takedown but Khurshid saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Khurshid circles away from the clinch attempt.
A slapping leg kick lands for Khurshid.
Lestat closes the distance and clinches up with Khurshid, looking for a takedown. Lestat pushes Khurshid against the cage but Khurshid circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Navid Khurshid has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Lestat.
Khurshid scores with a kick to the midsection.
Lestat looks gassed!
Khurshid tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Khurshid scores with a leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Khurshid fails with an attempt to clinch.
Khurshid circles away from the clinch attempt.
Khurshid tries to clinch up but Lestat circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lestat 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.
Lestat trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lestat trying to control the position from guard on top but Khurshid is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Khurshid wants to stand but Lestat is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lestat throwing strikes but missing.
Khurshid is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lestat is controlling him.
Lestat pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Khurshid is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khurshid is looking to stand up but Lestat isn't so interested in that idea.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Lestat is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lestat looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Khurshid is looking to clinch.
Khurshid lands a nice leg kick that just misses Lestat's sensitive parts.
John Lestat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Khurshid throws a head kick that half lands.
Lestat shoots in for a takedown but Khurshid shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khurshid wants to clinch

and Lestat counters with a single leg into guard. Khurshid didn't expect that.
Khurshid is looking to stand up but Lestat isn't so interested in that idea.
Lestat wants to control from the top but Khurshid keeps moving.
Lestat trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lestat trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Khurshid keeping moving, preventing Lestat from controlling successfully.
Lestat passes Khurshid's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Khurshid might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khurshid tries to kick Lestat off but Lestat keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Khurshid is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lestat shoots in but Khurshid avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lestat wants to clinch.

Lestat shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Khurshid manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lestat pushes down on Khurshid's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Lestat will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lestat clinches with his opponent.
Khurshid is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lestat is defending well for now.
Khurshid tries to land a knee to the head but Lestat blocks with his arms.
Khurshid missing with knees to the body.
Khurshid with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Lestat goes for a takedown in the clinch but Khurshid prevents it.
Khurshid missing with knees to the body.

Lestat breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lestat shoots for a double leg takedown but Khurshid sprawls well. He's pushed Lestat's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lestat is defended easily by Khurshid.
Navid Khurshid has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Lestat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lestat tries a head kick but it misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Khurshid tries to clinch but Lestat moves away

and Lestat moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lestat tries to pull guard but Khurshid won't allow it.
Lestat prevents Khurshid from breaking the clinch.
Khurshid with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lestat controlling the action here for a moment.
Lestat tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Khurshid just stands there and leans against the cage.

Lestat breaks from the clinch.
Lestat cracks Khurshid with a right hand to the side of the head.
Lestat ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Khurshid moves away.
Navid Khurshid is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Khurshid leaves Lestat with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Lestat clinches up against the cage.
Lestat managing to block the knees to the body from Khurshid.

Lestat pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown by Lestat or perhaps it was just good defense by Khurshid which made him look bad.
Lestat blocks a head kick by Khurshid.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khurshid clobbers Lestat with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Lestat shoots in looking for a takedown. Khurshid tries to sprawl out of it but Lestat keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Khurshid manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Lestat closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Lestat trying to control the position but Khurshid is working away.
Lestat lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Khurshid down.
Khurshid takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khurshid takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Khurshid is trying to get back to his feet.
Lestat scoring with punches and elbows.
Lestat trying to control the position but Khurshid is working away.

Lestat tries for a kimura but Khurshid is defending well.
Lestat lands a decent elbow from side control.
Lestat creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lestat controlling the position from side mount.

Lestat working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Lestat decides to stand up, so the ref orders Khurshid to his feet.
Khurshid keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lestat fails to land the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Lestat showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Khurshid tries to clinch up.
Khurshid feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Lestat's calf.
Lestat fails in his attempt to clinch.

Lestat shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Lestat is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Khurshid is surviving well by controlling Lestat's body position as best he can.
Khurshid is trying to stand up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lestat 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.
Lestat tries to control but Khurshid wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lestat throws some wild stikes that Khurshid manages to avoid easily.
Lestat wants to control the pace but Khurshid is squirming around nicely.
John Lestat has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lestat with good strikes from the mount here!
Khurshid is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Lestat pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Lestat cracks Khurshid with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Lestat is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Khurshid can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Lestat lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Khurshid hang on?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Lestat cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Lestat looking to finish Khurshid with some ground and pound. This is bad for Khurshid!

Lestat jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Khurshid manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Lestat lands an elbow.

Lestat tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Khurshid is not content to let Lestat control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khurshid seems a little lost for a moment, as Lestat dominates the positioning.
Let's hope that Lestat 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.

Lestat thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lestat wants to control but Khurshid is keeping him busy.
Navid Khurshid has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lestat cracks Khurshid with a big elbow.
Lestat has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lestat working the ground and pound.
Lestat landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Lestat lands some shots froms side control.
Lestat working the head and body with strikes.
Khurshid wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Lestat comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lestat 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Lestat!