PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kaleb Rasheed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hamid Magomedov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rasheed's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, In the air tonight. Kaleb Rasheed has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Rasheed
vs
Magomedov

180 cm
22
205 lbs
3 - 11 - 0

178 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kaleb Rasheed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hamid Magomedov!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Viktor Lagutenko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rasheed misses with a double jab.
Magomedov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rasheed scores with a jab to the head.
Magomedov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Magomedov wants to clinch up but Rasheed keeps it at a distance.
Rasheed goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Magomedov cracks a nice hook into Rasheed's ribs.
Rasheed is looking to chop away at Magomedov's legs.
A nice combination there by Magomedov.

Magomedov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rasheed being controlled here, momentarily.
Rasheed could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Magomedov wants to stand and escape but instead Rasheed has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Magomedov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasheed wants to control from the top but Magomedov keeps moving.
Magomedov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rasheed prevents Magomedov from getting back to his feet.

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.
Rasheed preventing the sweep.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Magomedov throws a head kick that misses.
Rasheed takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Magomedov circles away from the clinch attempt
and Magomedov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rasheed is breathing heavily.
Rasheed goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Rasheed looks to throw the jab but Magomedov is out of range.
Magomedov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rasheed plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A head kick misses from Magomedov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Magomedov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rasheed's guard.

Rasheed looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Magomedov trying to control the position from guard on top but Rasheed is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Magomedov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Magomedov trying to control the position from guard on top but Rasheed is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov pushing down on Rasheed's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Magomedov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Magomedov is looking for a kimura but Rasheed is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Magomedov to get the leverage.
Magomedov stalling away here and it's allowed Rasheed to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Magomedov trying to control but Rasheed is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hamid Magomedov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Magomedov throws a right and a left that Rasheed avoids nicely.
Rasheed lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Rasheed looks for the body kick but Magomedov saw that one coming.
Rasheed misses with a double jab
and Magomedov counters with a three punch combo that has Rasheed backing up. Rasheed nods at Magomedov to acknowledge the strikes.
Magomedov throws a head kick that Rasheed semi-blocks.
Magomedov tries a head kick but it misses.
Rasheed throws a head kick that misses
and Magomedov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Magomedov plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Magomedov scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Rasheed misses with a leg kick
and Magomedov counters with a big head kick but Rasheed shrugs it off.
Magomedov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rasheed has time to react.
Rasheed swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Magomedov counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rasheed!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Magomedov tries to control but Rasheed wriggling away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasheed tries to reverse the position but Magomedov maintains control.
Magomedov is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rasheed can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Magomedov with shots to the head and body - Rasheed looks very uncomfortable down there.
Magomedov tries to control but Rasheed wriggling away.
Rasheed is working to get back to half guard.

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.
Rasheed wants to control but Magomedov is having none of it.
A nice elbow there by Magomedov.
Magomedov lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rasheed hang on?
Magomedov with the ground and pound from mount.
Rasheed avoids a series of strikes thrown by Magomedov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rasheed is in a horrible position here. Magomedov smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Magomedov goes for an armbar but Rasheed turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Rasheed.

Magomedov scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rasheed pivots, looking for a leg kick but Magomedov is out of range and Rasheed settles back down.
A good leg kick by Magomedov.

Magomedov closes the distance and clinches.
Rasheed tries to land a knee to the head but Magomedov blocks with his arms.

Magomedov manages to break the clinch.
Magomedov throws a head kick that half lands.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Magomedov.
Rasheed is trying to buck Magomedov off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hamid Magomedov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Magomedov takes one on the button.
Magomedov lands a head kick. Rasheed smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Magomedov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Magomedov throws a head kick that misses.
Kaleb Rasheed seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Magomedov looks to score with a jab to the body but Rasheed is just out of range.
Rasheed clinches but Magomedov breaks the clinch
and Magomedov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rasheed avoids the body shot from Magomedov.
Rasheed throws out a loose jab but Magomedov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rasheed blocks a head kick by Magomedov.
Magomedov tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Magomedov is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Rasheed rather than just go for the knockout.
Magomedov misses with a wild combination.
Rasheed thows a leg kick but Magomedov checks it

and Magomedov counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rasheed!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Magomedov looking to land elbow strikes but Rasheed uses the position to regain half guard.
Magomedov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rasheed is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Magomedov pulls his head out easily.
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 lands strikes from half guard.
Magomedov thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rasheed to regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Magomedov trying to control the position from guard on top but Rasheed is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Magomedov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Rasheed on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Rasheed throws a front kick aimed at Magomedov's knee but Magomedov avoids it well.
Magomedov tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick by Rasheed misses
and Magomedov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rasheed tried to score with a low kick but Magomedov checks it.
Rasheed throws a head kick that half lands.
Magomedov misses with a few strikes there.
Magomedov lands with a shot to the body.
Kaleb Rasheed is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Magomedov tries a head kick but it misses.
Rasheed throws a solid leg kick but Magomedov takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Rasheed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Magomedov lands a nice looking body shot.
An inside leg kick lands from Magomedov.
Rasheed avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Magomedov throws a series of punches but Rasheed avoids them all with ease.
Magomedov smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Rasheed throws a sloppy head kick and Magomedov moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from Magomedov.
Magomedov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Magomedov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
An inside leg kick lands from Rasheed.
Magomedov lands with a nice combination. Rasheed backs away looking to recover.
Rasheed throws a head kick but Magomedov moves out of range.
A low kick from Rasheed misses

and Magomedov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rasheed won't be happy with that.
Rasheed manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov trying to control but Rasheed postures up.
Magomedov tries to kick Rasheed off in order to stand up. Rasheed Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Magomedov is trying to work for a sweep but Rasheed has mounted him!
Hamid Magomedov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Magomedov tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hamid Magomedov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Magomedov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hamid Magomedov!