PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Khalifman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rudy Fernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Khalifman might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Ringo Mogire Beam! (ZSZS OVA2 Ver.). Fernandez comes into a darkened arena with his song building. God of Hell Fire kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Khalifman
vs
Fernandez

185 cm
25
190 lbs
19 - 1 - 1

175 cm
24
194 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Powerful

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 19 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Khalifman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rudy Fernandez!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Robert Twigg and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khalifman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fernandez.
A low kick from Khalifman misses
and Khalifman takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Khalifman throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Fernandez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Khalifman.
Khalifman throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nice body kick there by Khalifman.
Khalifman throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Khalifman fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Fernandez is out of range.
Khalifman fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Fernandez is out of range.
A low kick from Khalifman misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Fernandez takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Fernandez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Khalifman thows a leg kick but Fernandez checks it
and Fernandez counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Khalifman thinking.
Khalifman walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Fernandez checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Khalifman throws a leg kick
and Fernandez counters with a thumping low kick.
Fernandez takes a jab right on the kisser.
Khalifman shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Khalifman keeps the fight on the outside.

Fernandez shoots in and gets a takedown into Khalifman's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalifman keeping moving, preventing Fernandez from controlling successfully.
Khalifman has control of Fernandez's left arm, preventing Fernandez from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Khalifman 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.
Khalifman knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fernandez on the ground.
Khalifman is working hard here to advance position.
Khalifman is trying to keep Fernandez in close.

Fernandez drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Khalifman dives on top into guard.
Khalifman stays in close to Fernandez's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Fernandez trying to control the position.
Khalifman won't allow Fernandez to sweep him here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Khalifman throws a leg kick

and Fernandez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Khalifman's guard now.
Fernandez wants to control from the top but Khalifman keeps moving.
Khalifman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fernandez is one step ahead there.
Fernandez wants to pass the guard but Khalifman is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalifman is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Fernandez trying to control the position from guard on top but Khalifman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fernandez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Khalifman working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Fernandez stands and throws Khalifman's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Fernandez grinds an elbow into Khalifman's temple.
Khalifman is trying to improve his position.
Khalifman is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Fernandez's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Fernandez seems content to control.
Fernandez tries to pass to full mount but Khalifman defends it.
Fernandez scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Fernandez moves into full mount! Khalifman won't be happy about that!

Fernandez swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Khalifman is now in Fernandez's guard. A big mistake from Fernandez there, giving up the dominant position!
Fernandez looking for a sweep. Not yet Fernandez, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Fernandez tries to close the distance and clinch but Khalifman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Khalifman throws a leg kick
and Fernandez makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Khalifman throws a leg kick
and Fernandez counters with a low kick, right behind Khalifman 's knee.
Khalifman throws a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Khalifman throws a leg kick
and Fernandez counters with a thumping low kick.
A low kick from Khalifman is predictable there

and Fernandez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Fernandez preventing the sweep.
Fernandez slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Khalifman trying to control the position.
Fernandez is stalling in the full guard.
Khalifman tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandez engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Rudy Fernandez wasn't active enough on the ground.
Khalifman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Khalifman finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Khalifman slips under a jab from Fernandez.
A thudding body kick lands there by Khalifman!
Khalifman throws a push kick but Fernandez slaps the foot to one side.
Fernandez tries to close the distance and clinch but Khalifman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Khalifman throws a right hand that misses

and Fernandez counters by clinching up.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Khalifman stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Khalifman looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Khalifman misses with a body punch.
Fernandez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Khalifman stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khalifman trying to stall but Fernandez improves his position.
Khalifman tries a body shot but Fernandez blocks it.
Khalifman lands a body punch.
Fernandez lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Khalifman wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Fernandez just leaning against Khalifman, taking a breather.
A right handed body shot lands from Khalifman.
Fernandez stalling in the clinch but Khalifman improves position.
Khalifman manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Khalifman.
Fernandez blocks a body shot from Khalifman.
A short right from Fernandez.
Khalifman misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Khalifman misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Khalifman is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Fernandez is keeping busy.
Fernandez unloads a knee to the mid-section. Khalifman lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Nice body punch from Khalifman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez misses with a knee to the head.
Khalifman cracks Fernandez with a nice body shot.
Khalifman misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Khalifman slowing the pace effectively.
Stalling in the clinch from Fernandez.
Fernandez blocks a body shot from Khalifman.
Fernandez throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Fernandez is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Khalifman working hard to break the clinch.
Fernandez swings wildly with an uppercut but Khalifman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Khalifman tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A right handed body shot lands from Fernandez.
Khalifman cracks Fernandez with a nice body shot.

Khalifman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alexander Khalifman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fernandez blocks a low kick nicely.
Fernandez avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Nice shot by Fernandez.
Khalifman misses the body punch

and Fernandez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Khalifman's head.
Khalifman is controlling Fernandez's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Fernandez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Khalifman is just riding it out for now. Fernandez eventually gives up the hold.
Fernandez wants to take a breather but Khalifman is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fernandez is looking to advance position but Khalifman won't allow it.
Fernandez is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rudy Fernandez 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!

Khalifman thows a leg kick but Fernandez checks it
and Khalifman takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Khalifman misses with a leg kick.

Fernandez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Khalifman's guard.
Khalifman tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Fernandez trying to control the position from guard on top but Khalifman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Khalifman 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.
Fernandez trying to control but Khalifman is working from the bottom.
Fernandez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Khalifman kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Khalifman is looking to sweep but instead, Fernandez has passed into half guard.
Fernandez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fernandez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Khalifman defends it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fernandez trying to control the action but Khalifman is working from the bottom.
Khalifman is looking for a sweep. Fernandez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Khalifman has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Fernandez is working away from the top position though.
Fernandez wants to take a breather but Khalifman is having none of it.
Fernandez working over Khalifman with some ground and pound. Khalifman looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Fernandez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rudy Fernandez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Khalifman tries to roll over but Fernandez keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Fernandez is looking to take a break and control but Khalifman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fernandez performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Khalifman wants to get back to full guard.
Fernandez stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rudy Fernandez was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Khalifman throws a leg kick
and Fernandez counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Khalifman thinking.
A low kick from Khalifman misses
and Fernandez counters with a thumping low kick.
Alexander Khalifman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez throws a sloppy head kick and Khalifman moves out of range easily.

Fernandez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Khalifman!
Khalifman wants to control but Fernandez is having none of it.
Fernandez landing strikes from the mount.
Fernandez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Fernandez punishing his opponent with strikes.
Khalifman tries to hold on but Fernandez pushes him away.
Fernandez with good strikes from the mount here!
The referee warns Khalifman that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Khalifman is working to get back to half guard.
Fernandez content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fernandez is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Khalifman can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Fernandez looking to secure an arm triangle but Khalifman defends it well.
Fernandez trying to control but Khalifman is having none of it.
Khalifman is in all sorts of trouble here.
Khalifman manages to regain half guard. Good work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rudy Fernandez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Fernandez 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rudy Fernandez!