PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rick Haan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mamed Khalidov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Haan
vs
Khalidov

180 cm
22
192 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

189 cm
24
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rick Haan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mamed Khalidov!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shirou Masuda and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khalidov tries to clinch up but Haan circles away and keeps his distance.
Jab, jab by Haan - just one landing.
Haan misses with a left hand

and Khalidov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Haan won't be happy with that.
Khalidov is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Haan will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Haan tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Khalidov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Khalidov decides to stand back up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Haan throws out a loose jab but Khalidov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Khalidov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Khalidov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Haan.
Haan moves in looking to clinch but Khalidov pushes him off.
Haan lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Khalidov has managed to clinch.
Khalidov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Haan just stands there and leans against the cage.
Haan swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Khalidov manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haan throws a looping overhand right but Khalidov ducks down to avoid it.
Haan throws a good cross that connects.

Khalidov moves into the clinch successfully.
Haan works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Khalidov has Haan pressed against the cage, preventing Haan from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Khalidov.
Haan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Khalidov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Haan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Haan jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Khalidov tries to clinch but Haan is having none of it.
Haan throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Khalidov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Khalidov.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Haan is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Haan with the active half guard here but Khalidov passes nicely into side control.
Khalidov in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haan wants to control but Khalidov postures up.
Khalidov gets to mount! Haan was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Khalidov controlling the position easily from mount.
Haan really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Khalidov content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haan is trying to escape the mount.
Haan looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Haan tries to roll but Khalidov sticks to his back.
Haan is trying to get back to his feet but Khalidov has full control of the position and if anything, Haan has just worked his way into a worse spot.
What can Haan do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Haan tries to escape but Khalidov has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Khalidov is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Haan is defending well though. Khalidov let's go of the attempt for now.
I would not like to be Haan right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Khalidov working for a choke but Haan is defending well.
Khalidov looks gassed!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Haan tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Haan really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Haan is working hard here to advance position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Khalidov landing strikes from the mount and Haan is in trouble!
Haan tries to control the position but Khalidov now has his back.
Haan tries to escape but Khalidov has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mamed Khalidov will probably get the nod.
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.

Khalidov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Haan.

Khalidov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Khalidov stands up from Haan's guard - Khalidov perhaps looking for a knockout.
Haan throws a series of punches but Khalidov avoids them all with ease.

Khalidov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Khalidov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Khalidov controlling his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Haan is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidov lands with some strikes.
Khalidov avoids the attempt from Haan to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Haan is trying desperately to improve position.
Haan regains half guard.
Khalidov perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Haan tries to roll over but Khalidov keeps him under control.
Mamed Khalidov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Haan looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haan is trying to get back to full guard.
Haan works his way to full guard. Good work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Haan wants to stand up but Khalidov is controlling him.
Khalidov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Mamed Khalidov has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Khalidov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Haan smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Khalidov sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Khalidov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Haan wants to get back to full guard.

Haan looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Khalidov is looking to advance position but Haan won't allow it.
Khalidov controlling the pace.

Khalidov decides to stand up.
Haan lands a slapping body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haan connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Haan pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Khalidov back to the cage. Haan follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fighters circle momentarily. Haan darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Haan tries to close the distance and clinch but Khalidov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Haan connects with a body shot that sends Khalidov's belly button to the back.
Haan lands a two punch combo.
Khalidov staying out of range there.
Rick Haan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Haan works Khalidov's body with a nice hook.
Haan stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Khalidov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A big right from Khalidov misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Haan scores with a decent looking hook.
Nice uppercut lands for Haan. That snapped Khalidov's head back.
Haan bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Mamed Khalidov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Haan cracks Khalidov with a good jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rick Haan will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Khalidov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Haan misses with a hook

and Khalidov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Khalidov.
Khalidov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Khalidov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Haan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Khalidov has managed to get both his arms back between Haan's legs - danger averted.
Khalidov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Haan's head.

Haan is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but Khalidov frees his head nicely. Oh but Haan has switched to an armbar! Khalidov is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Rick Haan!