PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Azamat Alikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucas Stafiano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Azamat Alikov has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Alikov
vs
Stafiano

187 cm
18
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
152 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Azamat Alikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lucas Stafiano!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stafiano is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alikov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stafiano manages to avoid it.

Stafiano moves into range and clinches up with Alikov.
A head punch on the inside from Alikov fails to land.
Stafiano lands a body punch in the clinch.
Alikov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Stafiano is defending well.
Stafiano lands a shoulder strike.
Stafiano struggles to land a body shot inside as Alikov controls his hands.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Alikov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Stafiano stalls.
Still in the clinch, Stafiano scores with a nice short uppercut.
Stafiano is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Stafiano.
Alikov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Azamat Alikov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alikov is trying to pull guard but Stafiano has him pressed against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Stafiano - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Alikov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Lucas Stafiano.
Alikov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stafiano was well out of range. Poor timing from Alikov.
Stafiano slips under a jab from Alikov.

Stafiano rushes Alikov and presses him up against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Stafiano scores with a nice short uppercut.
Stafiano slows down the pace here.
Stafiano has Alikov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Alikov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Stafiano is pressed up against the cage. Alikov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Stafiano down to the mat. Stafiano avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Alikov cracks Stafiano with a good jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Alikov. Stafiano does a little dance to reset his feet.

Stafiano rushes Alikov and presses him up against the cage.
Alikov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Stafiano fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Stafiano keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lucas Stafiano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alikov misses with a wild body shot.
Alikov lands with a straight right. Stafiano didn't see that one coming.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Stafiano darts in and clinches Alikov up against the cage.
Stafiano working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Stafiano lands a body punch in the clinch.
Stafiano lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Alikov backwards.
Stafiano struggles to land a body shot inside as Alikov controls his hands.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Stafiano takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Alikov tries to pull guard but Stafiano won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alikov is trying to pull guard but Stafiano has him pressed against the cage.
Alikov tries to pull guard but Stafiano forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Stafiano lands a nice shot to the body.
Stafiano throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Alikovs head.

Stafiano lands a takedown into guard.
Stafiano is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Lucas Stafiano wasn't active enough on the ground.
Alikov scores with a nice head shot.
Alikov lands a jab to the nose.
Alikov looks to land a left hand but Stafiano moved out of range nicely.
Stafiano chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Alikov can pounce on him.
Alikov scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alikov lands with a thumping leg kick.

Stafiano pushes Alikov up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Stafiano.
Stafiano lands with a left to the head.
Stafiano lands an uppercut.
Stafiano lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Alikov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Alikov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Stafiano presses Alikov against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Stafiano lands with a short shot to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Stafiano creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Alikov tries to break the clinch but Stafiano is controlling the position.
Stafiano tries to work over Alikov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Stafiano scores with a shot to the side of Alikov's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alikov is trying to break the clinch but Stafiano has him pressed against the cage.
Stafiano scores with a hook to the body.
Stafiano misses with a hook from the clinch.
Alikov is trying to break the clinch but Stafiano has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucas Stafiano dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Alikov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Stafiano's sensitive parts.
Alikov is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Alikov jabs Stafiano to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Alikov throws a shot from downtown. Stafiano moves away and avoids it.
Stafiano has a takedown stuffed.
Alikov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Alikov misses with a body shot.

Stafiano has taken the fight to the clinch.
Stafiano lands a left hand.
Stafiano tries to work over Alikov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Stafiano lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Stafiano - that landed with a thud.
Alikov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A nice left hand lands by Stafiano.
Stafiano lands with a light punch inside.
Alikov jumps guard but Stafiano stands there with Alikov around his waist. Alikov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stafiano lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Alikov backwards.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Alikov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alikov punishes Stafiano's body with a nice straight punch.
Alikov throws a hook but Stafiano blocks it.
Stafiano tries to close the distance and clinch but Alikov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Alikov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Lucas Stafiano is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stafiano ducks under a wild hook from Alikov.

Stafiano moves into the clinch successfully.
Stafiano swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Alikov tries to work over Stafiano's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A right handed body shot lands from Stafiano.
Stafiano doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Stafiano fails to land.
Stafiano pushes Alikov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Stafiano lands with a right to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stafiano doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Stafiano lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Stafiano working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Alikov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Azamat Alikov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alikov is trying to stall.
Stafiano stops a takedown attempt from Alikov.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stafiano is looking to take this one to the mat.
Stafiano is breathing heavily.
Alikov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stafiano smiles and moves away.
Stafiano tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stafiano fails with an attempt to clinch.
Alikov takes a swing at Stafiano's ribcage but misses.
Stafiano doesn't manage to clinch there - Alikov circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alikov looks to score with a jab to the body but Stafiano is just out of range.
Azamat Alikov is winning the standup battle so far.
Alikov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stafiano is looking to clinch but Alikov is avoiding it.
Azamat Alikov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stafiano moves in looking to clinch but Alikov pushes him off.
Alikov lands a jab to Stafiano's midsection.
Alikov scores with a sloppy right hand. Stafiano should have avoided that one.
Stafiano tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alikov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stafiano tries to clinch but Alikov moves out of range.
Stafiano walks into a jab.
Stafiano wants to clinch up but Alikov keeps it at a distance.
Stafiano is looking to clinch.
Alikov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Alikov digs a good hook to Stafiano's body.
Alikov scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Alikov throws a series of punches but Stafiano moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stafiano tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stafiano keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Alikov bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Stafiano displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Alikov throws out the jab.
Stafiano tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Alikov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Alikov is looking to wear down Stafiano with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A jab from Alikov misses.
Stafiano is looking to clinch but Alikov is avoiding it.
Stafiano tries to clinch but Alikov moves out of range.
A slow jab from Alikov misses its intended target.
Stafiano is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Stafiano closes the distance and pushes Alikov back into the cage.
Lucas Stafiano seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stafiano lands with a light punch inside.
Stafiano working some nice short punches in the clinch.
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 Azamat Alikov 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!

Stafiano ducks under a wild hook from Alikov.
Alikov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Stafiano.
Stafiano keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Alikov.

Stafiano has Alikov up against the cage in a clinch.
Alikov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Stafiano is trying to drag Alikov to the mat but Alikov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Stafiano lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Stafiano stops a takedown attempt from Alikov.
Stafiano lands a left hand.
Stafiano lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Stafiano lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Stafiano avoiding damage as Alikov throws knees to the body.
Stafiano lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Stafiano creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Stafiano presses Alikov against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Alikov fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Azamat Alikov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stafiano lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Stafiano prevents a takedown attempt there.
Alikov tries to break free but Stafiano pushes him back against the cage.
Alikov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Alikov wants to get back to striking at distance but Stafiano won't allow it.
A short right from Stafiano.
Alikov tries a body shot but Stafiano blocks it.
A frustrated look appears on Alikov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Alikov trying to land knees to the body.
Stafiano lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Alikov backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stafiano lands a right hand that snaps the head of Alikov backwards.
Stafiano softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Alikov wants to take the fight to the mat but Stafiano manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Stafiano.
Alikov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Alikov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Stafiano digs a right hand into Alikov's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Alikov's gas tank.

Stafiano jumps guard.
Stafiano trying to control the position here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Alikov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stafiano moves away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alikov swats away the attempt to clinch by Stafiano.
Stafiano tries to clinch but Alikov is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stafiano is looking to clinch but Alikov is avoiding it.

Stafiano forces Alikov back against the cage and clinches.
Alikov is trying to pull guard but Stafiano has him pressed against the cage.
Stafiano keeps control of Alikov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stafiano lands with a right to the head.
Stafiano lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A nice left hand lands by Stafiano.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Stafiano.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Stafiano.
Alikov is looking to break free of the clinch but Stafiano has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stafiano scores with a shot to the side of Alikov's head.
Stafiano cracks Alikov with a nice body shot.
Stafiano works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Stafiano has a couple of punches blocked by Alikov.
Stafiano lands a right hand.
Stafiano lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alikov.
Alikov wants to break free but Stafiano has control.
Alikov takes a shot to the head.
Stafiano lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Alikov has had enough of the clinch but Stafiano keeps him there for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alikov is working for takedown but Stafiano is calmly controlling the position for now.
Alikov looking to slow down the pace here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Stafiano.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lucas Stafiano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Stafiano has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lucas Stafiano!
During a confident post fight interview, Lucas Stafiano thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.