PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Saifullah Gaziev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danna Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ali has chosen Freestyle as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Gaziev
vs
Ali

180 cm
23
164 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

185 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Saifullah Gaziev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Danna Ali!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gaziev blocks a low kick nicely.

Ali throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gaziev was covering up waiting for the punch and Ali finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Gaziev is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ali trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gaziev preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ali won't allow Gaziev to get back to his feet.
Ali controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ali wants to get up but he can't break Gaziev's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaziev 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.
Ali controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Danna Ali.

Ali closes the distance and pushes Gaziev back into the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaziev tries to throw a body punch but Ali avoids it by throwing Gaziev back against the ropes.
Gaziev is looking for a takedown.

Gaziev tightens his grip and picks Ali up, before dumping him to the ground. Ali manages to land in guard.
Ali wants to stand up but Gaziev is controlling him.
Gaziev pushing down on Ali's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Gaziev is trying to control. Ali wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ali is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaziev trying to control from half guard but Ali is working away.
Ali is looking to improve his position.
Ali pushes Gaziev off but Gaziev dives into side control.

Gaziev tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gaziev working the strikes but Ali uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali is trying to control but Gaziev manages to pass to mount!
Gaziev landing shots from mount.

Gaziev looking to secure an arm triangle but Ali defends it well.
Gaziev landing shots from mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ali tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saifullah Gaziev dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gaziev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ali swivels and escapes.
Danna Ali seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ali gets a clinch.
Ali prevents the takedown attempt.
Ali is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gaziev is keeping busy.
Gaziev misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Gaziev is working on a single leg takedown against the ropes. Ali can't fight it off and eventually Gaziev manages to take the fight to the floor. Ali looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Ali looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali trying to keep a closed guard but Gaziev is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Gaziev is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gaziev advances position into side control!
Ali gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gaziev is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ali doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gaziev.
Gaziev is looking to take a break and control but Ali is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ali regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaziev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ali swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ali trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Gaziev sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ali is striking but Gaziev is not phased and passes to half guard.
Gaziev is keen to just control but Ali is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali wants to get back to full guard.
Gaziev uses his free foot to push down on Ali's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Ali.
Ali is trying to escape the mount.
Gaziev wants to control the pace but Ali is squirming around nicely.
Gaziev pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Gaziev prevents Ali from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saifullah Gaziev dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Ali shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gaziev but Gaziev pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gaziev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Ali paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gaziev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ali is fending him off so far but Gaziev persists. Nope, Ali circles away and we're back to standing.

Gaziev drives through with a takedown into Ali's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Gaziev trying to control but Ali is working from the bottom.
Ali throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Ali keeping full guard, as Gaziev tries to pass.
Ali wants to hit a switch here but Gaziev passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Ali there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaziev avoids the attempt from Ali to control.

Ali defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Gaziev.

Gaziev working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaziev breaks from Ali's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Ali is desperately trying to improve his position but Gaziev has a good base and remains in mount.
Gaziev lands a heavy elbow.
Ali is desperately trying to improve his position but Gaziev has a good base and remains in mount.
Gaziev controlling from the full mount.
Gaziev lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaziev takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Gaziev working the ground and pound effectively.
Ali really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ali sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Gaziev has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

Gaziev is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Ali is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Saifullah Gaziev!
Saifullah Gaziev thanked the fans post fight for their support.