PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aslambek Azhiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Derrick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Azhiev
vs
Derrick

185 cm
25
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
186 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aslambek Azhiev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Derrick!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azhiev misses with a head kick.
Azhiev shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Derrick defends it nicely.
Derrick goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Derrick.
Azhiev wants to clinch

and Derrick moves into the clinch.
Derrick has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Azhiev is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Azhiev with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Derrick tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Azhiev's elbow.
Azhiev will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Derrick up against the cage.
Derrick fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Aslambek Azhiev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Derrick.
Derrick stalling the fight.
Derrick looking to stall.
Azhiev tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhiev landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
A knee to the head by Azhiev.
Azhiev tries to land a knee to the head but Derrick blocks with his arms.
Azhiev dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Azhiev lands a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Azhiev obliges.
Derrick tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Derrick is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Azhiev effectively controlling the action here.
Azhiev is pressed up against the cage. Derrick has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Azhiev down to the mat. Azhiev avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Derrick closes the distance and clinches up with Azhiev, looking for a takedown. Derrick pushes Azhiev against the cage but Azhiev circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Derrick looks gassed!
Azhiev is looking to clinch but Derrick is avoiding it.

Azhiev drives through and clinches with Derrick against the cage.
Azhiev throws a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A knee to the head by Azhiev.
Azhiev will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Derrick up against the cage.
Azhiev avoids the elbow strike from Derrick, against the cage.
Derrick misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Azhiev misses with a knee strike.
Azhiev controlling the action here for a moment.
Derrick has Azhiev pressed against the cage.
Azhiev leaning his opponent against the cage.
Derrick on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Azhiev throws a knee to the head but misses.
Derrick wants to break free but Azhiev has control.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Azhiev.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Derrick is working for takedown but Azhiev is calmly controlling the position for now.
Derrick is trying to break the clinch but Azhiev has him pressed against the cage.
Azhiev slows down the pace here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Aslambek Azhiev.
Azhiev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Derrick shoots for a takedown but Azhiev saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Aslambek Azhiev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Derrick fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Azhiev avoids it really well and circles away.
Azhiev tries to clinch up
and Derrick counters with a one-two to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Derrick keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aslambek Azhiev dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Azhiev doesn't manage to clinch there - Derrick circles away.
Azhiev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Derrick swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Azhiev tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Derrick counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Azhiev is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Azhiev tries to clinch up.
Derrick keeps the fight on the outside.

Derrick clinches up against the cage.
Derrick has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Azhiev leaning his opponent against the cage.
Azhiev using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Derrick is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Azhiev to keep the fight standing.
Azhiev unloads a knee to the mid-section. Derrick lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Derrick is breathing heavily.
Derrick wants to take the fight to the mat but Azhiev manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Derrick tries to pull guard but Azhiev forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Aslambek Azhiev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Derrick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Derrick letting Azhiev take a breather here.
Aslambek Azhiev has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Azhiev throws a knee to the head but misses.
Azhiev misses with a knee strike.
Derrick takes a knee to the side of the body.
Azhiev tries a knee to the head but Derrick blocks it.
Derrick takes a knee right on the jaw!
Derrick takes a knee right on the jaw!
Azhiev stalling the fight.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Azhiev landing knees to the head.
Azhiev controlling the action here for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Derrick blocks it with crossed arms.
Azhiev gets underhooks to prevent Derrick's takedown attempt.
Azhiev working Derrick over with knees to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Azhiev lands a good knee to the midsection. Derrick won't want to take too many of those.
Azhiev connects with a knee to the head.
Azhiev content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Azhiev lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Azhiev content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Azhiev lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Azhiev scores with a knee to the head.
Derrick letting Azhiev take a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Derrick's defenses.
Knees to the body from Azhiev.
Derrick is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Azhiev to keep the fight standing.
Derrick throws an elbow but it misses.
Azhiev working Derrick over with knees to the body.
Azhiev dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Azhiev scores with a knee to the head.
Azhiev landing knees to the head.
Azhiev stalling the fight.
Derrick looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Derrick is trying to pull guard but Azhiev turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Azhiev connects with a nasty looking knee right to Derrick's face.
Azhiev landing knees to the head.
Azhiev lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Derrick swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Azhiev throws a knee to the head but misses.
Azhiev unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Azhiev lands an elbow just above Derrick 's eye.
Azhiev displaying some good clinch control by pressing Derrick up against the cage.
Derrick drops down looking for an ankle pick but Azhiev pulls his leg out and moves away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Azhiev has managed to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aslambek Azhiev dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Azhiev clinches up against the cage.
Azhiev keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Derrick's efforts to push away.
Derrick tries to pull guard but Azhiev won't allow it.
Azhiev throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Derrick blocks it with crossed arms.
Azhiev looking to slow down the pace here.

Derrick breaks from the clinch.
Derrick is trying hard to land a takedown here. Azhiev sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Azhiev dives in and grabs Derrick's left leg, looking for a takedown. Derrick pushes down on Azhiev's head and hops out.
Azhiev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Derrick manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Azhiev wants to clinch but Derrick slips to the side
and Derrick counters with a thumping low kick.
Azhiev stuffs the takedown attempt from Derrick. Derrick gets slowly back to his feet.
Aslambek Azhiev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Derrick.
Derrick takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A punch combination from Derrick misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhiev shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Derrick defends it nicely.
Azhiev tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Derrick counters with a big head kick but Azhiev shrugs it off.
Horrible takedown by Derrick or perhaps it was just good defense by Azhiev which made him look bad.

Azhiev gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Azhiev working Derrick over with knees to the body.
Azhiev stalling.
Derrick takes a knee right on the jaw!
Azhiev is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Azhiev crunches a lovely knee into Derrick's ribcage.
Azhiev using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Derrick has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Azhiev is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Derrick looking to slow down the pace here.
Azhiev is struggling to control the position.
Derrick can't break the clinch.
Azhiev lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Azhiev with a knee to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Azhiev looking to throw knees to the head but Derrick is blocking nicely.
Derrick takes a knee to the side of the body.
Derrick tries to pull guard but Azhiev holds him up against the cage and eventually Derrick drops back down to his feet.
Azhiev tries to land a knee to the head but Derrick blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev working Derrick over with knees to the body.
Azhiev creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Derrick's defenses.
Derrick has Azhiev pushed against the cage.
Derrick trying to control the position but instead, Azhiev has worked for underhooks and has pushed Derrick into the cage.
Azhiev landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Azhiev landing knees to the head.
Azhiev displaying some good clinch control by pressing Derrick up against the cage.
Azhiev landing knees to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev lands a knee to the head.
Azhiev misses with a knee strike.
Azhiev is trying to maintain a safe position but Derrick gets an underhook and turns Azhiev into the cage.
Derrick fails to pull guard.
Azhiev misses with a knee strike.
Derrick taking a breather.

Derrick pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Derrick drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Azhiev moves into the clinch successfully.
Derrick lands a shoulder strike.
Derrick fails to pull the fight into his guard.
John Derrick has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aslambek Azhiev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Derrick throws an elbow but it misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aslambek Azhiev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Azhiev has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aslambek Azhiev!