PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bek Ali Hadzhimuradov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erik Saba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hadzhimuradov comes to the cage accompanied by Lezginka. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Ali Hadzhimuradov
vs
Saba

174 cm
18
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
21
162 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bek Ali Hadzhimuradov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Erik Saba!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Fedor Mirinova and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saba is looking to clinch but Hadzhimuradov is avoiding it.
Hadzhimuradov keeps the fight on the outside.

Saba forces Hadzhimuradov back against the cage and clinches.

Saba breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Saba throws a sloppy head kick and Hadzhimuradov moves out of range easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hadzhimuradov.

Saba closes the distance and clinches.
Saba lands an elbow just above Hadzhimuradov 's eye.
Saba lands a nice knee to the body.

Saba breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Saba shoots in and bounces Hadzhimuradov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hadzhimuradov controlling Saba's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hadzhimuradov has his hands on Saba's head, controlling the position.

Hadzhimuradov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Saba passes into side control.
Saba trying to control the action but Hadzhimuradov is working from the bottom.
Saba landing strikes.
Hadzhimuradov tries to bench press Saba off him but Saba keeps the position.
Saba scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Hadzhimuradov to see if he's OK.

Hadzhimuradov is rocked!
Saba is looking to take a break and control but Hadzhimuradov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Oh Hadzhimuradov is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Saba has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Hadzhimuradov seems to have got his legs back now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hadzhimuradov swats away the attempt to clinch by Saba.
Hadzhimuradov keeps the fight on the outside.
Hadzhimuradov with a lazy takedown attempt

and Saba counters with a shoot takedown. Hadzhimuradov fights it but they end up in guard.
Hadzhimuradov is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Saba stands up and waves to Hadzhimuradov to follow him.

Saba has Hadzhimuradov up against the cage in a clinch.

Saba lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Saba wants to get back to his feet.

Saba is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Hadzhimuradov has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hadzhimuradov wants to get back to full guard.
Saba blocks the strikes from Hadzhimuradov.
Saba trying to control from half guard but Hadzhimuradov is working away.
Hadzhimuradov is looking for a sweep. Saba is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Saba wants to stand but Hadzhimuradov has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Hadzhimuradov works his way to full guard. Good work.

Hadzhimuradov is looking for a triangle but Saba pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hadzhimuradov keeping moving, preventing Saba from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hadzhimuradov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bek Ali Hadzhimuradov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hadzhimuradov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hadzhimuradov showed some decent athleticism there.
Hadzhimuradov is looking to take a break and control but Saba is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Hadzhimuradov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hadzhimuradov is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Saba!

Hadzhimuradov has hold of Saba's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Saba manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erik Saba dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hadzhimuradov has his takedown stuffed
and Saba counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Saba tries to close the distance and clinch but Hadzhimuradov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Saba manages to break the clinch.
Saba tries to close the distance and clinch but Hadzhimuradov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hadzhimuradov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Saba pinned against the cage. Saba gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Erik Saba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Saba pushes Hadzhimuradov up against the cage in a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Saba.
Saba using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Saba using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Saba prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bek Ali Hadzhimuradov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saba lands a damaging elbow.

Saba breaks the clinch.
Saba looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Horrible takedown by Hadzhimuradov or perhaps it was just good defense by Saba which made him look bad.

Saba rushes Hadzhimuradov and presses him up against the cage.
Saba throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hadzhimuradovs head.

Saba breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hadzhimuradov looks for a takedown but Saba sprawls well.
Saba connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hadzhimuradov tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Saba counters by clinching up.
Saba lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saba jumps into guard, dragging Hadzhimuradov to the mat.

Hadzhimuradov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Saba is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Saba has escaped and now he's on top!

Saba decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Hadzhimuradov shoots and misses

and Saba counters by moving into the clinch.
Hadzhimuradov prevents Saba from breaking the clinch.
Saba scores with a knee to the head.

Saba breaks from the clinch.
Hadzhimuradov has his takedown stuffed
and Saba makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Saba fails with an attempt to clinch.
Saba tries to clinch up.
Saba misses the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hadzhimuradov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Hadzhimuradov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hadzhimuradov landing punches.

Hadzhimuradov is working for a guillotine from mount but Saba frees his head quite easily.
Hadzhimuradov is trying to take his opponent's back.

Saba is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Hadzhimuradov locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Saba is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Bek Ali Hadzhimuradov!