PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mamed Khalidov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Armando De Luca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mamed Khalidov has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Khalidov
vs
De Luca

185 cm
22
192 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

190 cm
21
188 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mamed Khalidov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Armando De Luca!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts De Luca, as that shot connected.
De Luca delivers a nice body kick.
Khalidov misses with a wild combination.
Khalidov missing with a left hand there. De Luca was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Khalidov misses with a wild body shot.
De Luca blocks a head kick by Khalidov.
De Luca lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
A punch lands to the side of Khalidov 's head but he takes it in his stride.
De Luca tries to bum rush Khalidov with a series of wild strikes but Khalidov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Khalidov pulls out of a head kick attempt.

De Luca scores with a takedown into Khalidov's guard.
Khalidov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Khalidov keeping full guard, as De Luca tries to pass.
De Luca wants to control from the top but Khalidov keeps moving.
De Luca looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidov looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Armando De Luca was stalling too much, according to the referee.
De Luca scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

De Luca darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
De Luca missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
De Luca controlling the action here.

Khalidov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but De Luca pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Luca not doing much here.
It looks like De Luca might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
De Luca throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
De Luca trying to pass the guard but Khalidov defending well.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Well, if De Luca is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
De Luca's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Armando De Luca has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
De Luca connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Luca lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Khalidov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. De Luca manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Khalidov throws a shot from downtown. De Luca moves away and avoids it.
De Luca goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Khalidov throws a big shot that misses.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Khalidov crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from De Luca - the referee stops the clock and Khalidov gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says De Luca. Khalidov manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
A nice inside leg kick there by De Luca. That's going to slow Khalidov down.
De Luca pushes Khalidov away with a front kick.
Khalidov throws a hook but De Luca avoids it easily.
De Luca tests Khalidov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
De Luca lands a jab to Khalidov's midsection.
A shot to the liver by De Luca. Beautiful body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
De Luca lands a high kick!
Armando De Luca seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
De Luca tests Khalidov's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A thudding body kick lands there by De Luca!
De Luca lands with a hook. Khalidov tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
De Luca plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
De Luca lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Khalidov backs up against the cage.
Khalidov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from De Luca.
De Luca lands a head kick!
Khalidov throws a head kick that misses
and De Luca counters with a lovely straight right hand!
De Luca scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
De Luca lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Khalidov throws a hook to the side of De Luca's head but De Luca sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Khalidov takes a swing at De Luca's ribcage but misses.
Khalidov is breathing heavily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Khalidov throws a low kick but De Luca avoids it.
De Luca goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

De Luca shoots in and bounces Khalidov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
De Luca passes Khalidov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armando De Luca dominated that round.
That's time! Khalidov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

De Luca stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Khalidov.
Khalidov dodges the punch combination from De Luca.
A head kick from De Luca lands but Khalidov takes it in his stride.
Khalidov takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Khalidov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has De Luca pinned against the cage. De Luca gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
De Luca has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
De Luca uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Khalidov.
De Luca connects with a crisp jab.
Khalidov lands a jab to the head.
Khalidov misses with a looping left.

De Luca closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Khalidov did well to prevent De Luca getting side control.
De Luca trying to control from half guard but Khalidov is working away.

Khalidov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but De Luca pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Khalidov actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Khalidov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
De Luca not doing much here.
Khalidov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from De Luca.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

De Luca seems to be working for a kimura but Khalidov defends the submission attempt.
De Luca missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with De Luca in particular looking to stall.
De Luca wants to pass the guard but Khalidov is defending well.
De Luca looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

De Luca is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Khalidov is just riding it out for now. De Luca eventually gives up the hold.
De Luca looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov won't allow De Luca to pass to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Still in half guard, De Luca seems content to control.

De Luca looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
De Luca is looking to stall here but Khalidov recovers full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Luca controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
De Luca advances to half guard.
Khalidov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from De Luca.
De Luca controlling the action here.
Khalidov tries to roll over but De Luca keeps him under control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
De Luca sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Khalidov defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armando De Luca showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

De Luca rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Khalidov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Khalidov throws a hook to the side of De Luca's head but De Luca sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Khalidov takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Khalidov misses with a body kick.
Khalidov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
No luck with that takedown attempt from De Luca.
De Luca looks to land a combination. Khalidov sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
De Luca scores with a jab.
De Luca shoots in and drives through. Khalidov sprawls well.
De Luca lands a two punch combo.
Khalidov throws a nice looking combination but De Luca bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nice shot by De Luca.
Armando De Luca is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
De Luca dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Khalidov blocks a head kick by De Luca.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

De Luca closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
De Luca takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidov is trying to improve his position.
Khalidov is working hard here to advance position.
De Luca lands a few punches from side control.
Khalidov manages to get back to half guard.

Khalidov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but De Luca pulls his head out easily.
De Luca sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Khalidov defending well though.
De Luca slows the pace down in half guard.
De Luca is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Luca trying to control the pace.
De Luca not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Armando De Luca has got the better of the ground game so far.
De Luca slows the pace down in half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

OK we're going to have a standup here. Armando De Luca hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
De Luca throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Khalidov on the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Luca lands with a good body shot.
De Luca connects with the punch.
A jab from Khalidov misses.
De Luca scores with a head kick. Khalidov tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
De Luca scores with a crisp jab that stopped Khalidov in his tracks.
De Luca throws a leg kick which misses Khalidov's front leg but catches the back leg as Khalidov tries to avoid it.
Khalidov misses with a right hand
and De Luca counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Khalidov thinking.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Khalidov crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from De Luca - the referee stops the clock and Khalidov gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says De Luca. Khalidov manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Khalidov closes the distance and clinches up with De Luca, looking for a takedown. Khalidov pushes De Luca against the cage but De Luca circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Khalidov misses the shot to the body.
Khalidov takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Khalidov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
De Luca scores with a three punch combo!
Khalidov tries to clinch but fails miserably
and De Luca counters with an outside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov tries a head kick but it misses.
De Luca thuds his right hand into Khalidov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
De Luca lands with a kick to the temple. Khalidov shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Armando De Luca seems to be getting the better of the standup.
De Luca paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
De Luca lands a really nice looking cross but Khalidov seems unphased.
De Luca chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Armando De Luca is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
De Luca moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
De Luca lands a two punch combo.
Left hook, right uppercut from De Luca.
Khalidov fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
De Luca lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Khalidov backs up against the cage.
Mamed Khalidov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
De Luca throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Khalidov's head.
De Luca lands a nice shot that snaps Khalidov's head back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Armando De Luca comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well De Luca has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Armando De Luca!