PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tsartas Kasuranis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mamed Khalidov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mamed Khalidov is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Kasuranis
vs
Khalidov

173 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tsartas Kasuranis!
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, Mamed Khalidov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Fedor Mirinova and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kasuranis looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Khalidov is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Khalidov wants to get back to his feet.
Khalidov is looking to improve his position.
Khalidov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kasuranis.
Kasuranis has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Kasuranis is working for a submission of some sort.
Kasuranis not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidov won't allow Kasuranis to pass to mount.
Khalidov looks like he's trying to stand up.
Khalidov is staying active underneath Kasuranis, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kasuranis wants to stand but Khalidov has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Khalidov is looking for a sweep. Kasuranis is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kasuranis works his way into full mount!
Kasuranis trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov can't escape the position.
Kasuranis is trying to control here but Khalidov has managed to regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kasuranis is looking for a kimura but Khalidov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kasuranis to get the leverage.
Khalidov regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kasuranis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Khalidov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kasuranis gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kasuranis is looking to work some ground and pound but Khalidov has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kasuranis got a little sloppy there for a moment and Khalidov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kasuranis has managed to get both his arms back between Khalidov's legs - danger averted.
Khalidov is trying to control the position but Kasuranis postures up.
Khalidov 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.
Kasuranis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Khalidov is keeping the position for now.
Khalidov is trying to keep Kasuranis in close.

Khalidov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kasuranis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kasuranis manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Khalidov looks winded!
Khalidov trying to keep a closed guard but Kasuranis is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov trying to control the position here.
Kasuranis throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Khalidov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kasuranis.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kasuranis gets to his feet. Khalidov looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Khalidov takes the fight into the clinch.
Khalidov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tsartas Kasuranis will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A low kick from Kasuranis misses
and Khalidov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Kasuranis gets caught flat footed, as Khalidov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kasuranis is trying to control the position but Khalidov postures up.
Khalidov trying to control but Kasuranis is working from the bottom.
Kasuranis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Khalidov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Khalidov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidov stopping the sweep attempt from Kasuranis.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Mamed Khalidov hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Khalidov keeps Kasuranis at a distance using the push kick.

Khalidov instigates a clinch.
Kasuranis keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Khalidov's efforts to push away.

Khalidov manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Khalidov enables Kasuranis to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Khalidov manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Khalidov working a defensive guard but Kasuranis manages to pass into side control anyway.
Khalidov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Khalidov is trying to control Kasuranis's posture but Kasuranis avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kasuranis is trying to get an arm triangle but Khalidov is defending well.
Khalidov tries to buck Kasuranis off but Kasuranis is having none of it.
Khalidov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Khalidov is breathing heavily.
Khalidov is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Kasuranis asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kasuranis working away.

Kasuranis is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Khalidov has escaped the position, nice work there.
Khalidov tries to bench press Kasuranis off him but Kasuranis keeps the position.

Kasuranis stands up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kasuranis shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mamed Khalidov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Kasuranis throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Khalidov was covering up waiting for the punch and Kasuranis finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Tsartas Kasuranis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Khalidov is controlling Kasuranis's posture.
Kasuranis trying to control but Khalidov is working from the bottom.
Khalidov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Khalidov avoids the attempt from Kasuranis to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kasuranis defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Khalidov.
Kasuranis is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kasuranis is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Khalidov trying to control but Kasuranis is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Kasuranis wants to control but Khalidov is having none of it.
Kasuranis is looking to improve his position but Khalidov isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov looking to ground and pound but Kasuranis is blocking nicely.
Khalidov wants to control the pace but Kasuranis is squirming around nicely.
Khalidov controlling from mount.
Khalidov trying to control but Kasuranis is having none of it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Kasuranis avoids a series of strikes thrown by Khalidov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kasuranis tries to hold on but Khalidov postures up.
Khalidov looking to control but Kasuranis is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kasuranis avoids a series of strikes thrown by Khalidov.
Kasuranis is trying to reverse the position but instead Khalidov has taken his back - oops!
You can see the frustration on Kasuranis's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mamed Khalidov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Khalidov 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mamed Khalidov!