PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Akbalou Johasey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Halid Khuratov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Halid Khuratov acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Johasey
vs
Khuratov

180 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
192 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 Rio de Janeiro, Akbalou Johasey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Halid Khuratov!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Daniel Cesar and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johasey jabs Khuratov right on the nose. Khuratov blinks but takes it well.
Johasey fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Khuratov shoots in for a double leg but Johasey sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Johasey lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Akbalou Johasey seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johasey clinches with his opponent.

Johasey drags the fight down to the ground.
Khuratov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johasey is keeping the position for now.

Khuratov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Johasey has his hands on Khuratov's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khuratov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Johasey looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johasey is working hard here to advance position.
Johasey on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Johasey tries to get out of the position.
Khuratov tries to free his leg and advance position but Johasey is retaining full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Khuratov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Johasey escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Johasey instigates a clinch.

Khuratov has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Johasey is trying to keep an underhook but Khuratov manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johasey wants to get back to full guard.
Khuratov wants to control but Johasey is keeping him busy.
Johasey strikes from the bottom but Khuratov uses the opportunity to move to side control.

Khuratov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Johasey, who protects the arm well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johasey looks to move to half guard but instead Khuratov has passed into mount! Damn!
Khuratov thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Khuratov goes for an armbar but Johasey turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Johasey.
Johasey's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Johasey chips away with some ground and pound.
Khuratov controls Johasey momentarily but Johasey frees himself.
Johasey wants to stand and escape but instead Khuratov has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Johasey working for submissions but it's allowed Khuratov to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johasey wants to get back to full guard.
Johasey trying to control here.

Khuratov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Johasey defends it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johasey pushes Khuratov off looking to stand but Khuratov dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johasey drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Khuratov looking to control.

Johasey drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Khuratov dives on top into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Khuratov throwing strikes from guard but Johasey blocks nicely.
Johasey working a defensive guard here.
Khuratov trying to control the position from guard on top but Johasey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Johasey knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Khuratov on the ground.

Halid Khuratov has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Khuratov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johasey but Johasey pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Khuratov darts in looking for a takedown but Johasey gets double underhooks and turns Khuratov into the cage.
Khuratov is breathing heavily.

Johasey manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Johasey trying to keep a closed guard but Khuratov is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johasey keeping moving, preventing Khuratov from controlling successfully.
Johasey looking to control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Johasey is looking to stand up but Khuratov isn't so interested in that idea.

Akbalou Johasey has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Johasey gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Halid Khuratov has got the better of the ground game so far.

Khuratov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Khuratov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johasey paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Khuratov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Khuratov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

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

Khuratov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Khuratov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Khuratov is trying to control the action in half guard but Johasey is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Khuratov is thwarting Johasey's attempts to control the position.

Khuratov is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Khuratov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Johasey has managed to free his arm - good work.
Khuratov prevents Johasey from standing back up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Khuratov 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.
Johasey makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Johasey.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Halid Khuratov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Johasey is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Khuratov's half guard.

Khuratov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Johasey wants to take a breather but Khuratov is having none of it.
Johasey tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Khuratov.
Khuratov tries to get to full guard but Johasey has control of the leg.
Khuratov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johasey tries to stand and escape but Khuratov is controlling the position.
Khuratov gets back to full guard.
Khuratov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Khuratov pushes a forearm under Johasey's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Johasey is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Halid Khuratov!