PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Petr Kropotkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rustam Khabilov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kropotkin kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Distress - Progress/Regress. Khabilov is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Rihanna Bitch Better Have My Money. Petr Kropotkin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kropotkin
vs
Khabilov

188 cm
20
203 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
19
187 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Enjoys gardening

Spartan Nutrition

GREEN!160
Mohito Fightwear

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Petr Kropotkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rustam Khabilov!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kropotkin scores with a one two! Khabilov had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Kropotkin misses with a two punch combination.
Kropotkin just misses with a punch to the body.
And Khabilov tries to counter it with a takedown but Kropotkin pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Kropotkin misses the body punch

and Khabilov counters with a takedown into side control.
Khabilov looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Kropotkin is avoiding damage well.
Khabilov scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Kropotkin to see if he's OK.
Khabilov tries to score with some ground and pound. Kropotkin controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Kropotkin avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Khabilov.
Kropotkin struggling a bit here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Khabilov tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Khabilov in side control, throwing shots but Kropotkin defends.
Khabilov scores with a couple of short elbows.
Kropotkin dodges the ground and pound from Khabilov.
Khabilov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kropotkin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kropotkin trying his best to control but Khabilov has mounted him.
Kropotkin tries to hold on but Khabilov postures up.
Kropotkin is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at LOD: Contenders, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Kropotkin is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kropotkin tries to hold on but Khabilov pushes him away.
Khabilov looking to control but Kropotkin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Khabilov scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kropotkin?
Khabilov landing punches.
Kropotkin is working to get back to half guard.
Khabilov looking to finish Kropotkin with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kropotkin!
Kropotkin tries to hold on but Khabilov pushes him away.
Khabilov scoring with strikes but Kropotkin is staying in there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov tries to control but Kropotkin wriggling away.
Khabilov lands a heavy elbow.
Khabilov lands with some strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Khabilov connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Kropotkin is rocked!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kropotkin slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Kropotkin is trying to get back to full guard.
Khabilov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kropotkin trying to control here.
Ground and pound from Khabilov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov slips a nice elbow through Kropotkin's hands, connecting with Kropotkin's forehead.

Kropotkin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Khabilov pulls his head out easily.
Khabilov not doing much here.
Kropotkin is trying to maintain the position but Khabilov is very close to passing his half guard.
Kropotkin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Khabilov.
Khabilov is nestled in close to Kropotkin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Khabilov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Khabilov prevents Kropotkin from improving his position.
Khabilov drops an elbow to the side of Kropotkin's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Khabilov connects with a nice short shot to Kropotkin's temple.
Khabilov lands strikes from half guard.
Kropotkin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kropotkin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kropotkin pulls Khabilov in close to prevent any damage.

Kropotkin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Khabilov trying to control but Kropotkin is working from the bottom.
Khabilov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rustam Khabilov dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kropotkin lands a nice shot to the body.
Kropotkin tries to clinch up but Khabilov circles away and keeps his distance.
Kropotkin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Khabilov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kropotkin won't be happy with that.
Khabilov working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Kropotkin taking punishment in the form of punches.
Kropotkin regains half guard there - taking advantage of Khabilov's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

Kropotkin actively working from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khabilov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Khabilov trying to mount his opponent but Kropotkin defends it.
Khabilov is nestled in close to Kropotkin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kropotkin is looking to improve his position.

Kropotkin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Khabilov pulls his head out easily.

Kropotkin looking for submissions off his back.
Khabilov is looking to take a break and control but Kropotkin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Khabilov is thwarting Kropotkin's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Khabilov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Khabilov winds up and cracks Kropotkin with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Khabilov moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Kropotkin.
Kropotkin is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
My spies in LOD: Lightning Kicks inform me that Khabilov has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Kropotkin takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Kropotkin taking punishment in the form of punches.
Kropotkin gets back to half guard.
Kropotkin moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kropotkin has his foot on Khabilov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Khabilov works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Khabilov tries to free his leg and advance position but Kropotkin is retaining full guard.
Khabilov distracts Kropotkin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kropotkin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Khabilov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kropotkin trying to keep a closed guard but Khabilov is proving a slippery customer.
Khabilov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Khabilov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Khabilov looking to pass the guard.
Kropotkin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov connects with a couple of short punches.

Khabilov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Kropotkin isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Khabilov stacks Kropotkin on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Khabilov!
Kropotkin holding on.
Khabilov trying to control the action but Kropotkin is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kropotkin can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rustam Khabilov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Khabilov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kropotkin.
Kropotkin lands with a right hand.
Kropotkin feints a jab promting Khabilov to slip. Kropotkin then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Khabilov slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Kropotkin swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Khabilov counters with a shoot takedown. Kropotkin fights it but they end up in guard.
Khabilov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Khabilov chips away with some ground and pound.
Kropotkin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rustam Khabilov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Khabilov distracts Kropotkin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Khabilov distracts Kropotkin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Khabilov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kropotkin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Khabilov works over Kropotkin with some ground and pound from guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Khabilov throws a big elbow that misses.
Khabilov with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khabilov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Kropotkin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Khabilov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Khabilov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Khabilov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Khabilov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Khabilov works over Kropotkin with some ground and pound from guard.
Kropotkin looking to control but Khabilov passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov drops an elbow to the side of Kropotkin's head.
Kropotkin is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Khabilov working Kropotkin over with strikes.
Oh Kropotkin is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kropotkin gets back to full guard.
Kropotkin seems to have got his legs back now.
Khabilov trying to control the position from guard on top but Kropotkin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Khabilov sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Kropotkin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Khabilov defends it easily.
Petr Kropotkin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Khabilov won't allow Kropotkin to sweep him here.
Khabilov throws a big right hand that misses.
Khabilov throwing strikes from guard but Kropotkin blocks nicely.

Khabilov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kropotkin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Khabilov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov trying to control but Kropotkin is working from the bottom.
Rustam Khabilov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Khabilov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Khabilov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Khabilov wants to control from the top but Kropotkin keeps moving.

Kropotkin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Khabilov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kropotkin keeping moving, preventing Khabilov from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rustam Khabilov.
I've got Khabilov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rustam Khabilov!
Rustam Khabilov managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Mohito Fightwear, into his post fight interview.