PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ali Aliev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexei Orlov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aliev comes to the cage accompanied by Lezginka. Alexei Orlov has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Ali Aliev's chin.

Aliev
vs
Orlov

175 cm
19
159 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

178 cm
23
158 lbs
2 - 6 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ali Aliev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexei Orlov!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Vladimir Khabensky and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Orlov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Aliev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Aliev shoots in for a takedown but Orlov shows good takedown defense.

Aliev drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Aliev scoring with some ground and pound.
Aliev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Orlov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Aliev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Aliev wants to pass the guard but Orlov is keeping the position.
Aliev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Aliev drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Aliev jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Aliev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orlov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Aliev is controlling him.
Orlov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've been hearing that Aliev has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Aliev tries to free his leg and advance position but Orlov is retaining full guard.
Orlov looking to control.
Orlov seems keen to control Aliev's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Orlov trying to keep a closed guard but Aliev is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Orlov moves into range and clinches up with Aliev.
Orlov looking to throw knees to the head but Aliev is blocking nicely.

Orlov manages to break the clinch.
Orlov wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Orlov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Aliev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Aliev drops down looking for a counter takedown but Orlov sprawls and moves away.

Orlov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Orlov is trying to hold Aliev in close to prevent damage but Aliev has managed to pass into half guard.
Aliev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Orlov keeps working.

Aliev is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Orlov has managed to free his arm - good work.
Orlov is looking for a sweep. Aliev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aliev tries to pass the half guard into mount. Orlov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Aliev is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Aliev landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aliev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Orlov keeps working.
Aliev looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Orlov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Orlov is trying to control but can't.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Aliev wants to control but Orlov is keeping him busy.
Aliev thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Aliev is looking to advance position but Orlov won't allow it.
Aliev looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Aliev passes to full mount!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Aliev lands a couple of good shots and Orlov has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ali Aliev dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Aliev wants to slow Orlov down by chopping away at his legs.

Orlov takes the fight into the clinch.

Orlov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Aliev throws a head kick but Orlov moves out of range.

Aliev fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Orlov, pushing him back against the cage.
Orlov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Orlov.
Orlov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Aliev gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Ali Aliev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Orlov scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Aliev closes the distance and clinches up with Orlov, looking for a takedown. Aliev pushes Orlov against the cage but Orlov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Orlov tries to clinch up but Aliev circles away and keeps his distance.
Orlov throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Aliev.
Aliev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Orlov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Orlov lands in his opponent's guard.
Orlov wants to control from the top but Aliev keeps moving.
Aliev managing to control the position.
Aliev continues to stall.
Orlov throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Orlov preventing the sweep.
Aliev controlling the position.

Orlov stands up from Aliev's guard - Orlov perhaps looking for a knockout.

Orlov takes the fight into the clinch.
Orlov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ali Aliev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Orlov has a couple of punches blocked by Aliev.
Orlov utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Orlov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orlov throws a head kick but Aliev moves out of range.
Orlov tries to clinch up

and Aliev counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Orlov throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Orlov keeping moving, preventing Aliev from controlling successfully.
Aliev looking to pass the guard.
Orlov wants to stand and escape but Aliev is having none of it.
Aliev is in close to Orlov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Aliev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Orlov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orlov seems keen to control Aliev's posture.
Aliev content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Aliev trying to control but Orlov is working from the bottom.

Orlov wriggles free and stands up.

Orlov darts in and clinches Aliev up against the cage.
Orlov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Aliev drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Orlov gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Orlov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexei Orlov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Aliev tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Orlov defends well and Aliev ends up having to push Orlov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Orlov unleashes a big counter combination but Aliev bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Orlov wants to clinch.
Orlov throws a head kick but Aliev moves out of range.
Aliev attempts a counter takedown but Orlov avoids it well and moves away.

Aliev shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Aliev was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Orlov throws Aliev to one side and escapes!

Aliev moves into the clinch.
Orlov has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Aliev seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Orlov can turn it around.

Aliev lands a takedown into guard.

Orlov pushes Aliev off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orlov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Orlov lands a knee to the head.
Aliev is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Orlov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Orlov looking to throw knees to the head but Aliev is blocking nicely.
Orlov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

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

Aliev clinches with his opponent.
Orlov lands a good knee to the midsection. Aliev won't want to take too many of those.
Orlov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Aliev takes a knee right on the jaw!
Orlov throws a knee to the head but misses.

Aliev has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Orlov uses from the top position.
Aliev controlling Orlov's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aliev keeping moving, preventing Orlov from controlling successfully.

Aliev had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Orlov defends it easily.
Orlov looking to pass the guard.
Orlov preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aliev controlling Orlov's posture.

Aliev looking for a guillotine here but Orlov defends easily.
Aliev on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Aliev tries to get out of the position.
Aliev manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Orlov manages to get himself to full guard.

Aliev throwing strikes but missing.
Aliev chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aliev sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Orlov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Aliev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Aliev is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Orlov trying to keep a closed guard but Aliev is proving a slippery customer.
Aliev trying to control but Orlov is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexei Orlov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Orlov 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexei Orlov!
Ali Aliev was interviewed post fight and said 'Thanks all fans for support! Next time I'll be better, thanks God!'.