PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Britt Stephenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mamed Khalidov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mamed Khalidov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Stephenson
vs
Khalidov

162 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
186 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Britt Stephenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mamed Khalidov!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Viktor Lagutenko and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khalidov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stephenson.

Stephenson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stephenson lands in his opponent's guard.
Khalidov pulls Stephenson in close to his closed guard and prevents Stephenson from doing any damage or advancing position.

Stephenson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Khalidov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stephenson has managed to get both his arms back between Khalidov's legs - danger averted.
Stephenson is stalling in the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stephenson preventing the sweep.
Khalidov trying to keep a closed guard but Stephenson is proving a slippery customer.
Stephenson is looking to work some ground and pound but Khalidov has wrist control.
Stephenson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidov wants to get back to his feet but Stephenson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Stephenson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Khalidov wriggles free and stands up.
Khalidov is looking to clinch.

Khalidov closes the distance and pushes Stephenson back into the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Stephenson.

Khalidov manages to break the clinch.

Stephenson drives through with a takedown into Khalidov's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Stephenson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Khalidov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stephenson is fighting to break Khalidov's control of his arms but Khalidov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Stephenson stops Khalidov from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Stephenson trying to control the position from guard on top but Khalidov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Khalidov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stephenson.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Stephenson throwing strikes but missing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Stephenson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Khalidov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Khalidov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Stephenson trying to keep a closed guard but Khalidov is proving a slippery customer.
Stephenson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Khalidov prevents Stephenson from getting back to his feet.
Stephenson has control of Khalidov's left arm, preventing Khalidov from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stephenson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Khalidov trying to control but Stephenson is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Khalidov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Stephenson to the ground. Khalidov is now in Stephenson's guard.

Khalidov stands up and waves to Stephenson to follow him.
Khalidov throws a nice outside leg kick.

Stephenson gets tackled into the cage by Khalidov. Khalidov maintains the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Khalidov tries to work over Stephenson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Khalidov is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Stephenson can't fight it off and eventually Khalidov manages to take the fight to the floor. Stephenson looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mamed Khalidov dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Stephenson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Khalidov has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Stephenson is on him like a limpet, forcing Khalidov back against the cage.

Khalidov decides to pull guard.
Stephenson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Stephenson trying to control the position from guard on top but Khalidov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stephenson looking to sit in guard and control but Khalidov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Stephenson keeping moving, preventing Khalidov from controlling successfully.
Khalidov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidov prevents Stephenson from getting back to his feet.
Khalidov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Stephenson trying to strike off his back.

Khalidov stands and steps away. Stephenson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Khalidov tries to clinch but Stephenson moves out of range.

Stephenson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephenson trying to keep a closed guard but Khalidov is proving a slippery customer.
Khalidov is stalling in the full guard.
Khalidov trying to control the position from guard on top but Stephenson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mamed Khalidov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stephenson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Stephenson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Khalidov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov looking to pass the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Khalidov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Khalidov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Stephenson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Khalidov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Stephenson. That did some damage!
Khalidov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Stephenson at a distance.
Khalidov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mamed Khalidov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Khalidov is looking to clinch.
Stephenson throws a counter high kick but Khalidov was just alert enough to avoid it.
Khalidov wants to clinch up but Stephenson keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Khalidov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Stephenson did well to prevent Khalidov getting side control.

Stephenson has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Khalidov is on him like a limpet, forcing Stephenson back against the cage.

Khalidov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Khalidov throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Stephenson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Khalidov is in Stephenson's guard.

Stephenson has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Khalidov has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Khalidov is breathing heavily.
Stephenson trying to land knees to the body.
Stephenson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Khalidov is keeping busy.
Khalidov avoiding damage as Stephenson throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mamed Khalidov 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!

Stephenson blocks a head kick by Khalidov.
Khalidov wants to clinch.
Mamed Khalidov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stephenson throws a sloppy head kick
and Khalidov counters with a nice low kick that buckles Stephenson's knee momentarily.

Khalidov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Khalidov fails to land a wild elbow strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khalidov working away.

Khalidov has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Khalidov feints and then cracks Stephenson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Stephenson down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Stephenson.
A looping hook to the body misses from Khalidov. Stephenson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stephenson is looking to counter with head kicks.
Khalidov tries to close the distance and clinch but Stephenson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Khalidov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Khalidov darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Khalidov rushes Stephenson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stephenson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Khalidov just stands there and leans against the cage.

Khalidov lands a takedown into guard.
Stephenson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Khalidov is one step ahead there.
Stephenson trying to keep a closed guard but Khalidov is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephenson keeping full guard, as Khalidov tries to pass.
Stephenson wants to get back to his feet but Khalidov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Khalidov wants to stand but Stephenson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Khalidov controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephenson wants to get back to his feet but Khalidov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Khalidov sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Khalidov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Stephenson to the mat! Stephenson manages to get full guard.
Stephenson wants to get back to his feet but Khalidov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
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 four minutes gone in the round.
Khalidov is looking to work some ground and pound but Stephenson has wrist control.
Khalidov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Stephenson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Britt Stephenson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mamed Khalidov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Khalidov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mamed Khalidov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Khalidov 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

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