PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ramzan Khabibov (ranked 4675 p4p, 449 weight class) and Jasser Arafat (ranked 6440 p4p, 506 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Khabibov
vs
Arafat

179 cm
19
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

182 cm
23
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ramzan Khabibov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jasser Arafat!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Andrew Berry and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arafat shoots for a double leg takedown but Khabibov sprawls well. He's pushed Arafat's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Khabibov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Arafat is trying to defend but Khabibov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Arafat can do anything to dispel that myth.
Khabibov working over Arafat with some ground and pound. Arafat looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Arafat wants to control but Khabibov is keeping busy.
Khabibov trying to control from half guard but Arafat is working away.
Khabibov prevents Arafat from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khabibov is looking to take a break and control but Arafat is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Khabibov working over Arafat with some ground and pound. Arafat looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khabibov slips a nice elbow through Arafat's hands, connecting with Arafat's forehead.
Khabibov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Arafat trying to get back to full guard but Khabibov takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Khabibov lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Arafat takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Arafat taking shots to the head.
Khabibov looking to control and managing it successfully.
Arafat is trying to escape the mount.
Khabibov cracks Arafat with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
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.
Khabibov scoring with strikes but Arafat is staying in there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Khabibov lands a nice shot to the head.
Khabibov with the ground and pound from mount.
Arafat keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Arafat tries to lock up and control but Khabibov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Arafat tries to reverse the position but Khabibov maintains control.
Khabibov landing strikes from the mount.
Khabibov in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Khabibov landing shots from mount.
Khabibov 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.
Khabibov tries to control but Arafat wriggling away.
Arafat throwing hammer fists to the chest of Khabibov. What's that going to do exactly?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khabibov is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Khabibov with the ground and pound from mount.
Khabibov scoring with strikes but Arafat is staying in there.
Khabibov scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Arafat?
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Khabibov cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Arafat is rocked!
Arafat tries to reverse the position but Khabibov maintains control.
Khabibov breaks from Arafat's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Khabibov working Arafat over with strikes here.
Arafat is still in real trouble! Can Khabibov finish him?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Khabibov wants to control the pace but Arafat is squirming around nicely.
Arafat seems to have recovered his senses.
Khabibov lands a heavy elbow.
Khabibov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khabibov pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Khabibov scoring with strikes but Arafat is staying in there.
Khabibov has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Arafat's face.
Arafat is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Arafat is desperately trying to improve his position but Khabibov has a good base and remains in mount.
Khabibov is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Arafat can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Arafat is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Khabibov is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Arafat can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Arafat regains half guard.
Khabibov lands strikes from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Khabibov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Khabibov leaves Arafat with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Khabibov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Khabibov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Arafat.

Khabibov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Arafat on his heels. He'll look to pass Arafat's guard now, I'm sure.
Arafat avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Khabibov won't allow Arafat to sweep him here.
Arafat avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khabibov is in close to Arafat's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Khabibov scoring with some ground and pound.
Khabibov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Khabibov trying to control the position from guard on top but Arafat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khabibov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Khabibov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Khabibov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Khabibov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Arafat's head.
Khabibov cracks Arafat with a solid left hand.
Arafat is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Arafat lands a nice short elbow.
Arafat sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Khabibov defending well though.
Arafat working over Khabibov with some ground and pound. Khabibov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khabibov striking from half guard on the bottom.
Khabibov punching from the bottom.
Khabibov moves into full guard.
Arafat working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Khabibov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Khabibov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Khabibov chips away with some ground and pound.
Khabibov lands a couple of elbows.
Khabibov throws a big elbow that misses.
Khabibov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arafat wants to sweep here but Khabibov controlling him for the moment.
Khabibov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Arafat is trying to control the position but Khabibov postures up.
Khabibov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Khabibov stands up over Arafat, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Khabibov landing with the ground and pound.
Khabibov landing with the ground and pound.
Khabibov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Khabibov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khabibov trying to control the position from guard on top but Arafat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Khabibov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Khabibov landing with the ground and pound.
Khabibov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Arafat can do to turn this around?
Khabibov distracts Arafat with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Khabibov works over Arafat with some ground and pound from guard.
Khabibov distracts Arafat with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arafat managing to control the position.
Arafat not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ramzan Khabibov dominated that second round.
That's time! Khabibov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Khabibov misses with a body shot.
A jab from Khabibov misses.
Arafat dives in for a single leg takedown but Khabibov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Arafat uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Khabibov.

Khabibov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Khabibov lands in his opponent's guard.
Khabibov working some strikes from top position.
Khabibov postures up and lands a big shot to Arafat's brow.
Arafat 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khabibov scoring with some ground and pound.
Khabibov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Arafat's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khabibov with a nice head shot there.
Khabibov scoring with some ground and pound.
Ramzan Khabibov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Khabibov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Khabibov connects with a couple of short punches.
Khabibov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Khabibov trying to control but Arafat is working from the bottom.
Khabibov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Khabibov postures up in Arafat's guard and throws a big left but Arafat blocks it.
Khabibov distracts Arafat with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ramzan Khabibov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arafat wants to sweep but no luck.
Arafat being controlled here, momentarily.
Arafat throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Khabibov postures up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Khabibov content to stall in guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Khabibov just misses with a punch to the body.
And Arafat tries to counter it with a takedown but Khabibov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Arafat misses with a takedown attempt - Khabibov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Arafat takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Khabibov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Arafat was covering up waiting for the punch and Khabibov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Arafat looking for a sweep. Not yet Arafat, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khabibov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Khabibov seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Arafat for as long as he can get away with.
Arafat is trying to keep Khabibov in close.
Khabibov pushes down on Arafat's leg and manages to get into half guard.

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.
Khabibov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Khabibov's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ramzan Khabibov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Khabibov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:25
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:25
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ramzan Khabibov!