PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Said Halidov (ranked 4620 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Tom (ranked 4581 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Halidov
vs
Tom

183 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Said Halidov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Tom!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Sam Margolis and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halidov finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Tom throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Said Halidov has been cut.

Halidov looking to score a takedown here. Tom is defending well but Halidov drives through and ends up in Tom's guard.
Halidov throwing strikes from guard but Tom blocks nicely.
Halidov throws a strike but Tom rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Halidov manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tom is trying to break free.

Halidov pulls Tom into guard.
Tom postures up.
Halidov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Halidov pulls Tom in close to prevent any damage.
Halidov wants to sweep here but Tom controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tom trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Halidov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Halidov wants to get back to his feet but Tom is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

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

Tom gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Halidov displaying some good clinch control by pressing Tom up against the cage.
Halidov throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's two 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.
Tom blocks an elbow strike.
Tom wants to get back to striking at distance but Halidov won't allow it.
Tom can't break the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Halidov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Tom's brow.

Halidov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Halidov shoots and misses
enabling Tom to counter with a crisp jab.

Halidov rushes Tom and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Halidov.
Halidov tries a knee to the head but Tom blocks it.

Halidov has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Tom clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Tom is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Halidov gets his way!
Halidov throwing wild punches that miss their target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tom is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Tom looking very determined here, making life difficult for Halidov.
Tom wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tom covers up after that shot from Halidov.

Halidov working for the choke.
Halidov throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

Tom is having to fend off submission attempts from Halidov, who is looking to sink in the choke. Halidov doesn't have the hooks in though and Tom manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tom wants to control from the top but Halidov keeps moving.
Halidov pulls Tom in close to his closed guard and prevents Tom from doing any damage or advancing position.
Tom trying to control but Halidov is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Said Halidov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Said Halidov's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Halidov gets a clinch.

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

Halidov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Halidov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tom can do to turn this around?
Tom is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Halidov misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Halidov creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Tom sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Tom bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Halidov gets a clinch.
Halidov jumps guard but Tom stands there with Halidov around his waist. Halidov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Halidov lands an uppercut.
Halidov pushes off an throws an elbow but Tom leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halidov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Halidov breaks from the clinch.
Tom lands a head kick!

Halidov forces Tom back against the cage and clinches.

Halidov works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Tom pushes Halidov off and scrambles back to his feet.

Halidov moves into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tom is trying to break the clinch but Halidov has him pressed against the cage.

Halidov pulls guard successfully.
Tom content to stall in guard here.
Halidov has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Tom has passed into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halidov is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Tom is looking to take a break and control but Halidov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Halidov is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Tom is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halidov is trying to reverse the position but instead Tom has taken his back - oops!
Tom trying to control.
Halidov trying to get back to his feet but Tom is in full control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Tom has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Halidov tries to roll but Tom sticks to his back.
Halidov staying busy and making it hard for Tom to control.
Halidov trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Tom trying to control momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tom Tom will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Said Halidov's cut.
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!

Halidov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tom, pushing him back against the cage.

Halidov has clasped his hands together around Tom's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Tom bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

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

Tom manages to escape and get back to his feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Halidov clinches up with Tom and pushes him back against the cage.
Halidov misses with a knee to the head.
Halidov has Tom pushed against the cage.
Said Halidov has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Halidov pulls guard successfully.
Halidov wants to stand but Tom is controlling the position.

Tom stands and steps away. Halidov gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tom scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Halidov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tom.

Halidov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Tom's guard.

Tom manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Halidov trying to land knees to the body.
Tom blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Halidov is trying to pull guard but Tom turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Halidov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tom is defending well for now.

Halidov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Halidov walks forward, straight into a front kick from Tom.
Tom jabs Halidov right on the nose. Halidov blinks but takes it well.
Halidov will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halidov dives in for a single leg takedown but Tom sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Said Halidov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tom goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Tom throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Halidov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Tom counters with a one-two to the body.
Tom throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Halidov's head.
Tom lands a jab-cross combination.

Halidov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Tom sneaks out the side door and pushes Halidov away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Said Halidov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Halidov has taken the fight to the clinch.

Halidov breaks from the clinch.

Tom moves into the clinch.
Halidov is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Halidov lands a takedown into guard.

Tom uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Tom lands with a thumping leg kick.
Tom throws a nice inside leg kick.

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

Tom throws Halidov to one side and escapes!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Halidov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Halidov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tom avoids it.
Halidov trying to land knees to the body.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Halidov drives through and clinches with Tom against the cage.
Tom blocks an elbow strike from Halidov.

Halidov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tom connects with a high kick.
Tom Tom seems to be getting the better of the standup.

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

Tom manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Halidov keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Halidov breaks the clinch.
Halidov takes a kick to the side of the head.
Tom throws a one two combo.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Halidov clinches.
Halidov tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Said Halidov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Halidov misses with an elbow strike.
Halidov looking to slow down the pace here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Tom comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tom 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Tom!