PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between George Armstrong (ranked 5876 p4p, 4968 weight class) and Arslanbek Makhmudov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arslanbek Makhmudov will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Armstrong
vs
Makhmudov

193 cm
19
263
1 - 0 - 0

212 cm
18
275
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, George Armstrong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Arslanbek Makhmudov!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, William Peck and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Armstrong wants to clinch.

Armstrong decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Armstrong looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Makhmudov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Armstrong is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Makhmudov trying to control but Armstrong postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makhmudov is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong trying to mount his opponent but Makhmudov defends it.
Makhmudov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Armstrong scores with a couple of nice shots.
Armstrong is controlling the pace.
Armstrong looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Makhmudov is staying active underneath Armstrong, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Makhmudov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Armstrong winds up and cracks Makhmudov with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Armstrong keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Armstrong is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Armstrong sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong'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 fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Makhmudov is looking for a sweep. Armstrong is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Makhmudov is looking to control Armstrong's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Makhmudov avoid being mounted?

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Armstrong shoots for a takedown but Makhmudov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Makhmudov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Armstrong paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Makhmudov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Makhmudov counter with a right hand.
Armstrong circles away from the clinch attempt.
Makhmudov lands with a kick to the temple. Armstrong shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Makhmudov cracks Armstrong with an open hand slap.
Armstrong tries to clinch but Makhmudov moves out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Armstrong lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Makhmudov has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Makhmudov and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A shot to the liver by Makhmudov. Beautiful body shot.
Armstrong thows a left - swing and a miss!
Makhmudov looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Makhmudov shoots in but Armstrong avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Makhmudov looks winded!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Armstrong closes the distance looking to clinch
and Makhmudov counters with a left and a right that stings Armstrong.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Arslanbek Makhmudov will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Armstrong lands with a kick to the temple. Makhmudov shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
No luck with that takedown attempt from Makhmudov.
Makhmudov circles away from the clinch attempt.

Makhmudov drives through with a takedown into Armstrong's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Armstrong has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Makhmudov has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Makhmudov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Armstrong avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Makhmudov lands an elbow that stopped Armstrong in his tracks for a moment.
A shot in the inside from Makhmudov.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Armstrong is trying to force a seperation but Makhmudov has the dominant position.

Makhmudov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Armstrong leaves Makhmudov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Armstrong half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
George Armstrong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arslanbek Makhmudov.
Makhmudov is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makhmudov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Armstrong shoots in looking for a takedown but Makhmudov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Armstrong's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Armstrong is defended easily by Makhmudov.

Makhmudov forces Armstrong back against the cage and clinches.
Armstrong letting Makhmudov take a breather here.

Armstrong has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Makhmudov regains guard immediately.
Makhmudov can't keep his opponent in guard - Armstrong advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Armstrong landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Armstrong working the head and body with strikes.
Makhmudov tries to kick Armstrong off but Armstrong keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Armstrong looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Armstrong lands strikes from half guard.
Armstrong controlling the action here.
Makhmudov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Armstrong. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Armstrong slips a nice elbow through Makhmudov's hands, connecting with Makhmudov's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Makhmudov tries to get to full guard but Armstrong has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Armstrong in particular looking to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Armstrong looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Despite the aggression on Makhmudov's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Armstrong dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Makhmudov avoids the head kick by Armstrong.

Armstrong feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Armstrong stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Makhmudov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Armstrong trying to control the position from guard on top but Makhmudov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Armstrong postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makhmudov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Makhmudov looking for a sweep. Not yet Makhmudov, not yet.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Armstrong looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makhmudov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Armstrong is fending him off so far but Makhmudov persists. Nope, Armstrong circles away and we're back to standing.
Makhmudov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Makhmudov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Armstrong swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Armstrong gets a double leg takedown into Makhmudov's guard.
Makhmudov is looking to stand back up but Armstrong counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Makhmudov.

Armstrong frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Makhmudov is working to get back to half guard.
Armstrong with the ground and pound from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Armstrong controlling from the full mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Armstrong working for a submission but Makhmudov is keeping him at bay.

Armstrong wants to finish this one by submission but Makhmudov is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Armstrong.

Armstrong is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Makhmudov to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Makhmudov shrugs it off.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Armstrong content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Makhmudov wants to control but Armstrong is having none of it.
Armstrong working Makhmudov over with strikes here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Makhmudov is in all sorts of trouble here.
Armstrong controlling from mount.
Makhmudov tries to control the position but Armstrong now has his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Armstrong showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Armstrong has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Armstrong!