PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yusuf Mammadov (ranked 3119 p4p, 4491 weight class) and Noah Ortega (ranked 416 p4p, 562 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mammadov
vs
Ortega

173 cm
22
172
1 - 3 - 1

183 cm
22
174
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Heavy handed

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 1 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yusuf Mammadov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Noah Ortega!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ortega shoots in for a takedown but Mammadov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ortega scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Mammadov connects with a body shot.
Ortega avoids the head kick by Mammadov.
Mammadov has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Ortega misses with a wild body shot.

Mammadov forces Ortega back against the cage and clinches.
Mammadov throws a punch but it's blocked by Ortega.
Mammadov has a couple of punches blocked by Ortega.
Ortega blocks an uppercut.
Mammadov misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mammadov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stalling in the clinch from Mammadov.
Mammadov lands a nice uppercut.
Mammadov tries to throw a body punch but Ortega avoids it by throwing Mammadov back against the cage.
Mammadov tries to work over Ortega's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mammadov misses with some punches.
Mammadov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mammadov has Ortega pressed against the cage.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Ortega has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Mammadov tries to throw a body punch but Ortega avoids it by throwing Mammadov back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mammadov.
Mammadov misses with a punch on the inside.
Mammadov tries to work over Ortega's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Ortega tightens his grip and picks Mammadov up, before dumping him to the ground. Mammadov manages to land in guard.
Ortega sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ortega postures up.
Ortega won't allow Mammadov to sweep him here.
Ortega connects with a couple of short punches.
Ortega lands a couple of digs.
Ortega trying to control the position from guard on top but Mammadov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ortega lands a couple of elbows.
Mammadov 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.
Mammadov looking to control.
Ortega is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Mammadov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ortega defends it easily.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Ortega thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ortega advances to half guard.
Mammadov is pressing down on Ortega's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ortega throwing strikes from guard but Mammadov blocks nicely.

Mammadov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ortega can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mammadov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ortega's guard.

Mammadov preventing the sweep.
Ortega keeps trying to improve his position.
Mammadov controlling from the top position.
Mammadov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ortega is keeping the position for now.
Ortega trying to control the position.

Ortega is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Ortega escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mammadov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mammadov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mammadov is working hard here to advance position.
Ortega keeping moving, preventing Mammadov from controlling successfully.

Ortega has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Mammadov is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Ortega.
Ortega is trying to get back to half guard.
Mammadov throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Ortega tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mammadov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Mammadov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Mammadov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Mammadov working the ground and pound but Ortega is defending the strikes.
You can see the frustration on Ortega's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Mammadov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ortega has escaped the position, nice work there.

Mammadov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ortega is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yusuf Mammadov 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.

Ortega takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ortega shoots in for a takedown but Mammadov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mammadov is looking to counter punch.
Ortega throws a right hand that misses
and Mammadov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ortega moves out of range as Mammadov strikes.
And Ortega tries to counter it with a takedown but Mammadov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Mammadov leaves Ortega with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mammadov throwing a counter right hand but Ortega manages to avoid it.
Ortega lands a jab to Mammadov's midsection.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Mammadov as Ortega shoots in.
Yusuf Mammadov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Noah Ortega.
Ortega connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Mammadov's hands.

Ortega is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mammadov's half guard.
Noah Ortega has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mammadov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mammadov is controlling Ortega's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Ortega is trying to work for a kimura but Mammadov is defending well.
Ortega prevents Mammadov from improving his position.

Ortega is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Mammadov looking for submissions off his back.
Ortega looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Mammadov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ortega pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ortega lands strikes from half guard.
Ortega is looking to take a break and control but Mammadov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ortega controlling the pace.
Mammadov is trying to get back to full guard.
Ortega seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mammadov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mammadov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ortega pulls his head out easily.
Ortega thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mammadov's head.
Mammadov controlling the position for now.
Ortega looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Mammadov is not content to let Ortega control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mammadov wants to get back to full guard.
Ortega is thwarting Mammadov's attempts to control the position.

Mammadov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ortega lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Mammadov is looking for a sweep. Ortega is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ortega looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mammadov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Mammadov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ortega.
Mammadov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Mammadov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mammadov is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mammadov wants to sweep here but Ortega controlling him for the moment.
Mammadov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Mammadov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ortega gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mammadov keeping moving, preventing Ortega from controlling successfully.

Mammadov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ortega 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.
Ortega stopping the sweep attempt from Mammadov.
Ortega must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ortega sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ortega stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mammadov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Noah Ortega showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Mammadov rushes Ortega and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nice body punch from Mammadov.
Mammadov lands a hook that snaps the head of Ortega backwards.
Ortega blocking some punches.
Mammadov presses Ortega against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Ortega wants a takedown but no success here.
Mammadov scores with a shot to the side of Ortega's head.
Mammadov lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right hook to the body lands for Mammadov.
Mammadov throws a head punch that misses.
Mammadov swings wildly with an uppercut but Ortega uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ortega blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortega blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mammadov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ortega blocking some punches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Mammadov.
Mammadov lands with a light punch inside.
Ortega prevents a body shot from Mammadov.
A nice left hand lands by Mammadov.
A nice left hand lands by Mammadov.
Mammadov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ortega blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mammadov lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ortega or not.
Mammadov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ortega can do to turn this around?
A head punch on the inside from Mammadov fails to land.
Mammadov can't find room to land a body shot as Ortega controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mammadov lands a nice uppercut.
Mammadov pushes Ortega back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ortega looking to slow down the pace here.
Mammadov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mammadov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mammadov scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A head punch on the inside from Mammadov fails to land.
Mammadov lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ortega.
Ortega takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Ortega works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Mammadov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ortega's guard.

Mammadov works over Ortega with some ground and pound from guard.
Mammadov passes Ortega's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Mammadov passes to side control.

Mammadov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Mammadov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mammadov tries to move into full mount but can't pass Ortega's legs.
Ortega manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Mammadov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ortega is just riding it out for now. Mammadov eventually gives up the hold.
Ortega is trying to get back to full guard.
Mammadov is nestled in close to Ortega, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Mammadov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Ortega tries to get to full guard but Mammadov has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mammadov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ortega tries to roll over but Mammadov keeps him under control.
Ortega is trying to control but Mammadov passes into side control!
Ortega wants to control but Mammadov postures up.
Mammadov advances nicely into full mount.

Mammadov is working for a guillotine from mount but Ortega frees his head quite easily.
Ortega working to try and regain half guard.
Ortega is squirming around, avoiding Mammadov's attempts to control the action.
Ortega is trying desperately to improve position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yusuf Mammadov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mammadov 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yusuf Mammadov!
After the fight, Yusuf Mammadov was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.