PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Magomed Mihailov (ranked 24775 p4p, 24643 weight class) and John Reese (ranked 784 p4p, 786 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Mihailov
vs
Reese

186 cm
20
188
2 - 3 - 0

177 cm
27
195
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Magomed Mihailov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Reese!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reese staying out of range there.
Reese lands a slapping body shot.
Mihailov lands a nice shot to the body.
Reese is looking to chop away at Mihailov's legs.
Mihailov wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Decent striking displayed by Mihailov there.
Mihailov bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Reese's head.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Mihailov!
Reese takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Reese drives through and clinches with Mihailov against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Reese wants the takedown. Mihailov is fighting it off but Reese persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Mihailov's guard against the cage.
Mihailov wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Reese manages to pass to side control.
Mihailov wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reese takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Reese seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Mihailov looking for submissions off his back.

Mihailov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mihailov wants to stand back up but Reese manages to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Reese scores with punches from side control.
Mihailov is being controlled here.
Mihailov tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Mihailov wants to escape the position.
Reese biding his time, looking for the opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mihailov defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Mihailov is trying to stand back up.
Mihailov is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Reese is trying to stick to Mihailov's back but Mihailov is turning into Reese. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Reese's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Mihailov.
Mihailov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Reese is keeping the position for now.
Reese manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mihailov manages to get himself to full guard.

Reese has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mihailov is proving hard to escape from.
Reese sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mihailov's guard.

Mihailov manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Reese keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Reese will probably get the nod.
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.

Mihailov misses with a left hand
and Reese counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Reese scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Reese wants to stand but Mihailov is controlling his arm.

Reese stands up and beckons Mihailov to his feet.
Reese on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Reese takes a jab right on the kisser.
Magomed Mihailov is winning the standup battle so far.
Mihailov slaps away a takedown attempt from Reese, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Reese tries to clinch up.
Reese darts in looking for a takedown but Mihailov gets double underhooks and turns Reese into the cage.
Mihailov lands a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mihailov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Mihailov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Reese clinches up with Mihailov and pushes him back against the cage.
Mihailov wants a takedown.
Reese using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mihailov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mihailov is looking for a takedown.
Reese cracks Mihailov with a nice body shot.
Mihailov is working for takedown but Reese is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Magomed Mihailov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Reese has Mihailov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mihailov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Reese successfully pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reese has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reese looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Reese is looking to stand up but Mihailov isn't so interested in that idea.
Reese has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Reese wants to hit a sweep here but Mihailov passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Reese there!

Mihailov goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Reese turns into him and now he's in Mihailov's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reese looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Reese got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mihailov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Reese has managed to get both his arms back between Mihailov's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Reese working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Mihailov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Reese showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Reese is continuing to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Reese decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Mihailov, up you get!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but John Reese will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Reese manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Mihailov on his heels. He'll look to pass Mihailov's guard now, I'm sure.
Reese passes into half guard.

Reese decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Mihailov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
John Reese seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mihailov shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Reese eats them both and turns towards Mihailov to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Mihailov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Reese throws a push kick but Mihailov slaps the foot to one side.
Reese tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reese misses with a double jab.
Mihailov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Reese takes one on the button.
Mihailov looks to land a left hand but Reese moved out of range nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Reese moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Reese manages to pull guard.
Mihailov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Reese is keeping the position for now.

Reese looking for a triangle here. Mihailov is fighting it but it looks tight! Reese pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Mihailov is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). John Reese!