PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maksud Magomedov (ranked 956 p4p, 1008 weight class) and Akuma Manivong (ranked 141 p4p, 150 weight class). Magomedov comes to the cage accompanied by Lezginka - Kavkaz. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Magomedov
vs
Manivong

180 cm
26
226
12 - 7 - 0

193 cm
26
266
7 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Maksud Magomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Akuma Manivong!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Ren Mimura and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manivong goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Magomedov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Jab, jab by Magomedov - just one landing.
Manivong tries to move into range but Magomedov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Magomedov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Manivong takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Magomedov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Magomedov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Manivong.
Manivong just misses with a punch to the body.
Magomedov loads up on a big right hand but Manivong slips the punch.
It seemed like Manivong was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Manivong smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Magomedov lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Magomedov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Magomedov lands in his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Manivong is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Magomedov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Magomedov throwing strikes but missing.
Magomedov trying to control the position from guard on top but Manivong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Manivong looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Manivong is on top in guard.

Magomedov is trying to hold Manivong in close to prevent damage but Manivong has managed to pass into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov tries to roll over but Manivong keeps him under control.
Magomedov is working hard here to advance position.
Manivong wants to pass the guard but Magomedov is defending well.
Magomedov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Magomedov is trying to get back to full guard.
Manivong wants to take a breather but Magomedov is having none of it.

Manivong is working for a submission of some sort.

Magomedov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Manivong is working for a kimura but Magomedov is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Manivong is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Magomedov regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Manivong.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Magomedov holds on and takes a little breather.
Magomedov keeping moving, preventing Manivong from controlling successfully.
Manivong trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Manivong is looking to work some ground and pound but Magomedov has wrist control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Magomedov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Manivong throws a big right hand that misses.
Manivong tries to free his leg and advance position but Magomedov is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Maksud Magomedov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Magomedov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Manivong dodges the punch combination from Magomedov.
Manivong on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Manivong wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Magomedov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Magomedov has closed the distance and engaged Manivong in a clinch.
Magomedov lands with a short shot to the head.
Magomedov is struggling to control the position.
Magomedov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magomedov lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Manivong prevents a takedown attempt there.
Magomedov lands a nice uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Manivong.
Manivong tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Magomedov scores with a shot to the side of Manivong's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Manivong misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Manivong's elbow.
Magomedov can't find room to land a body shot as Manivong controls the action.
A nice left hand lands by Magomedov.
A short left from Manivong.

Manivong breaks from the clinch.
Maksud Magomedov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Magomedov shoots for a double leg takedown but Manivong sprawls well. He's pushed Magomedov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Maksud Magomedov is winning the standup battle so far.
Magomedov tries to clinch up.
Magomedov misses with a combination
letting Manivong counter with a right hand.
Manivong misses with a hook.
Magomedov throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Manivong counters with a crisp one two that drops Magomedov! Manivong thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Magomedov to his feet! Magomedov is in big trouble!
Magomedov tries to close the distance and clinch but Manivong swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Manivong now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

Manivong sends Magomedov crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Manivong is motioning to the referee to let Magomedov up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

Magomedov is rocked!
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!
Both fighters circling a little - Manivong finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Manivong keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov swings away with a body shot that misses
and Manivong counters with an inside leg kick.
Manivong tries to land a front kick but Magomedov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Akuma Manivong is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Magomedov shoots and misses
and Manivong cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maksud Magomedov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Magomedov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Magomedov misses with a straight right.
Manivong tries a quick counter leg kick but Magomedov is wise to it.
Decent striking displayed by Magomedov there.
Magomedov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Manivong moves away.
Manivong has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Manivong misses with a looping right.
Manivong looks to land a body kick but Magomedov moved away.
Manivong slips a straight right by Magomedov.
Manivong throws a solid leg kick but Magomedov takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Manivong.
Manivong throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Manivong throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Magomedov has closed the distance and engaged Manivong in a clinch.
I was talking to Magomedov's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Manivong backwards.
Magomedov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Magomedov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Manivong makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Magomedov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Magomedov fails to land.
Manivong prevents a body shot from Magomedov.
Magomedov lands a hook that snaps the head of Manivong backwards.
Manivong goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Magomedov lands a nice uppercut.
Magomedov blocking some punches.
Nice body punch from Magomedov.
Manivong misses with some punches.
A right hand to the body from Magomedov.
Magomedov lands with a right to the head.
Magomedov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Magomedov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Manivong struggles to land a body shot inside as Magomedov controls his hands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Magomedov scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Manivong working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Magomedov lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Magomedov working Manivong over with strikes.
Manivong has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Magomedov is working away from the top position though.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Magomedov lands a nice short elbow.
Manivong is looking for a sweep. Magomedov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Manivong is trying to control but can't.
Magomedov works his way into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Manivong is trying to get back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Akuma Manivong will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Magomedov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Manivong at a distance.
Magomedov misses with an uppercut
and Manivong counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Manivong walks into a left hand.
Magomedov connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Manivong lands a jab to the nose.
Manivong with a jab.
Magomedov's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Manivong connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Magomedov scrambles back to his feet.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Magomedov!
Manivong is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Magomedov.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Manivong lands with a nice body punch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Magomedov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Magomedov lands a body shot.
A shot to the body from Magomedov misses
and Manivong makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov throws a body shot but no joy.
Magomedov throws a right hand that misses
and Manivong counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Manivong fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Magomedov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Manivong ducks under a wild hook from Magomedov.
Magomedov misses the body punch
enabling Manivong to counter with a crisp jab.
Magomedov dives in for a single leg takedown but Manivong sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Manivong scores with a nice short uppercut.
Manivong stalling in the clinch but Magomedov improves position.
Manivong lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Manivong tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Magomedov's elbow.

Manivong manages to break the clinch.
Magomedov misses with a shot to the body
and Manivong counters with a low kick, right behind Magomedov 's knee.
Magomedov closes the distance looking to clinch

and Manivong counters with a head kick that drops Magomedov to the mat! Magomedov scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!
Oh Magomedov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Manivong measures up his opponent and throws a superman punch that connects to the jaw! Down goes Magomedov! The ref steps in, and that's the ball game folks!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:10 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Superman Punch). Akuma Manivong!
Akuma Manivong bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.