PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Richard Laithwaite (ranked 2800 p4p, 25031 weight class) and Marc Magomedov (ranked 297 p4p, 496 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Laithwaite
vs
Magomedov

173 cm
26
151
3 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
145
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Richard Laithwaite!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marc Magomedov!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Jonathan Paton and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laithwaite throws a series of punches but Magomedov avoids them all with ease.

Laithwaite closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Magomedov preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Magomedov trying to hold on to Laithwaite's head to control him but Laithwaite postures up.

Magomedov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Magomedov has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Magomedov is trying to stand back up but Laithwaite is controlling him
Magomedov is looking for a sweep. Laithwaite is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magomedov trying to hold on to Laithwaite's head to control him but Laithwaite postures up.
Magomedov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Magomedov.
Laithwaite stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Magomedov swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Magomedov wants to sweep here but Laithwaite controlling him for the moment.
Laithwaite wants to control from the top but Magomedov keeps moving.
Laithwaite preventing the sweep.
Magomedov is striking but Laithwaite is not phased and passes to half guard.
Laithwaite prevents Magomedov from improving his position.
Laithwaite is keen to just control but Magomedov is a slippery customer.
Magomedov has his hands clasped together around Laithwaite's back. He's all about the action.

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.
Magomedov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Magomedov actively working from the bottom here.
Laithwaite wants to pass to mount but Magomedov is defending the position.
Magomedov wants to control but Laithwaite is keeping busy.
Magomedov is looking for a sweep. Laithwaite is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Magomedov gets back to full guard.
Magomedov is trying to keep Laithwaite in close.
Laithwaite trying to control the position from guard on top but Magomedov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Laithwaite has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Magomedov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Magomedov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Magomedov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Magomedov won't allow Laithwaite to sweep him here.
Magomedov throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Laithwaite 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.
Magomedov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov trying to control but Laithwaite is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Magomedov looks for a takedown but Laithwaite sprawls well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Laithwaite swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Magomedov lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Laithwaite clinches.
Magomedov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Laithwaite fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Magomedov tries to keep at a distance but Laithwaite has taken the fight into the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Laithwaite dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Laithwaite closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Magomedov works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Magomedov trying to control but Laithwaite is working from the bottom.
Laithwaite tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Magomedov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Laithwaite utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Magomedov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magomedov wants to control from the top but Laithwaite keeps moving.
Magomedov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laithwaite preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Magomedov trying to control but Laithwaite is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Laithwaite takes the fight into the clinch.
Laithwaite is pressed up against the cage. Magomedov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Laithwaite down to the mat. Laithwaite avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Magomedov blocks a leg kick.

Laithwaite has taken the fight to the clinch.

Laithwaite has picked Magomedov up - he's going for a ride! Laithwaite dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Laithwaite trying to control from half guard but Magomedov is working away.
Magomedov is trying to maintain the position but Laithwaite is very close to passing his half guard.
Marc Magomedov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Magomedov regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laithwaite trying to control the position from guard on top but Magomedov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Magomedov is pulling down on Laithwaite's head. It's preventing any offense from Laithwaite, at least for the moment.
Magomedov wants to sweep here but Laithwaite controlling him for the moment.
Magomedov looking to control.
Laithwaite has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Magomedov trying to control the position here.
Laithwaite pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Magomedov is keeping the position for now.
Magomedov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov keeping full guard, as Laithwaite tries to pass.
Magomedov trying to control the position here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A combination from Laithwaite does no damage.
Laithwaite is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Magomedov can do to turn this around?

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Magomedov is looking to take this one to the mat.
Magomedov tries for a takedown but Laithwaite manages to get underhooks.
Richard Laithwaite has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marc Magomedov.
Magomedov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Laithwaite is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

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

Magomedov looking to break Laithwaite's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Laithwaite remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Magomedov will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Well, with Magomedov on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Laithwaite is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov avoiding Laithwaite 's attempts to control his hands.
Magomedov tries to get the hooks in deep but Laithwaite pushed the leg off.
Good control from Magomedov.

Laithwaite defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Laithwaite trying to control but not successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
You can see the frustration on Laithwaite's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Magomedov is persistently looking for the submission but Laithwaite is defending it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Marc Magomedov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Laithwaite rushes Magomedov and presses him up against the cage.
Laithwaite gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Magomedov.

Laithwaite has Magomedov pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Laithwaite pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Magomedov tumbling to the mat - Laithwaite dives into Magomedov's guard.
Magomedov looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magomedov wants to sweep but no luck.
Laithwaite trying to control the position from guard on top but Magomedov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Magomedov looking for a sweep. Not yet Magomedov, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laithwaite makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Magomedov is pulling down on Laithwaite's head. It's preventing any offense from Laithwaite, at least for the moment.
Magomedov wants to sweep but no luck.
Laithwaite wants to control from the top but Magomedov keeps moving.
Laithwaite trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Magomedov keeping moving, preventing Laithwaite from controlling successfully.

Laithwaite thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Laithwaite postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two 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.
Laithwaite feints a jab promting Magomedov to slip. Laithwaite then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Magomedov slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Laithwaite drives through and clinches with Magomedov against the cage.
Magomedov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Laithwaite gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Laithwaite is trying to trip Magomedov. He has hold of a leg but Magomedov is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Laithwaite persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Magomedov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Laithwaite's guard.

Laithwaite lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Laithwaite trying to control but Magomedov is working from the bottom.
Laithwaite trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Magomedov 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laithwaite trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Magomedov has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Laithwaite should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Magomedov has tightened it up now! Laithwaite should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Marc Magomedov!