PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Killov Magomedov (ranked 1613 p4p, 3058 weight class) and Tate Baker Wright (ranked 226 p4p, 385 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Magomedov
vs
Baker Wright

188 cm
26
197
4 - 1 - 0

186 cm
26
194
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Powerful

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Killov Magomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tate Baker Wright!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Dmitry Maklakov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Magomedov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Baker Wright's guard.
Baker Wright is trying to control the position but Magomedov postures up.
Magomedov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Baker Wright bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Magomedov's guard.

Magomedov is adopting a defensive guard.
Baker Wright throwing strikes from guard but Magomedov blocks nicely.
Baker Wright has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Magomedov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magomedov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Baker Wright's guard.

Baker Wright tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Baker Wright pulls Magomedov in to control the position.
Magomedov's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker Wright working a defensive guard here.
Baker Wright wants to sweep here but Magomedov controlling him for the moment.
Baker Wright bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Magomedov's guard.

Magomedov pulls Baker Wright in close to his closed guard and prevents Baker Wright from doing any damage or advancing position.
Magomedov'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 ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Baker Wright wants to control from the top but Magomedov keeps moving.
Baker Wright trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Magomedov keeping moving, preventing Baker Wright from controlling successfully.
Baker Wright throwing strikes from guard but Magomedov blocks nicely.
Magomedov wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Baker Wright trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

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

Magomedov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We've been hearing that Magomedov has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov is taking a breather. Baker Wright says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Baker Wright is looking to improve his position.
Well, if Magomedov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Magomedov stops Baker Wright from getting back to his feet.
Magomedov trying to pass the guard but Baker Wright defending well.
Magomedov slows the pace down in half guard.
Baker Wright is trying to control but can't.

That's four 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 stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Magomedov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Baker Wright trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Killov Magomedov 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.

Baker Wright tries to sprawl but Magomedov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Baker Wright gets full guard.
Killov Magomedov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Magomedov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baker Wright is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magomedov content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov wants to pass the guard but Baker Wright is keeping the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Magomedov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Magomedov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Further stalling from Magomedov.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Magomedov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Baker Wright trying to hold on to Magomedov's head to control him but Magomedov postures up.
Magomedov controlling the action here.
Baker Wright tries to kick Magomedov off but Magomedov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov stalling.
Baker Wright tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Baker Wright trying to control but Magomedov postures up.
Magomedov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Magomedov prevents Baker Wright from improving his position.
Magomedov is taking a breather. Baker Wright says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Baker Wright tries to close the distance and clinch up but Magomedov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Magomedov attempts a counter takedown but Baker Wright avoids it well and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Magomedov drives through with a takedown into guard.
Magomedov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Magomedov is stinking the place up with his stalling.
Magomedov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Baker Wright is keeping the position for now.
Magomedov throws a strike but Baker Wright rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Baker Wright trying to control the position from guard on top but Magomedov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Baker Wright looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Magomedov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baker Wright trying to control but Magomedov is working from the bottom.
Baker Wright throws a big elbow that misses.
Magomedov is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Magomedov is trying to control the position but Baker Wright postures up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Magomedov is on top in guard.

Magomedov looking to pass the guard.
Baker Wright being controlled here, momentarily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Baker Wright looking to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Killov Magomedov dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Magomedov.
Baker Wright wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Baker Wright gets back to half guard.

Magomedov is looking for a kimura but Baker Wright is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Magomedov to get the leverage.
Baker Wright manages to get to full guard.
Magomedov passes Baker Wright's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baker Wright works his way to full guard. Good work.
Magomedov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Baker Wright swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Baker Wright trying to control the position.
Magomedov content to stall in guard here.
Baker Wright not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Baker Wright wants to sweep here but Magomedov controlling him for the moment.
Baker Wright bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Magomedov's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Baker Wright missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Baker Wright pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Magomedov is keeping the position for now.
Magomedov seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Magomedov wants to sweep but no luck.
Baker Wright postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Baker Wright throws a strike but Magomedov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Magomedov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Baker Wright trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Magomedov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Magomedov 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.
Magomedov forces his way into half guard.
Baker Wright tries to kick Magomedov off but Magomedov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Tate Baker Wright has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four 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.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Magomedov in particular looking to stall.

Baker Wright actively working from the bottom here.
Baker Wright pushes Magomedov off looking to stand but Magomedov dives back in and keeps control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Magomedov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Baker Wright did well to prevent Magomedov getting side control.
Baker Wright is trying to get back to full guard.
Magomedov perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Magomedov stops Baker Wright from getting back to his feet.
Magomedov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Killov Magomedov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Magomedov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Killov Magomedov!
After the fight, Killov Magomedov 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.