PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Valentin Taneyev (ranked 20 p4p, 35 weight class) and Mohammed Kahn (ranked 4 p4p, 8 weight class). Kahn has chosen كارتل مدان as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Taneyev
vs
Kahn

186 cm
36
206
29 - 14 - 1

188 cm
33
205
29 - 7 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Valentin Taneyev!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mohammed Kahn!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Kahn takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Taneyev has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Bushido Martial Arts in the buildup to the fight.
Taneyev takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

It looks like Mohammed Kahn has been cut.
Taneyev misses with a hook. Kahn ducked under it nicely.
Taneyev sizes up Kahn with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Taneyev misses with an uppercut. Kahn saw that one coming.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taneyev throws a big shot that misses.
Kahn looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Taneyev misses with a low kick.
Kahn doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taneyev throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kahn sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Taneyev.
Taneyev throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kahn connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The fighters circling - Taneyev throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kahn looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Taneyev lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Taneyev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kahn.
Valentin Taneyev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taneyev scores with a hook.
Taneyev swings widly with a right hand
and Kahn counters with a good low kick that Taneyev was not able to check.
A big right from Taneyev misses.
Taneyev dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Taneyev tries to work over Kahn's front leg with a kick but Kahn checks it.
A countering left hand to the body from Kahn misses.
Taneyev throws a leg kick but Kahn sees it coming and moves out of range.
Kahn looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taneyev throws a half hearted mid kick.
Taneyev lands an overhand right.
Taneyev throws a jab when Kahn was well out of range.
Taneyev misses with an uppercut
and Kahn counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Taneyev misses with a wild body shot.
Kahn is trying to counter with his kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taneyev throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kahn only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Taneyev throws a jab but it's blocked by Kahn.
Kahn lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Taneyev lands a front kick.
Kahn takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Jab from Taneyev.

That has opened up Mohammed Kahn's cut even more.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taneyev throws a jab but it's blocked by Kahn.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Valentin Taneyev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mohammed Kahn's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Taneyev lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Kahn has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kahn and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A low kick from Taneyev is predictable there
and Kahn counters with a nice body kick.
Valentin Taneyev is winning the standup battle so far.
Taneyev throws a body punch but Kahn moves out of range.
And Kahn responds with a good body kick, but Taneyev manages to step out the way in time.
Taneyev cracks Kahn with an open hand slap.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taneyev throws a leg kick that is checked
and Kahn connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Kahn might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Taneyev has got the better of the exchanges.
Kahn has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Taneyev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taneyev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kahn moves away.
Kahn is looking for the big counter here.
Taneyev waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kahn.
Kahn replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Taneyev blocks it well.
Taneyev fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kahn has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kahn takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Taneyev lands with a right hand.
Taneyev connects with a solid leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taneyev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kahn was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Taneyev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kahn can do to turn this around?
Taneyev misses with a body shot.
And Kahn responds with a good body kick, but Taneyev manages to step out the way in time.
A jab lands there for Taneyev.
Taneyev digs a good body shot into Kahn's ribs.
Taneyev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A nice side step and Kahn releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taneyev misses with the combination.
Kahn throws out a counter right but Taneyev avoids it with no problem.
Kahn has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Taneyev swings for the body but Kahn moves out of range.
Taneyev throws a wild body kick that Kahn sees coming a mile off.
Kahn looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Taneyev throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kahn stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Taneyev misses.
Kahn ducks under a wild hook from Taneyev.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kahn! But no joy.
Taneyev throws a leg kick
and Kahn counters with a nice uppercut.
Taneyev throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taneyev thumps Kahn with a low kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Taneyev.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Valentin Taneyev dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mohammed Kahn's cut.
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.

Taneyev uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kahn has time to react.
Taneyev does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Kahn now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Taneyev scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Taneyev misses the shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taneyev feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kahns jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Taneyev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kahn moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Taneyev.
A slapping leg kick lands for Taneyev.
Taneyev cracks Kahn with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Taneyev.
Kahn takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taneyev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kahn follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Taneyev connects with a body shot.
Taneyev lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Taneyev misses with a body shot.
Kahn unleashes a big counter combination but Taneyev bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Taneyev explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Taneyev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kahn was well out of range. Poor timing from Taneyev.
And Kahn responds with a good body kick, but Taneyev manages to step out the way in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kahn uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taneyev.
Taneyev fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

The cut above Mohammed Kahn's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Taneyev throws a solid leg kick but Kahn takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Taneyev.
Kahn steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Kahn ducks under a wild hook from Taneyev.
And Kahn responds with a good body kick, but Taneyev manages to step out the way in time.
Taneyev works Kahn's body with a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kahn uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Taneyev.
Taneyev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kahn.
Taneyev lands with a kick to the temple. Kahn shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Taneyev throws a right hand that misses
and Kahn counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kahn has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Taneyev finds it's way round the side to connect with Kahn's head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Valentin Taneyev clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Mohammed Kahn's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kahn takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Taneyev connects with a right hand. Kahn shakes it off.
Taneyev thuds a left hand into Kahn's body.
Taneyev takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Mohammed Kahn's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taneyev tries to land a body kick
and Kahn counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kahn takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kahn takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Taneyev thows a leg kick but Kahn checks it
and Kahn counters with a thumping low kick.
Taneyev works Kahn's body with a nice hook.
Taneyev lands with a shot to the body.
Kahn's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Taneyev with the inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kahn is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Taneyev.
Taneyev misses with a body shot.
Taneyev misses with a low kick.
Kahn feints a counter leg kick.
Taneyev wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Taneyev connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kahn displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Taneyev throws out the jab.
Kahn blocks a jab.
Taneyev misses with a low kick.
Kahn appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Taneyev lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Mohammed Kahn's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Valentin Taneyev!
Valentin Taneyev retains his light heavyweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Valentin Taneyev thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.