PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ardahan Battuga (ranked 376 p4p, 116 weight class) and Azad Bekzod (ranked 54 p4p, 15 weight class). Bekzod has chosen "Weird" Al Yankovic - Amish Paradise as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Battuga
vs
Bekzod

183 cm
24
174
12 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Shadow Realm Apparel
NARCOS

NARCOS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ardahan Battuga!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Azad Bekzod!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Sergei Dronov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Battuga tries to clinch but Bekzod is having none of it.
Bekzod throws a hook but Battuga avoids it easily.
Bekzod tries to close the distance and clinch up but Battuga swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bekzod jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Bekzod drives through and clinches with Battuga against the cage.

Bekzod breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bekzod scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Battuga throws an off balance right hand
and Bekzod counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bekzod tries to land a front kick but Battuga steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Battuga is looking to counter punch.
Bekzod ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Battuga moves away.
Bekzod dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Battuga lands a head shot.
Battuga misses with a right hand
and Bekzod counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Battuga takes one on the button.
Bekzod keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Battuga misses with a looping right.
Battuga scores with a punch to the head.

Battuga instigates a clinch.
Bekzod scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Bekzod misses with some punches.
Battuga misses with a hook from the clinch.

Bekzod breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bekzod throws a jab but it's blocked by Battuga.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bekzod scores with a nice head shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bekzod scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Bekzod connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Battuga momentarily.
Battuga keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Bekzod ducks under a wild hook from Battuga.
Bekzod ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A telegraphed right hand from Bekzod misses the target.
An attempted straight right counter from Battuga misses the target.
Bekzod throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Battuga sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Battuga throws a jab when Bekzod was well out of range.
Bekzod looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bekzod moves away from the strike by Battuga.
Bekzod throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bekzod keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Battuga.
Battuga swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Battuga takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bekzod uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Battuga.
A little jabbing left from Bekzod on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Battuga needs to keep his hands up - Bekzod had a free shot at his head there.
Battuga throws the left hand but Bekzod avoids the punch easily.
Bekzod moves to clinch but Battuga breaks away
and Battuga counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Battuga misses with a shot to the body
and Bekzod cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Battuga swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Bekzod counters with a straight right hand.
Battuga scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Battuga swings for the body but Bekzod moves out of range.
Bekzod is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Battuga had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Battuga uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bekzod.
Bekzod takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Bekzod throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Bekzod takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Battuga throws a body shot but no joy.
Bekzod misses with the combination.
Battuga was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Azad Bekzod 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.

Bekzod moves out of range as Battuga strikes.
Battuga misses with a straight right.
It seemed like Bekzod was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Battuga swings for the body but Bekzod moves out of range.
No joy there for Bekzod, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A little feinted left hand from Battuga on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've been told by Battuga's head coaches at GWad's Playpen that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Bekzod lands a nice hook to Battuga's body. Battuga takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Bekzod closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Battuga counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bekzod throws an overhand right that lands on Battuga's shoulder, as Battuga tries to avoid the shot.
Azad Bekzod seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Battuga slips a straight right by Bekzod.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Battuga throws an off balance right hand
and Bekzod counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Battuga tries to clinch up
and Bekzod counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bekzod rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Battuga cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bekzod moves into range and connects with a jab.
Bekzod rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Battuga counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Battuga throws a poor cross that misses
and Bekzod makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Battuga staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Battuga comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Battuga closes the distance and clinches.
Battuga avoiding damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bekzod prevents a body shot from Battuga.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Battuga.
Bekzod swings wildly with an uppercut but Battuga uses good head movement to avoid it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Bekzod as Battuga tries to tie him up.
A right handed body shot lands from Bekzod.
Battuga prevents a body shot from Bekzod.
Bekzod misses with a punch to the body.
Bekzod lands with a short shot to the head.
Battuga tries a body shot but Bekzod blocks it.
Battuga misses with some punches.
A shot in the inside from Bekzod.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Battuga doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bekzod scores with a nice hook to the head.
Battuga fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Bekzod.
Bekzod lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Battuga misses with a body punch.
Battuga tries to throw a body punch but Bekzod avoids it by throwing Battuga back against the cage.
Bekzod can't find room to land a body shot as Battuga controls the action.
Bekzod lands a shoulder strike.
Bekzod prevents a body shot from Battuga.
Bekzod lands with a left to the head.
Bekzod has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Battuga doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Battuga misses with the head strike.

Bekzod pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Bekzod moves into the clinch.
Bekzod tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Battuga's elbow.
Battuga tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bekzod's elbow.
A short right from Bekzod.
Bekzod blocking some punches.
Bekzod misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Bekzod scores with a nice short uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Battuga is working Bekzod over against the cage.
Battuga misses with a hook from the clinch.
Battuga throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Bekzods head.
Bekzod tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Battuga's elbow.
Bekzod struggles to land a body shot inside as Battuga controls his hands.
Bekzod tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bekzod tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bekzod lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Battuga backwards.
Battuga makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Battuga.
Battuga blocks a body shot from Bekzod.
Battuga pushes Bekzod back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Bekzod tries a body shot but Battuga blocks it.
Bekzod misses with a punch on the inside.
Bekzod lands a nice uppercut.
Battuga tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Battuga working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Bekzod softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Battuga doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Azad Bekzod showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Battuga throws out a loose jab but Bekzod uses good head movement to avoid it.
Battuga throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Bekzod counters with a right hand to the body.
Nice body punch from Bekzod.
Battuga throws a poor cross that misses
and Bekzod connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Battuga swats away the attempt to clinch by Bekzod.
Battuga is looking to counter punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bekzod throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Battuga to counter with a crisp jab.
Bekzod has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Bekzod there as he acknowledges the shot.
Battuga looks to throw the jab but Bekzod is out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Bekzod misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bekzod digs a good body shot into Battuga's ribs.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Battuga, as that shot connected.
A jab from Battuga does it's job there.
Battuga throws a poor cross that misses
and Bekzod counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bekzod needs to keep his hands up - Battuga had a free shot at his head there.
Bekzod tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Battuga slips under a jab.
Battuga misses with an uppercut
and Bekzod counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A jab from Battuga finds it's way through Bekzod's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bekzod keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bekzod misses with a right hand
and Battuga counters with a stiff right hand.
Bekzod throws a lazy body kick
and Battuga counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Bekzod looks to clinch
and Battuga counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bekzod avoids the body shot from Battuga.

Battuga pushes Bekzod up against the cage in a clinch.
Battuga blocks a body shot from Bekzod.
Bekzod blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Battuga working aggressively here.
Bekzod blocking some punches.
Bekzod misses with a hook to the ribs.
Battuga lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Battuga makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Bekzod misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bekzod struggles to land a body shot inside as Battuga controls his hands.
Battuga lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Bekzod has a couple of punches blocked by Battuga.
Bekzod lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bekzod.
Battuga misses with a hook to the ribs.

Bekzod manages to break the clinch.
Bekzod tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bekzod ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Battuga moves away.
Battuga ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Battuga takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Bekzod misses with a lunging right hand
and Battuga counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bekzod misses the shot to the body.
Battuga misses with a hook
and Bekzod counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Battuga cracks Bekzod with a right hand to the side of the head.
Battuga moves to clinch but Bekzod breaks away
and Battuga takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Battuga lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Bekzod connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Battuga lands a jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ardahan Battuga clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Battuga throws out a loose jab but Bekzod uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bekzod lands an overhand right.
Battuga lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Bekzod tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Battuga manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
It looked like Battuga was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Bekzod.
Bekzod throws out a loose jab but Battuga uses good head movement to avoid it.

Bekzod moves into the clinch successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Battuga swings wildly with an uppercut but Bekzod uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bekzod misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bekzod lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Battuga backwards.
Battuga lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Bekzod backwards.
Bekzod misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bekzod working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bekzod goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A shot in the inside from Battuga.
Bekzod cracks Battuga with a nice body shot.
Battuga gets through Bekzod's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Battuga blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bekzod swings wildly with an uppercut but Battuga uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bekzod tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bekzod works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Bekzod tries to throw a body punch but Battuga avoids it by throwing Bekzod back against the cage.
Bekzod tries to work over Battuga's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bekzod lands with a right to the head.

Bekzod pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bekzod looks to score with a jab to the body but Battuga is just out of range.
The crowd cheers as Bekzod lands an impressive looking overhand right. Battuga doesn't seem phased though.
A jab lands there for Battuga.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bekzod lands a big head kick that sends Battuga tumbling to the mat! Bekzod takes a step backwards and waves Battuga back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Battuga is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Bekzod clinches.
Oh Battuga is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Battuga doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bekzod goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Battuga seems to have got his legs back now.
Bekzod tries to work over Battuga's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Battuga gets through Bekzod's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Bekzod tries a body shot but Battuga blocks it.
Battuga tries to throw a body punch but Bekzod avoids it by throwing Battuga back against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bekzod creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Battuga lands a left hand.
Bekzod lands a right hand.
Bekzod wants to get back to striking at distance but Battuga won't allow it.
Bekzod has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Battuga tries to throw a body punch but Bekzod avoids it by throwing Battuga back against the cage.
Battuga throws a head punch that misses.
Battuga swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bekzod lands a left hand that snaps the head of Battuga backwards.
Bekzod misses with some punches.
Bekzod blocking some punches.
Battuga makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Battuga misses with a punch to the body.
Bekzod scores with a shot to the side of Battuga's head.
Come on Battuga - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Bekzod tries to throw a body punch but Battuga avoids it by throwing Bekzod back against the cage.
Bekzod softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Battuga tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bekzod's elbow.
Bekzod takes a shot to the head.
Bekzod lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Bekzod goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A bit of stalling here from Battuga.
Battuga struggles to land a body shot inside as Bekzod controls his hands.
A left hand lands to the body for Bekzod.
Bekzod lands a body shot in the clinch.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Battuga lands a left hand that snaps the head of Bekzod backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bekzod can't find room to land a body shot as Battuga controls the action.
Bekzod tries a body shot but Battuga blocks it.
Bekzod scores with a nice hook to the head.
Bekzod pushes Battuga back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Battuga misses with some punches.
Battuga throws a head punch that misses.
Bekzod softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Battuga swings wildly with an uppercut but Bekzod uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bekzod misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bekzod softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Battuga misses with a hook to the ribs.
Battuga scores with a hook to the body.
Battuga tries to stall but Bekzod uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Bekzod misses with a body punch.
Bekzod tries a body shot but Battuga blocks it.
Bekzod misses with a hook to the ribs.
Battuga swings wildly with an uppercut but Bekzod uses good head movement to avoid it.
Battuga blocks a body shot from Bekzod.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Azad Bekzod dominated that fourth round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Battuga swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bekzod thinks about the counter body kick.
Bekzod changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Battuga lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Bekzod throws a hook but Battuga avoids it easily.

Bekzod has managed to clinch.
A short right from Bekzod.
Battuga lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Battuga creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Bekzod goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Battuga misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Battuga misses with the head strike.
Battuga tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bekzod's elbow.
A body shot lands from Bekzod.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Battuga can't find room to land a body shot as Bekzod controls the action.
A left hand lands to the body for Battuga.
A shot in the inside from Bekzod.
Bekzod fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Battuga tries to throw a body punch but Bekzod avoids it by throwing Battuga back against the cage.
Battuga swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bekzod misses with a hook to the ribs.
Battuga misses with some punches.
Battuga blocks a body shot from Bekzod.
A right hook to the body lands for Bekzod.
Battuga throws a head punch that misses.
Bekzod misses with a body punch.
Bekzod goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bekzod lands a shoulder strike.
Bekzod taking a breather.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Battuga.
Bekzod can't find room to land a body shot as Battuga controls the action.
Battuga blocks a body shot from Bekzod.
Battuga misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Battuga goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bekzod blocks an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Battuga.
Battuga's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Bekzod blocking some punches.
Bekzod prevents a body shot from Battuga.
Bekzod tries a body shot but Battuga blocks it.
Battuga blocks an uppercut.
Bekzod tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Battuga's elbow.
Battuga lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ardahan Battuga has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bekzod misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bekzod lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Battuga or not.
Battuga swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bekzod lands a nice uppercut.
Battuga misses with some punches.
Bekzod digs a right hand into Battuga's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Battuga's gas tank.

Bekzod pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bekzod rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Battuga counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bekzod misses with a lunging right hand
and Bekzod takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jab, jab by Bekzod - just one landing.
Bekzod stuns Battuga with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Battuga throws a poor cross that misses
and Bekzod counters with a right hand to the body.
Bekzod connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Battuga rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Bekzod counters with a nice body shot.
Bekzod scores with a nice strike.
Battuga scores with a jab. Bekzod acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Azad Bekzod is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bekzod slips a jab from Battuga.
Bekzod wants to clinch
and Battuga counters with a right hand to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bekzod fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Bekzod fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Battuga looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Battuga 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.
Bekzod misses with a hook
and Battuga cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bekzod misses with an uppercut. Battuga saw that one coming.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Azad Bekzod.
Well Bekzod has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 46:49
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 46:49
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Azad Bekzod! Azad Bekzod retains his welterweight title!
Our winner, Azad Bekzod, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.