PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Khalid Magomedov (ranked 706 p4p, 727 weight class) and Porthos Knox (ranked 99 p4p, 105 weight class). Magomedov's entrance music is SABINA feat. Timaro - Dagestan. A fine choice. Knox has chosen One Step Closer | Linkin Park as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Magomedov
vs
Knox

178 cm
28
183
7 - 3 - 0

177 cm
40
175
26 - 22 - 4

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

30th Century Beer Store
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Khalid Magomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 22 - 4, fighting out of Amsterdam, Porthos Knox!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Patrick Alders and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knox looks to score with a jab to the body but Magomedov is just out of range.
Knox scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Knox ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Magomedov moves away.
Knox ducks under a wild hook from Magomedov.
The fighters circling - Magomedov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Knox throws a right and a left that Magomedov avoids nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Magomedov is defended easily by Knox.
Magomedov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Knox misses with an uppercut. Magomedov saw that one coming.
Magomedov takes a jab right on the kisser.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knox scores with the left hand. Magomedov knows he should have avoided that one.
Knox throws a head kick that misses
and Magomedov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Knox works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
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!
Knox throws a hook but Magomedov blocks it.
Magomedov takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Knox throws a hook to the side of Magomedov's head but Magomedov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Magomedov throws a series of punches but Knox moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Knox checks a leg kick.
Knox avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Knox tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Magomedov misses with a looping right.
Knox swats away the attempt to clinch by Magomedov.
Knox fails in his attempt to clinch.
Magomedov misses with a hook. Knox ducked under it nicely.
The fighters circling - Magomedov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Magomedov ducks right into an uppercut from Knox.
Knox thuds a left hand into Magomedov's body.
Knox closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Knox connects with a nice looking jab.
A decent looking cross lands there for Knox.
Knox slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
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!

Knox clinches up against the cage.
Magomedov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Magomedov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Magomedov successfully pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox won't allow Magomedov to sweep him here.
Knox is looking to stand up but Magomedov won't let him.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Magomedov is on top in guard.

Magomedov wants to control from the top but Knox keeps moving.
Knox wants to stand but Magomedov is controlling the position.
Magomedov stays in close to Knox's body and controls the position.
Magomedov throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov landing with the ground and pound.
Magomedov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Magomedov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Magomedov with a nice head shot there.
Magomedov throws a strike but Knox rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Magomedov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Knox is one step ahead there.
Magomedov is working hard here to advance position.

Magomedov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov controls Knox momentarily but Knox frees himself.
Magomedov wants to sweep here but Knox controlling him for the moment.

Magomedov looking for a guillotine here but Knox defends easily.
Knox wants to stand but Magomedov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Magomedov working for submissions but it's allowed Knox to get to half guard.
Magomedov tries to get to full guard but Knox has control of the leg.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Porthos Knox dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Magomedov tries for a takedown but Knox sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Magomedov swats away the attempt to clinch by Knox.
Knox missing with a left hand there. Magomedov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Knox connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Magomedov momentarily.
Magomedov is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Knox scores with a sloppy right hand. Magomedov should have avoided that one.
Knox goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Magomedov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Knox misses with a straight left.
Magomedov takes one on the button.
Knox has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Knox scores with a body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Knox throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Knox has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Knox closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Magomedov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Magomedov looking to pass the guard.
Magomedov works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox is trying to stand back up but Magomedov is controlling him
Magomedov trying to control the action but Knox is working from the bottom.
Magomedov is just content to waste time from the top position. Knox takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Magomedov stops Knox from standing up.
Magomedov throws a big right hand that misses.
Magomedov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Knox wants to stand but Magomedov is controlling the position.
Magomedov trying to control the position from guard on top but Knox is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Knox is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Magomedov is controlling him.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Magomedov clinches up against the cage.
Knox lands a left hand.
Knox misses with the head strike.

Magomedov is trying to trip Knox. He has hold of a leg but Knox is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Magomedov persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Knox avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Magomedov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Magomedov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Magomedov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Magomedov won't allow Knox to get back to his feet.
Magomedov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knox keeping moving, preventing Magomedov from controlling successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Knox throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Magomedov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Jab by Knox.
Magomedov moves out of range as Knox strikes.
Magomedov lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Magomedov.
Knox lands a jab to the nose.
Magomedov misses the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Magomedov misses with an uppercut. Knox saw that one coming.
Magomedov on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Knox cracks Magomedov with an open hand slap.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knox moves into range and connects with a jab.

Magomedov gets a takedown into half guard.
Magomedov is nestled in close to Knox, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Magomedov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Magomedov passes to side control.
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.
Magomedov wants to control but Knox is keeping him busy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Porthos Knox showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Knox slips a jab and a cross from Magomedov.

Knox gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nice body punch from Knox.

Knox pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Porthos Knox seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Knox throws a poor cross that misses

and Magomedov counters with a single leg into guard. Knox didn't expect that.
Magomedov prevents Knox from getting back to his feet.
Magomedov trying to control the position from guard on top but Knox is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Knox 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 postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov trying to control but Knox is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Magomedov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Knox.
Magomedov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Knox tries to clinch but Magomedov is having none of it.
Magomedov tries to clinch up but Knox circles away and keeps his distance.
Knox swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Knox uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Magomedov.
Magomedov looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Knox jabs Magomedov to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Magomedov looks to throw the jab but Knox is out of range.
Knox misses with an uppercut.
Knox circles away from the clinch attempt.
Despite the aggression on Knox's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Magomedov lands an impressive looking overhand right. Knox doesn't seem phased though.
Knox tests Magomedov's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Knox takes the fight into the clinch.

Magomedov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Khalid Magomedov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Magomedov has his foot on Knox's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Knox works his way back into a safe position though.
Knox tries to stand but Magomedov is controlling from the bottom.
Knox wants to stand and escape but instead Magomedov has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Magomedov stands up over Knox, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Magomedov looking to sit in guard and control but Knox gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Knox would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Magomedov throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Magomedov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Magomedov seems keen to control Knox's posture.

Magomedov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Knox gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

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 trying to keep a closed guard but Knox is proving a slippery customer.
Porthos Knox is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Magomedov working for a triangle but Knox defends it easily.
Magomedov working a defensive guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Magomedov working for a triangle but Knox defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Khalid Magomedov.
I think Knox has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Porthos Knox!
Porthos Knox seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.