PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Marat Tandelov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rayaj Aman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tandelov
vs
Aman

160 cm
19
138 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
20
145 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marat Tandelov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rayaj Aman!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rayaj Aman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tandelov missing with a left hand there. Aman was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Aman looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
That kick from Aman tenderised Tandelov's leg. Tandelov is trying to keep his angry face on.
Aman ducks under a wild hook from Tandelov.
Aman throws a leg kick but Tandelov sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Aman scores with a head kick.

It looks like Marat Tandelov has been cut.
Aman blocks a head kick by Tandelov.
Tandelov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Tandelov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Aman is trying to defend but Tandelov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Tandelov throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Aman to regain full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tandelov throws a big right hand that misses.
Aman keeping moving, preventing Tandelov from controlling successfully.
Tandelov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tandelov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Aman has momentary wrist control but Tandelov slips an elbow through the middle.
Tandelov trying to control but Aman is working from the bottom.
Tandelov throwing strikes from guard but Aman blocks nicely.
Aman is trying to keep Tandelov in close.
Tandelov scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tandelov wants to pass the guard but Aman is keeping the position.
Tandelov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tandelov throws an elbow that misses. Aman uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tandelov's guard. Nice move by Aman!
Tandelov wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Tandelov looking for a sweep. Not yet Tandelov, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tandelov has control of Aman's left arm, preventing Aman from doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A head kick misses from Aman.
Aman misses the jab.
Aman blocks a leg kick.
Aman tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tandelov avoids the head kick by Aman.
A slow jab from Tandelov misses its intended target.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Aman.
A head kick misses from Tandelov.
Tandelov avoids the head kick by Aman.
Aman lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Aman pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Aman throws a head kick that misses.
Aman throws a low kick but Tandelov avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tandelov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Aman can pounce on him.
Tandelov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Aman was well out of range. Poor timing from Tandelov.
Aman throws a hook but Tandelov blocks it.
Aman throws a sloppy head kick and Tandelov moves out of range easily.
Aman dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tandelov. That did some damage!
Rayaj Aman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Aman tries a head kick but it misses.
Aman looks winded!
Aman feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tandelov's calf.
Aman blocks a low kick nicely.

Tandelov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tandelov connects with a couple of short punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tandelov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Tandelov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marat Tandelov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marat Tandelov's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Aman tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Aman throws a sloppy head kick and Tandelov moves out of range easily.
Aman throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Tandelov feints and as Aman raises his hands in defense, Tandelov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Aman being controlled here, momentarily.
Tandelov throws a big elbow that misses.
Tandelov 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.
Tandelov wants to control from the top but Aman keeps moving.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Tandelov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aman keeping full guard, as Tandelov tries to pass.
Tandelov is working hard here to advance position.
Tandelov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tandelov working some strikes from top position.
Tandelov stands up over Aman, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tandelov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tandelov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Aman looking to control.
Tandelov throws a strike but Aman rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tandelov is on top in guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tandelov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tandelov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Tandelov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Aman's head.
Tandelov distracts Aman with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Tandelov postures up and lands a big shot to Aman's brow.
Tandelov trying to control the position from guard on top but Aman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tandelov forces his way into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tandelov winds up and cracks Aman with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Tandelov is trying to control. Aman wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tandelov working over Aman with some ground and pound. Aman looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tandelov is keen to just control but Aman is a slippery customer.
Tandelov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tandelov trying to control from half guard but Aman is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marat Tandelov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Marat Tandelov'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. 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.

Aman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tandelov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Aman can pounce on him.
Aman misses with a wild body shot.
Tandelov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Aman manages to avoid it.
Aman throws the left hand but Tandelov avoids the punch easily.
Good work by Tandelov as he checks the leg kick.

Tandelov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Tandelov 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.
Tandelov prevents Aman from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tandelov wants to control from the top but Aman keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Marat Tandelov just wasn't active enough.

Tandelov throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Aman tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Tandelov is in Aman's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tandelov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tandelov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tandelov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tandelov is pushing down on Aman's leg trying to pass to half guard. Aman is fighting to maintain full guard but Tandelov has managed to sneak the leg through.
Tandelov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Tandelov throwing shots but Aman is blocking nicely.
Tandelov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Aman is not content to let Tandelov control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tandelov throws a strike but Aman avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Tandelov trying to control but Aman is working from the bottom.
Tandelov is pushing down on Aman's leg trying to pass to half guard. Aman is fighting to maintain full guard but Tandelov has managed to sneak the leg through.
Tandelov throwing shots but Aman is blocking nicely.
Nice strikes from Tandelov there.
Tandelov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tandelov wants to take a breather but Aman is having none of it.
Rayaj Aman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tandelov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Tandelov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Tandelov is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Aman reverses the position - he's now on top in Tandelov's guard.
Tandelov looking for a sweep. Not yet Tandelov, not yet.
Marat Tandelov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tandelov managing to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marat Tandelov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tandelov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marat Tandelov!
An out of breath Marat Tandelov thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.