PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ji Lu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artur Taymazov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Lu
vs
Taymazov

205 cm
20
275 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
271 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Grand Royal Wear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ji Lu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Artur Taymazov!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taymazov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lu takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

It looks like Ji Lu has been cut.
Nice straight punches there by Taymazov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Taymazov.
A slow jab from Taymazov misses its intended target.

Lu 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.
Taymazov trying to control the position.
Taymazov wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Taymazov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lu postures up in Taymazov's guard and throws a big left but Taymazov blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lu accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lu with a flurry of punches that miss.
Taymazov keeping moving, preventing Lu from controlling successfully.
Lu preventing the sweep.
Lu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lu stopping the sweep attempt from Taymazov.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Taymazov throws a shot from downtown. Lu moves away and avoids it.
Taymazov cracks Lu with an open hand slap.
Taymazov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Lu.
Lu has been working on his boxing with his coaches at NexGen Fight Team in the buildup to the fight.
Lu throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Taymazov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lu.
Taymazov misses with an uppercut. Lu saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Taymazov.
A telegraphed right hand from Taymazov misses the target.
Taymazov scores with a shot to the body.
Taymazov misses with an uppercut.
Lu scores with a hook to the body. Taymazov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Lu 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.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A cross from Lu lands.
Taymazov throws a big shot that misses.

Taymazov moves into range and clinches up with Lu.
Taymazov scores with a hook to the body.
A short left from Taymazov.
Lu misses with some punches.
Taymazov has a couple of punches blocked by Lu.
Taymazov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Taymazov stalling against the cage.
Taymazov throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Taymazov scores with a nice short uppercut.
Lu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Taymazov lands a shot to the body.
A short right from Taymazov on the inside.
Lu misses with a punch on the inside.
Taymazov content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Taymazov tries a body shot but Lu blocks it.
Taymazov tries to work over Lu's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Taymazov is pushing Lu up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Lu has a couple of punches blocked by Taymazov.
Taymazov lands a shoulder strike.
Taymazov trying to control the position but instead, Lu has worked for underhooks and has pushed Taymazov into the cage.
Taymazov lands a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Taymazov.
Lu lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Taymazov.
Taymazov lands a right hand that snaps the head of Lu backwards.
Lu is trying to break the clinch but Taymazov has him pressed against the cage.
Lu blocking some punches.
Lu has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Taymazov after a bit of a struggle.
Lu has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lu.
Lu misses with the head strike.
A right handed body shot lands from Taymazov.
Taymazov stalling the fight.
Lu scores with a shot to the side of Taymazov's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lu being controlled against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artur Taymazov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ji Lu's cut.
That's time! Lu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Lu ducks under a wild hook from Taymazov.
Taymazov misses with a wild body shot.
Taymazov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lu sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Taymazov stuffs the takedown attempt from Lu. Lu gets slowly back to his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Taymazov. Lu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Taymazov might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Lu shoots in looking for a takedown. Taymazov tries to sprawl out of it but Lu keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Taymazov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Taymazov throws a body punch but Lu moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lu slips a straight right by Taymazov.
Lu uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Taymazov.
Lu defending well as Taymazov loads up on a big left hand.
Lu with a hook.
Taymazov misses with a looping left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lu.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ji Lu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taymazov throws an overhand right that lands on Lu's shoulder, as Lu tries to avoid the shot.
Lu lands a right hook to the body.
Taymazov throws out a loose jab but Lu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lu misses with a body shot.
Nice shot by Taymazov.
Lu avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Taymazov missing with a left hand there. Lu was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lu changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Lu shoots in for a double leg but Taymazov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Taymazov throws a hook to the side of Lu's head but Lu sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Taymazov.
Artur Taymazov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lu scores with a shot to the body.
Taymazov moves in looking to clinch but Lu pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lu on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Lu is looking to wear down Taymazov with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Taymazov misses with a hook. Lu ducked under it nicely.
Lu swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A jab from Lu misses.
Taymazov throws an overhand right that lands on Lu's shoulder, as Lu tries to avoid the shot.
Lu swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Taymazov closes the distance and clinches.
Taymazov taking a breather.
Taymazov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Taymazov misses with a short punch on the inside.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Lu misses with a body punch.
Lu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Taymazov is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
A short right from Lu on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lu is trying to push Taymazov away but Taymazov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Taymazov.
Lu is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Taymazov prevents a body shot from Lu.
Lu blocks a body shot from Taymazov.
Taymazov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lu misses with a punch to the body.
Lu misses with a body punch.
Lu can't find room to land a body shot as Taymazov controls the action.
Taymazov displaying some good clinch control by pressing Lu up against the cage.
Taymazov scores with a shoulder strike.
A head punch on the inside from Lu fails to land.

Lu is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Taymazov can't fight it off and eventually Lu manages to take the fight to the floor. Taymazov looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lu stopping the sweep attempt from Taymazov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taymazov keeping moving, preventing Lu from controlling successfully.
Lu looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taymazov controlling Lu's posture.
Taymazov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Taymazov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lu will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Lu tries to free his leg and advance position but Taymazov is retaining full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Artur Taymazov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Ji Lu's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Taymazov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Taymazov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lu.
A shot to the liver by Lu. Beautiful body shot.
Lu lands with an overhand left.

Lu looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Lu seems to be working for a kimura but Taymazov defends the submission attempt.
Taymazov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lu.
Taymazov regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Lu.
Lu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lu postures up.
Lu passes Taymazov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Taymazov pushes Lu off looking to stand but Lu dives back in and keeps control.
Lu prevents Taymazov from improving his position.
Taymazov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lu.
Taymazov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lu trying to mount his opponent but Taymazov defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Taymazov trying to control but Lu postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Taymazov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Taymazov lands a nice shot to the body.
Taymazov ducks under a wild hook from Lu.
Lu throws a jab but it's blocked by Taymazov.
Lu throws a big shot that misses.
Taymazov scores with a nice right hand.
Taymazov throws a shot from downtown. Lu moves away and avoids it.
Lu smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Taymazov misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taymazov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lu lands an overhand right.
A left and a right from Lu both land. Nice combination.
Taymazov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lu.
Lu avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lu scores with a nice strike.
Lu swings for the body but Taymazov moves out of range.
Taymazov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Taymazov misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Lu to counter with a crisp jab.
Taymazov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Taymazov throws the left hand but Lu avoids the punch easily.
Jab from Lu.
Lu scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A jab from Taymazov misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taymazov with a hook.
Taymazov throws the left hand but Lu avoids the punch easily.
Taymazov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lu sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lu throws a looping overhand right but Taymazov ducks down to avoid it.
Taymazov tries to close the distance and clinch but Lu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lu misses with an uppercut.
Lu moves out of range as Taymazov strikes.
Taymazov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lu.
Lu lands a slapping body shot.
Taymazov swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Lu.
Lu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taymazov manages to avoid it.
Lu stalks Taymazov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Taymazov's face. Taymazov staggers backwards, shaken.
Taymazov throws a jab when Lu was well out of range.
Ji Lu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taymazov looks to land a right hand but Lu moved out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ji Lu showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Taymazov 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Artur Taymazov!
After winning the bout, Artur Taymazov thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.