PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Keith Fraser (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Azamat Gashimov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fraser comes into the arena with We will rock you blaring out of the sound system. Gashimov has chosen Mark Ronson – Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars) as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Fraser
vs
Gashimov

175 cm
18
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
24
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Keith Fraser!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Azamat Gashimov!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Daniel Franklin and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fraser throws a head kick that misses.
Gashimov changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Fraser keeps the fight on the outside.
As Gashimov tries to get set, Fraser tries to push him back and clinch up but Gashimov manages to avoid the attempt.
Fraser tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Gashimov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Fraser throws a body punch but Gashimov moves out of range.
Gashimov lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Keith Fraser seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gashimov is looking to clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Fraser.
Gashimov lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fraser takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Horrible takedown attempt by Fraser or perhaps it was just good defense by Gashimov, which made it look bad.
Fraser misses with a shot to the body

and Gashimov counters by clinching up.
Gashimov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Fraser fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fraser closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Fraser gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gashimov moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keith Fraser. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fraser misses with some punches.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Come on Gashimov - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Gashimov successfully pulls guard.
Fraser postures up in Gashimov's guard and throws a big left but Gashimov blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gashimov has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Fraser throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fraser looking to sit in guard and control but Gashimov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Gashimov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Fraser throws his legs up looking for a submission but Gashimov uses it to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gashimov scoring with punches from side control.
Gashimov controls the position from side control.
Gashimov passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Fraser!
Fraser tries to hold on but Gashimov postures up.
Gashimov looking to control and managing it successfully.
Let's hope that Gashimov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fraser is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Gashimov controlling from mount.
Gashimov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Fraser wants to hold on but Gashimov pushes him away.
Gashimov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Azamat Gashimov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Fraser misses with the body kick
and Gashimov counters with a three punch combo that has Fraser backing up. Fraser nods at Gashimov to acknowledge the strikes.
Gashimov fails to land with a series of punches.
Gashimov wants to clinch up but Fraser keeps it at a distance.
Fraser seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Gashimov misses with a looping left.
Fraser tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gashimov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Gashimov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Fraser to the ground. Gashimov is now in Fraser's guard.
Gashimov passes Fraser's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Fraser is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Fraser is trying to maintain the position but Gashimov is very close to passing his half guard.
Gashimov passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Fraser!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fraser is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gashimov content just to control the position here.
Fraser takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Gashimov controlling the position easily from mount.
Fraser sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fraser trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gashimov stalling.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Gashimov.
Fraser tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Gashimov has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Gashimov controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gashimov scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Gashimov looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gashimov is continuing to stall.
Gashimov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gashimov putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Fraser is desperately trying to improve his position but Gashimov has a good base and remains in mount.
Gashimov connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Gashimov content just to control the position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fraser is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Azamat Gashimov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gashimov clinches up with Fraser and pushes him back against the cage.
Fraser misses with an elbow over the top.
We've been informed that Gashimov has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Gashimov jumps into guard, dragging Fraser to the mat.
Fraser throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gashimov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gashimov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fraser manages to get himself to full guard.

Fraser working for a triangle but Gashimov defends it easily.
Gashimov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
More stalling from Gashimov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gashimov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Gashimov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Fraser trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gashimov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Gashimov gets a double leg takedown into Fraser's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fraser working a defensive guard here.
Gashimov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Fraser is looking for a triangle here but Gashimov uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Azamat Gashimov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Gashimov controlling from side mount.
Fraser looking for a sweep but Gashimov has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gashimov controlling his opponent.
Fraser gets back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fraser trying to get back to full guard but Gashimov takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Gashimov content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Azamat Gashimov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gashimov 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Azamat Gashimov!
Azamat Gashimov bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.
The defeated Keith Fraser had this to say: 'I will come back stronger, having learned this tuff lesson!'.