PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kalam Mekhar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aridos Bahyr Nestelar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mekhar
vs
Bahyr Nestelar

180 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kalam Mekhar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Aridos Bahyr Nestelar!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Eddie Farnsworth and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mekhar throws a head kick that misses.
Nestelar checks a leg kick.
A head kick misses from Mekhar.
Nestelar takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Nestelar with the counter takedown but Mekhar avoids it easily.
Mekhar misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nestelar shoots for a double leg takedown but Mekhar sprawls well. He's pushed Nestelar's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nestelar keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mekhar scores with a kick to the midsection.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mekhar looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mekhar throws a head kick that misses.
Nestelar feints the counter takedown.
Mekhar throws a head kick but Nestelar moves out of range.
Mekhar looks to land a body kick but Nestelar moved away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Nestelar! But no joy.
Kalam Mekhar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mekhar throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Nestelar fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mekhar sprawls well initially but Nestelar persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Nestelar seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nestelar seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nestelar wants to control but Mekhar is keeping him busy.
Mekhar wants to get back to his feet.
Mekhar avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nestelar.
Nestelar stops Mekhar from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nestelar is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Mekhar defends it well.
Nestelar seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Nestelar is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Mekhar defends it well.
Mekhar wants to get back to his feet.

Mekhar is defending against the submission attempts here by Nestelar.
Mekhar looks like he's trying to stand up.
Nestelar controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nestelar is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Nestelar is looking for a kimura but Mekhar is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nestelar to get the leverage.
Nestelar seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mekhar does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Mekhar knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nestelar on the ground.
Nestelar stops Mekhar from getting back to his feet.
Nestelar moves nicely into side control.

Nestelar looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Mekhar wants to get back to his feet but Nestelar drags him back down.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nestelar tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nestelar has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Nestelar is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mekhar has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nestelar throws a strike aimed at the side of Mekhar's head but Mekhar avoids it well.
Mekhar wants to get back to his feet.
Nestelar lands a nice forearm strike.
Mekhar is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Nestelar has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Nestelar is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mekhar knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mekhar pushes Nestelar away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Nestelar gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aridos Bahyr Nestelar dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A cross from Nestelar lands.
Nestelar blocks a head kick by Mekhar.
And Nestelar tries to counter it with a takedown but Mekhar pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Mekhar rushes Nestelar and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mekhar missing with knees to the body.
Mekhar with a knee to the head.
Mekhar is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Mekhar with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mekhar throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nestelar blocks it with crossed arms.
Mekhar with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mekhar tries to land a knee to the head but Nestelar blocks with his arms.
Nestelar tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mekhar tries to land a knee to the head but Nestelar blocks with his arms.
Nestelar on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mekhar is pressed up against the cage. Nestelar has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mekhar down to the mat. Mekhar avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A leg kick checked by Nestelar.

Mekhar gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mekhar tries to land a knee to the head but Nestelar blocks with his arms.
Mekhar tries to land a knee to the head but Nestelar blocks with his arms.
Mekhar looking to throw knees to the head but Nestelar is blocking nicely.
Mekhar with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mekhar landing knees to the head.

Nestelar gets control of Mekhar's arms and successfully pulls guard. Nestelar will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nestelar is trying to control the position but Mekhar postures up.
Mekhar wants to get up but he can't break Nestelar's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Nestelar lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Nestelar postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Mekhar is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nestelar is controlling him.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Nestelar stands up over Mekhar, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Nestelar trying to control but Mekhar is working from the bottom.
Nestelar is looking to work some ground and pound but Mekhar has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mekhar is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mekhar trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Aridos Bahyr Nestelar has got the better of the ground game so far.

Nestelar drops back looking for a leg! Mekhar is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mekhar manages to kick Nestelar off! Nestelar jumps back into Mekhar's guard.

Nestelar postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Mekhar is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Nestelar, into his guard.

Nestelar tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nestelar is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nestelar working Mekhar over with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mekhar wants to get back to his feet.
Nestelar is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Mekhar looks like he's trying to stand up.
Nestelar is taking a breather. Mekhar says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Mekhar looks like he's trying to stand up.

Nestelar is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Mekhar has managed to free his arm - good work.
Mekhar looks like he's trying to stand up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalam Mekhar dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Mekhar pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nestelar closes the distance and clinches up with Mekhar, looking for a takedown. Nestelar pushes Mekhar against the cage but Mekhar circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mekhar throws a head kick that Nestelar semi-blocks.
Mekhar scores with a head kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Mekhar, right into the meat.
Mekhar throws a head kick that misses
and Nestelar counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Mekhar.
Nestelar tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Mekhar throws a sloppy head kick and Nestelar moves out of range easily.
Nestelar changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Good leg kick by Mekhar there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nestelar avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nestelar drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mekhar defends it well.
Mekhar tries to clinch there but Nestelar circles away.
And Nestelar tries to counter it with a takedown but Mekhar pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Mekhar throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Nestelar's head.
Decent striking displayed by Nestelar there.
Kalam Mekhar is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Both fighters circling a little - Mekhar finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Mekhar.
Mekhar tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nestelar with the counter takedown but Mekhar avoids it easily.
Mekhar misses with a head kick.
Nestelar drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mekhar defends it well.
Mekhar misses with a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mekhar is looking to chop away at Nestelar's legs.
Nestelar tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Mekhar closes the distance looking to clinch

and Nestelar counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mekhar won't be happy with that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mekhar stops Nestelar from passing to mount.

Nestelar looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Nestelar is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mekhar is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Nestelar grinds an elbow into Mekhar's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nestelar is looking to take a break and control but Mekhar is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mekhar is pushing Nestelar's head away, looking to escape. Nestelar manages to hold on to the position though.

Nestelar wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mekhar, who protects the arm well.

Nestelar looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Nestelar tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nestelar looks up at the clock and then as Mekhar takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Nestelar smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Nestelar prevents Mekhar from escaping the position.
Nestelar working the ground and pound.
Mekhar is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Nestelar has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Nestelar has hold of Mekhar's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Mekhar seems comfortable defending it but Nestelar has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Mekhar is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Mekhar is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Nestelar couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Aridos Bahyr Nestelar!