PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ruslan Khabilov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ethan Grey (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.

Khabilov
vs
Grey

191 cm
25
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ruslan Khabilov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ethan Grey!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Elvis Blanc and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grey stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Grey wants it to stay on the feet.
Khabilov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Grey shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Khabilov drives through and clinches with Grey against the cage.
Grey looking for a takedown.
Grey prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ruslan Khabilov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Grey pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Grey misses the shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grey fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Grey shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Khabilov as he avoids it easily.
Grey is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grey tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Khabilov swivels and escapes.

Khabilov closes the distance and clinches.
Grey tries to work over Khabilov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Khabilov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Grey is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Grey is stalling here.

Khabilov drags the fight down to the ground.
Khabilov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Grey manages to get himself to full guard.

Khabilov controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grey keeping moving, preventing Khabilov from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Grey is on top in guard.

Grey trying to control the position from guard on top but Khabilov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Khabilov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Grey crashes against the mat.
Grey working away.
Grey working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Khabilov regains half guard.

Grey is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Khabilov is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Grey decides to stand up.
Khabilov fails with the takedown.
Grey displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Khabilov.
Khabilov fails with a takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Khabilov checks the leg kick.
Grey is trying hard to land a takedown here. Khabilov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Grey has a takedown stuffed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ruslan Khabilov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Khabilov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Khabilov shoots in looking for a takedown but Grey manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Khabilov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Grey dodges the punch combination from Khabilov.
Nice takedown defense from Grey. No joy for Khabilov on that attempt.
Grey blocks a jab.
Grey tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Khabilov was well out of range. Poor timing from Grey.
Khabilov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Grey.

Grey moves into range and clinches up with Khabilov.

Grey jumps guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grey keeping full guard, as Khabilov tries to pass.
Khabilov is fighting to break Grey's control of his arms but Grey is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Grey throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Khabilov escapes and throws Grey's legs to the side, diving into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Khabilov has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Khabilov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Khabilov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Grey is fending him off so far but Khabilov persists. Nope, Grey circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ruslan Khabilov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Khabilov fails with a takedown attempt.

Khabilov moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov is trying to pull guard but Grey turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Grey is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Khabilov pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Khabilov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Grey shoots for a double leg takedown but Khabilov sprawls well. He's pushed Grey's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Grey wants to clinch.
Grey misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ethan Grey seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Khabilov swats away the attempt to clinch by Grey.
Grey shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Khabilov pinned against the cage. Khabilov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Grey shoots in for a takedown but Khabilov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Khabilov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Khabilov as Grey shoots in.
Khabilov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Khabilov throws a low kick, looking for Grey's leg but Grey calmly moves out of range.
Khabilov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Khabilov wants it to stay on the feet.
Grey tries for a takedown but Khabilov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ruslan Khabilov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Grey is breathing heavily.
Khabilov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Grey.
Grey only half commits to the counter leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Grey sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Grey tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Khabilov swivels and escapes.
Grey avoids the head kick by Khabilov.
Grey tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Khabilov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Grey throws a sloppy head kick and Khabilov moves out of range easily.
Grey attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Khabilov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Grey stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Grey wants it to stay on the feet.
Grey swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Khabilov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Grey manages to avoid it.
Grey is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Khabilov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Grey shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Khabilov as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruslan Khabilov dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Khabilov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Grey looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Grey shoots in looking for a takedown but Khabilov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Grey's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Khabilov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Grey.
Khabilov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Grey sprawls well. Grey wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Khabilov gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Khabilov. No joy for Grey on that attempt.
As Grey tries to get set, Khabilov tries to push him back and clinch up but Grey manages to avoid the attempt.
Ruslan Khabilov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ethan Grey.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Grey or perhaps it was just good defense by Khabilov, which made it look bad.
Khabilov fails with a takedown attempt.
Grey takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grey shoots for a double leg takedown but Khabilov sprawls well. He's pushed Grey's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Khabilov seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Grey looks to land a combination but Khabilov avoids it well.
Khabilov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Grey throws a head kick but Khabilov moves out of range.

Khabilov closes the distance and clinches.
Grey is pressed up against the cage. Khabilov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Grey down to the mat. Grey avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Grey stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Grey wants it to stay on the feet.
Grey swats away the attempt to clinch by Khabilov.
Khabilov throws a sloppy head kick and Grey moves out of range easily.

Grey gets tackled into the cage by Khabilov. Khabilov maintains the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grey is trying to force a seperation but Khabilov has the dominant position.
Grey lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Grey tries to pull guard but Khabilov holds him up against the cage and eventually Grey drops back down to his feet.

Khabilov manages to break the clinch.
Grey throws a low kick, looking for Khabilov's leg but Khabilov calmly moves out of range.
Grey tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Grey looks for a takedown but Khabilov sprawls well.
Khabilov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Khabilov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Grey paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Khabilov blocks a head kick by Grey.
Khabilov thinks about countering with a body kick.
Grey throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Grey shoots for a takedown but Khabilov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Khabilov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Grey's waist but Grey gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Khabilov off to one side.
Khabilov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Khabilov is looking to clinch but Grey is avoiding it.
Grey wants to counter the offense by Khabilov and move into the clinch position.
Khabilov displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Khabilov looks for a takedown but Grey sprawls well.
Grey is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Khabilov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Grey pinned against the cage. Grey gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Grey avoids it really well and circles away.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Grey!
Khabilov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Grey as he jumps to the side.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Khabilov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Grey counters with a straight right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ethan Grey comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Khabilov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ruslan Khabilov!