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). Ethan Grey will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Khabilov
vs
Grey

191 cm
26
212 lbs
3 - 1 - 1

191 cm
26
210 lbs
1 - 4 - 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 3 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Ruslan Khabilov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ethan Grey!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, William Peck and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khabilov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Khabilov wants to break free but Grey has control.
Khabilov is looking to take this one to the mat.
Khabilov is trying to drag Grey to the mat but Grey just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Grey tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Khabilov prevents the takedown attempt.

Khabilov manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khabilov shoots in for a takedown but Grey shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ruslan Khabilov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Khabilov throws a sloppy head kick and Grey moves out of range easily.
Grey let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Grey looks for the body kick but Khabilov saw that one coming.
Grey tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Khabilov swivels and escapes.
Khabilov drops down looking for a counter takedown but Grey sprawls and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Khabilov has taken the fight to the clinch.

Grey breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Grey avoids the head kick by Khabilov.
Khabilov fails with a takedown attempt.

Khabilov pushes Grey up against the cage in a clinch.
Grey is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Khabilov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Khabilov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Grey uses from the top position.

Grey got a little sloppy there for a moment and Khabilov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Grey has managed to get both his arms back between Khabilov's legs - danger averted.
Grey trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Khabilov working for a triangle but Grey defends it easily.
Grey is looking to stand up but Khabilov won't let him.
Grey trying to control the position from guard on top but Khabilov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Khabilov wants to sweep here but Grey controlling him for the moment.
Grey is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grey wants to stand but Khabilov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Grey gets control of Khabilov's arms and successfully pulls guard. Grey will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Khabilov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Grey keeping full guard, as Khabilov tries to pass.
Grey looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Grey throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Grey is trying to keep Khabilov in close.
Khabilov 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.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Grey looking to hit a scissor sweep but Khabilov is one step ahead there.

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.

Ruslan Khabilov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Khabilov tries to clinch but Grey is having none of it.

Khabilov gets caught flat footed, as Grey shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Khabilov has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Grey has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Grey tries to pull guard but Khabilov forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Khabilov breaks from the clinch.

Khabilov has closed the distance and engaged Grey in a clinch.
Grey wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Grey prevents a takedown attempt there.
Grey fails to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Khabilov pulls guard successfully.
Grey stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Khabilov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Khabilov seems keen to control Grey's posture.
Khabilov keeping full guard, as Grey tries to pass.
Khabilov wants to sweep but no luck.
Grey trying to control the position from guard on top but Khabilov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Grey slips nicely into half guard.
Khabilov is pressing down on Grey's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Khabilov looking to control.
Khabilov is pulling down on Grey's head. It's preventing any offense from Grey, at least for the moment.
Khabilov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Khabilov working for a triangle but Grey defends it easily.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Khabilov clinches up against the cage.

Grey breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Khabilov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Grey tries to land a leg kick but Khabilov saw it coming and moves away.
Grey lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Khabilov circles away quickly and effectively.
Grey shoots in for a double leg but Khabilov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ruslan Khabilov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ethan Grey.
Grey fails to land the takedown.

Khabilov instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Khabilov successfully pulls guard.
Khabilov has a closed guard, preventing Grey from standing up.
Khabilov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Grey would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Khabilov throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Khabilov is on top in guard.

Grey can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Khabilov controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruslan Khabilov dominated that second round.
That's time! Khabilov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

No joy there for Khabilov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Grey will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Grey tries to clinch but Khabilov moves out of range.
A nice combination there by Khabilov.
Grey throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Khabilov keeps the fight on the outside.
Khabilov dives in and grabs Grey's left leg, looking for a takedown. Grey pushes down on Khabilov's head and hops out.
Grey tries to score a power double leg takedown but Khabilov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Grey somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khabilov shoots in for a double leg but Grey sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Grey tries to score with a low kick but Khabilov moves his leg out of the way.
Khabilov goes for a double leg but Grey avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Grey continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ruslan Khabilov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grey slaps away a takedown attempt from Khabilov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Grey unleashes a big counter combination but Khabilov bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Khabilov wants to clinch up but Grey keeps it at a distance.
Grey looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Khabilov is fending him off so far but Grey persists. Nope, Khabilov circles away and we're back to standing.
Grey shoots for a takedown but Khabilov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Grey tries to score with a low kick but Khabilov moves his leg out of the way.
Khabilov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Grey tries to counter by closing the distance.
Khabilov misses with a kick to the body.

Grey instigates a clinch.
Grey is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Khabilov jumps guard but Grey turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grey on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Grey jumps guard but Khabilov stands there with Grey around his waist. Grey gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Khabilov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Grey pushes Khabilov up against the cage in a clinch.
Grey tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Grey pulls guard successfully.
Grey working a defensive guard here.

Khabilov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov tries to clinch but Grey is having none of it.
Khabilov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Grey pinned against the cage. Grey gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Khabilov misses with a takedown attempt - Grey sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Khabilov keeps the fight on the outside.
Khabilov is looking for a counter combo.
Nice sprawl there from Khabilov as Grey shoots in.

Grey rushes Khabilov and presses him up against the cage.
Grey just leaning against Khabilov, taking a breather.
Khabilov goes for a takedown in the clinch but Grey prevents it.

Grey ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Grey no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grey wants to sweep but no luck.
Grey is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Grey preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Grey keeping moving, preventing Khabilov from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ethan Grey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ruslan Khabilov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Grey is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ethan Grey.
Well Khabilov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28

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