PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jimmie Connor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruslan Khabilov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Connor
vs
Khabilov

190 cm
26
214 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

191 cm
26
212 lbs
7 - 2 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jimmie Connor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Ruslan Khabilov!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Gregory Folan and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khabilov shoots in looking for a takedown. Connor tries to sprawl out of it but Khabilov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Connor manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Connor displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Khabilov.
Connor shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Connor shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Khabilov but Khabilov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Khabilov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Connor sprawls well. Connor wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Khabilov gets slowly back to his feet.
Connor went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Jimmie Connor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruslan Khabilov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Connor checks a leg kick.
No luck for Khabilov with that takedown attempt.
Khabilov with a lazy takedown attempt

and Connor counters by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khabilov tries to break free but Connor pushes him back against the cage.
Khabilov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Connor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Khabilov slaps away a takedown attempt from Connor, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Khabilov shoots in for a takedown but Connor shows good takedown defense.
Khabilov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Khabilov shoots in looking for a takedown but Connor manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Khabilov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Connor seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Khabilov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Connor swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Khabilov dives in and grabs Connor's left leg, looking for a takedown. Connor pushes down on Khabilov's head and hops out.
Connor shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Khabilov defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Khabilov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Connor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Khabilov shoots for a double leg takedown but Connor sprawls well. He's pushed Khabilov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Connor moves into the clinch successfully.
Khabilov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

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

Connor looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Connor looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Khabilov passes into side control.
Connor tries to bench press Khabilov off him but Khabilov keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov with the ground and pound but Connor regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Khabilov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Connor looking for submissions off his back.
Khabilov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Connor controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Khabilov trying to mount his opponent but Connor defends it.

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.
Connor makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Connor.

Connor pushes Khabilov off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Khabilov with a lazy takedown attempt

and Connor counters by moving into the clinch.
Khabilov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Connor pulls his leg out and moves away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Khabilov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmie Connor dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Connor with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Connor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Khabilov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Khabilov misses with a takedown attempt - Connor sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Khabilov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Khabilov looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khabilov looking to throw knees to the head but Connor is blocking nicely.

Connor manages to pull guard.
Khabilov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khabilov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Connor is proving hard to escape from.
Khabilov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Khabilov stops Connor from standing up.
Khabilov trying to control but Connor is working from the bottom.
Connor 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.
Connor trying to keep a closed guard but Khabilov is proving a slippery customer.

Connor pushes Khabilov off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Jimmie Connor is winning the standup battle so far.
No luck for Connor with that takedown attempt.
Khabilov dives in and grabs Connor's left leg, looking for a takedown. Connor pushes down on Khabilov's head and hops out.
Jimmie Connor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruslan Khabilov.
Khabilov fails with a takedown attempt.

Khabilov has managed to clinch.
Khabilov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Connor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Khabilov dives in and grabs Connor's left leg, looking for a takedown. Connor pushes down on Khabilov's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Connor keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Connor shoots in but no luck this time.
Some bone on bone action there as Connor checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Connor fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Khabilov, pushing him back against the cage.

Khabilov manages to break the clinch.
Khabilov misses with a leg kick.
Khabilov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Khabilov wants it to stay on the feet.
Connor keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Khabilov rushes Connor and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Khabilov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Khabilov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Connor.
Nice takedown defense from Khabilov. No joy for Connor on that attempt.
Khabilov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Connor but Connor pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Khabilov closes the distance and lands a one-two.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Connor on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Khabilov shoots in looking for a takedown. Connor tries to sprawl out of it but Khabilov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Connor manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmie Connor dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Connor throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Khabilov's waist but Khabilov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Connor off to one side.
Khabilov shoots in and drives through. Connor sprawls well.
Khabilov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Connor is looking to counter punch.
Khabilov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Connor wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Khabilov shoots in for a takedown but Connor shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Connor shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Khabilov but Khabilov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Connor moves out of range as Khabilov throws a body kick.
Khabilov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Connor shoots for a double leg takedown but Khabilov sprawls well. He's pushed Connor's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmie Connor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Connor tests Khabilov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Connor takes one to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khabilov shoots in for a takedown but Connor shows good takedown defense.
Connor darts in looking for a takedown but Khabilov gets double underhooks and turns Connor into the cage.
Khabilov tries a head kick but it misses.
Khabilov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Connor moves out of range of the body kick.
Khabilov keeps the fight on the outside.
Connor stuffs the takedown.

Khabilov has Connor up against the cage in a clinch.
Khabilov misses with a body punch.
Connor has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Khabilov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Connor jumps guard but Khabilov stands there with Connor around his waist. Connor gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Connor keeps control of Khabilov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Khabilov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
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 trying to control the position.
Connor pushing down on Khabilov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Connor stands up out of the half guard.
Connor fails with the takedown.
Khabilov tries to counter by closing the distance.
Khabilov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Connor is fending him off so far but Khabilov persists. Nope, Connor circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov looks for a takedown but Connor sprawls well.
Connor shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Khabilov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Connor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Khabilov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Connor will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Khabilov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Connor shoots in but no luck this time.

Connor clinches.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Connor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Khabilov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Connor as he jumps to the side.
Nice sprawl there from Khabilov as Connor shoots in.
Connor throws a sloppy head kick and Khabilov moves out of range easily.
Khabilov goes for a double leg but Connor avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Connor continues to drive forward.
No luck for Connor with that takedown attempt.
Connor keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Khabilov misses with a head kick.
Ruslan Khabilov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jimmie Connor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Connor moves into range and clinches up with Khabilov.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ruslan Khabilov.
Well Connor 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 William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jimmie Connor!
After the fight, Jimmie Connor was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.