PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yusuf Muhammad (ranked 4356 p4p, 5294 weight class) and Marcin Opalka (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.

Muhammad
vs
Opalka

185 cm
20
170
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
183
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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, Yusuf Muhammad!
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, Marcin Opalka!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Columbo Gatti and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Muhammad tries to close the distance and clinch up but Opalka swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Muhammad stuffs the takedown attempt from Opalka. Opalka gets slowly back to his feet.
Opalka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Opalka shoots in for a takedown but Muhammad shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Muhammad leaves Opalka with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Yusuf Muhammad has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcin Opalka.
Muhammad dives in and grabs Opalka's left leg, looking for a takedown. Opalka pushes down on Muhammad's head and hops out.
Muhammad throws a head kick that Opalka semi-blocks.
Opalka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Muhammad swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No joy there for Opalka, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Muhammad moves into the clinch successfully.
Opalka tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Muhammad smiles and moves away.
Opalka tries to clinch there but Muhammad circles away.
Muhammad shoots in but Opalka avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Opalka is looking to land body kicks.
Opalka tries to clinch but Muhammad moves out of range.
Muhammad misses with a low kick.
Muhammad goes for a double leg but Opalka avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Opalka continues to drive forward.
Opalka shapes to counter with a head kick.
Opalka has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Muhammad is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Muhammad's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Muhammad moves into the clinch.
Opalka is looking to break free of the clinch but Muhammad has double underhooks.
Opalka prevents a takedown attempt there.
Muhammad landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Muhammad on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Opalka is looking for a takedown.
Opalka gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Muhammad.
Muhammad gets underhooks to prevent Opalka's takedown attempt.
Muhammad has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Opalka is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Muhammad will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Opalka up against the cage.

Muhammad jumps guard.
Muhammad not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Muhammad is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opalka wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Muhammad content to stall in guard here.
Muhammad stopping the sweep attempt from Opalka.
Muhammad missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Opalka is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four 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.

Opalka is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Opalka looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Opalka keeping moving, preventing Muhammad from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Muhammad wants to pass the guard but Opalka is keeping the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Muhammad slips a jab and a cross from Opalka.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Opalka tries a head kick but it misses.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Muhammad has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Opalka finds it's way round the side to connect with Muhammad's head.
Muhammad shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Opalka sprawls well. Opalka wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Muhammad gets slowly back to his feet.
Opalka throws a big counter head kick but Muhammad avoids it with no problem.
Muhammad takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Muhammad clinches with his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Opalka goes for a takedown in the clinch but Muhammad prevents it.
Opalka tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Muhammad just stands there and leans against the cage.
Opalka is trying to force a seperation but Muhammad has the dominant position.

Muhammad jumps into guard, dragging Opalka to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Muhammad is on top in guard.

Muhammad passes into half guard.
Muhammad is trying to control the action in half guard but Opalka is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Opalka tries to kick Muhammad off but Muhammad keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Muhammad wants to lay and pray for a moment but Opalka keeps working.
Muhammad not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Opalka tries to get to full guard but Muhammad has control of the leg.

Muhammad stands up and beckons Opalka to join him on the feet.
Opalka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Muhammad.
Opalka drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Muhammad defends it well.
No luck for Muhammad with that takedown attempt.
Muhammad throws a nice looking combination but Opalka bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Opalka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Opalka looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Yusuf Muhammad has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcin Opalka.
Muhammad shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Opalka sprawls well. Opalka wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Muhammad gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opalka comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Opalka will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Muhammad has his takedown stuffed
and Opalka counters with a three punch combo that has Muhammad backing up. Muhammad nods at Opalka to acknowledge the strikes.
Opalka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Muhammad tries to avoid it but Opalka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Muhammad to the ground. Muhammad escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Muhammad fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Muhammad is trying hard to land a takedown here. Opalka sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Opalka scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Muhammad doesn't seem bothered though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muhammad closes this distance looking for a takedown but Opalka circles away.
Opalka tries to land a leg kick but Muhammad saw it coming and moves away.
Muhammad appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Muhammad.
Opalka unleashes a big counter combination but Muhammad bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Opalka fails with a takedown attempt.
Opalka doesn't manage to clinch there - Muhammad circles away.
Muhammad changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Opalka tries to avoid it but Muhammad manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Opalka to the ground. Opalka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Opalka misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Muhammad is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Opalka can do to turn this around?
Opalka closes the distance and clinches up with Muhammad, looking for a takedown. Opalka pushes Muhammad against the cage but Muhammad circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Marcin Opalka will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Muhammad's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Opalka shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Muhammad as he avoids it easily.
Opalka keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Opalka fails in his attempt to clinch.
Muhammad changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A head kick by Muhammad misses
and Opalka counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Muhammad is defended easily by Opalka.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Muhammad looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yusuf Muhammad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Opalka throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Muhammad fails with the takedown
and Opalka counters with a nice uppercut.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Opalka shoots for a double leg takedown but Muhammad sprawls well. He's pushed Opalka's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Muhammad closes the distance and clinches up with Opalka, looking for a takedown. Muhammad pushes Opalka against the cage but Opalka circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Opalka.
Muhammad appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Opalka throws a head kick but Muhammad moves out of range.
Muhammad stuffs the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Opalka.
Opalka looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Muhammad is fending him off so far but Opalka persists. Nope, Muhammad circles away and we're back to standing.
Opalka shoots in for a takedown but Muhammad shows good takedown defense.
Muhammad tries to counter by clinching up but Opalka breaks away and moves out of range.

Muhammad gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Muhammad jumps guard.
Muhammad looking to hit a scissor sweep but Opalka is one step ahead there.
Muhammad throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Opalka postures up.
Muhammad bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Opalka's guard.

Opalka not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opalka keeping moving, preventing Muhammad from controlling successfully.
Muhammad preventing the sweep.
Opalka keeping moving, preventing Muhammad from controlling successfully.
Muhammad preventing the sweep.
Opalka is adopting a defensive guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Muhammad rushes Opalka and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Muhammad goes for a takedown attempt but Opalka pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Muhammad tries for a takedown but Opalka circles away easily
enabling Opalka to counter with a crisp jab.
Nice sprawl there from Muhammad as Opalka shoots in.
Opalka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Muhammad tries to avoid it but Opalka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Muhammad to the ground. Muhammad escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Opalka tries to clinch up.
Opalka fails with the takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Muhammad defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Opalka.

Opalka decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Opalka looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Yusuf Muhammad.
I think Muhammad 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Marcin Opalka!