PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jahangir Al Rahim (ranked 4670 p4p, 2925 weight class) and Isaiah Ellison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Al Rahim
vs
Ellison

195 cm
20
175
1 - 0 - 0

210 cm
22
205
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jahangir Al Rahim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Isaiah Ellison!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Al Rahim closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ellison did well to prevent Al Rahim getting side control.
Ellison is trying to stand.

Al Rahim is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Al Rahim tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Al Rahim is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Ellison to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Al Rahim is looking to advance position but Ellison has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Rahim blocking the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellison unloads with some shots from mount but Al Rahim bucks and avoids them well.
Ellison content just to control the position here.
Al Rahim really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ellison trying to control but Al Rahim is having none of it.
Al Rahim might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ellison dominating with strikes here.
Al Rahim wants to hold on but Ellison pushes him away.
Al Rahim keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Poor strikes thrown by Ellison there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Ellison looking to control and managing it successfully.
Al Rahim is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Al Rahim is squirming around, avoiding Ellison's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellison controlling from mount.
Ellison punching from mount but Al Rahim doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Ellison trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ellison takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ellison tries to control but Al Rahim wriggling away.
Ellison throws some wild stikes that Al Rahim manages to avoid easily.
Ellison trying to control but Al Rahim is having none of it.
Ellison can't control as he wanted to and Al Rahim manages to get the fight back to his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Rahim tries to roll over but Ellison keeps him under control.
Ellison uses his free foot to push down on Al Rahim's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Al Rahim.
Ellison can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Al Rahim is looking to escape.
Al Rahim tries to lock up and control but Ellison gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Al Rahim is looking to improve his position but Ellison isn't that keen on the idea.
Ellison trying to control but Al Rahim is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellison might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Al Rahim haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Al Rahim tries to hold on but Ellison pushes him away.
Al Rahim is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Ellison controlling the pace for now.
Ellison has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Al Rahim tries to hold on but Ellison postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ellison jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Al Rahim is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Al Rahim and Ellison has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Al Rahim can't do much from the bottom here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Isaiah Ellison dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ellison tries to close the distance and clinch up but Al Rahim swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Al Rahim tries a low kick but Ellison avoids it.

Al Rahim shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Al Rahim stopping the sweep attempt from Ellison.
Al Rahim trying to control but Ellison is working from the bottom.
Al Rahim sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Rahim throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellison tries to land a sweep but no joy.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Al Rahim tries to stand but Ellison is controlling from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A head kick misses from Ellison.
Ellison fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ellison looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Al Rahim lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Al Rahim misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ellison tries to clinch but Al Rahim moves out of range.

Al Rahim gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Al Rahim.
Ellison is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Al Rahim gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Al Rahim's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Al Rahim blocks a head kick by Ellison.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Rahim misses the shot to the body.
Ellison tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Al Rahim paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Al Rahim blocks a head kick by Ellison.
Ellison lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Al Rahim circles away quickly and effectively.
Ellison is breathing heavily.

Al Rahim feints and as Ellison raises his hands in defense, Al Rahim changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Al Rahim forces his way into half guard.
Isaiah Ellison has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Al Rahim takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Al Rahim is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ellison doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Al Rahim.

Al Rahim is looking for a kimura but Ellison is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Al Rahim to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellison is looking to improve his position.
Al Rahim wants to free his trapped foot but Ellison is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Al Rahim seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ellison does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Al Rahim tries to stand and escape but Ellison actually recovers to full guard.

That's four 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.
Al Rahim controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Al Rahim's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Al Rahim is looking to stand up but Ellison won't let him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Al Rahim slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Al Rahim attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick from Ellison lands but Al Rahim takes it in his stride.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jahangir Al Rahim dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Ellison misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ellison swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Al Rahim dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ellison throws a body kick that misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Al Rahim gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Al Rahim tries to free his leg and advance position but Ellison is retaining full guard.
Al Rahim connects with a couple of short punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Rahim stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ellison swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Al Rahim's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellison 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.
Al Rahim not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Al Rahim stops Ellison from standing up.

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

Al Rahim clinches up against the cage.

Al Rahim has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Ellison clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Al Rahim is looking for a rear naked choke here but Ellison reverses the position brilliantly into Al Rahim's guard!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellison trying to control but Al Rahim is working from the bottom.
Ellison content to stall in guard here.
Ellison works over Al Rahim with some ground and pound from guard.
Ellison trying to control the position from guard on top but Al Rahim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Al Rahim can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ellison controls the pace.
Al Rahim wants to stand and escape but Ellison is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellison throws a big elbow that misses.
Ellison slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Al Rahim 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.
Ellison trying to control but Al Rahim is working from the bottom.
Al Rahim is pulling down on Ellison's head to control his posture.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ellison trying to control but Al Rahim is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ellison rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Al Rahim moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's four 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.
Ellison looks to land a combination but Al Rahim avoids it well.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ellison.

Al Rahim changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ellison looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ellison manages to get back to half guard.
Al Rahim tries to stand but can't do so whilst Ellison controls his leg.
Ellison taking some punishment here, with Al Rahim in his half guard.
Al Rahim is looking to stall here but Ellison recovers full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ellison looking to hit a scissor sweep but Al Rahim is one step ahead there.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Isaiah Ellison.
I think Ellison has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Isaiah Ellison!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Isaiah Ellison!
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Isaiah Ellison!

Isaiah Ellison wins by unanimous decision!