PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Almoez Ali (ranked 2137 p4p, 1143 weight class) and Rutger Petrov (ranked 261 p4p, 144 weight class). Ali comes to the cage accompanied by Le Manu. Almoez Ali has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Ali
vs
Petrov

195 cm
28
222
8 - 4 - 0

180 cm
30
245
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Warrior Fight Store

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Almoez Ali!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rutger Petrov !
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Bruno Lombardi and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ali tries to clinch there but Petrov circles away.
Ali is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Petrov lands a jab to the nose.

It looks like Almoez Ali has been cut.
Petrov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ali tries to avoid it but Petrov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ali to the ground. Ali escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Petrov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ali manages to avoid it.
Ali is looking to clinch.
No luck for Petrov with that takedown attempt.

Ali clinches up against the cage.
Ali is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ali creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ali misses with a hook to the ribs.
Petrov tries to pull guard but Ali forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Almoez Ali has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rutger Petrov .
Ali cracks Petrov with a nice body shot.
Ali avoiding damage.
Ali lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Petrov 's elbow.
Ali is trying to maintain a safe position but Petrov gets an underhook and turns Ali into the cage.
Ali fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Petrov blocking some punches.
Ali scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Petrov is trying to pull guard but Ali turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Petrov drags the fight down to the ground.

Petrov looking for a guillotine here but Ali defends easily.

Ali avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ali has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ali is looking to stand up but Petrov won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ali got a little sloppy there for a moment and Petrov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ali has managed to get both his arms back between Petrov 's legs - danger averted.

Ali stands and steps away. Petrov gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Petrov shoots in for a double leg but Ali sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ali closes the distance looking to clinch
and Petrov counters with a right hand to the body.
Ali is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Petrov lunges at Ali with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Ali's hand.
Ali takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ali rushes Petrov and presses him up against the cage.
Ali tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Petrov successfully pulls guard.

Petrov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ali gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Petrov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Petrov is looking for a triangle but Ali pushes his legs off easily.
Ali won't allow Petrov to sweep him here.

Petrov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali wants to stand but Petrov is controlling his posture from full guard.

Petrov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ali doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ali manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ali wants to stand but Petrov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ali avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rutger Petrov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Almoez Ali's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Petrov gets tackled into the cage by Ali. Ali maintains the clinch.
Ali is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Petrov is keeping busy.

Petrov pulls guard successfully.

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

Ali avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ali would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Petrov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ali defends it easily.

Petrov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Petrov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ali doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ali manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ali will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Petrov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ali gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

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

Petrov looking for a guillotine here but Ali defends easily.

Petrov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ali is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Petrov has his foot on Ali's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ali works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Petrov is looking for a triangle but Ali pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ali wanted to stand there but Petrov had control of the position.

Petrov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Ali stands up and waves to Petrov to follow him.
Petrov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ali defends it nicely.
Petrov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Ali fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Petrov , pushing him back against the cage.
Petrov tries to pull guard but Ali holds him up against the cage and eventually Petrov drops back down to his feet.
Ali pressing his opponent against the cage.
Petrov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Almoez Ali has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rutger Petrov .
Ali taking a breather.
A short right from Ali on the inside.
Petrov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ali walks away with a smile on his face. Petrov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Ali moves into range and clinches up with Petrov .
Petrov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ali walks away with a smile on his face. Petrov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ali is looking to clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Petrov throws a body punch but Ali moves out of range.
Petrov keeps the fight on the outside.
It seemed like Petrov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Petrov keeps the fight on the outside.
Petrov misses with a straight right.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Almoez Ali will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Almoez Ali's cut.
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.

Petrov keeps the fight on the outside.
Ali tries to clinch there but Petrov circles away.
Petrov misses with a looping left.
Petrov lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Ali wants to clinch.
Petrov circles away from the clinch attempt
and Petrov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ali is looking to clinch but Petrov is avoiding it.
Petrov lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petrov misses with a hook.
Ali tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ali on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Petrov throws a body punch but Ali moves out of range.
Ali throws a big counter combination but Petrov scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Rutger Petrov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ali is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Petrov counters with a nice body shot.
Petrov misses with a looping right.
Ali tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ali moves in looking to clinch but Petrov pushes him off.
Petrov works Ali's body with a nice hook.
Petrov lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Almoez Ali is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Petrov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Petrov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Ali blocks a jab.
Almoez Ali seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Petrov lands a nice hook to Ali's body. Ali takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Petrov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ali moves away.
Ali ducks under a wild hook from Petrov .
A head kick from Ali lands but Petrov takes it in his stride.
Petrov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ali moves to clinch but Petrov breaks away

and Petrov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Petrov .
Ali seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
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!

Petrov drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ali dives on top into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Petrov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Ali gets to his feet - Petrov follows without any prompting.

Petrov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ali is trying to defend but Petrov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Petrov is looking for a kimura but Ali is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Petrov to get the leverage.
Petrov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Petrov is trying to work for a kimura but Ali is defending well.
Petrov prevents Ali from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Petrov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ali defends it well.
Ali is trying to stand.

Petrov wants to work for an arm triangle but Ali is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Petrov has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Ali defend it? Petrov steps over the head and cranks it - Ali is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Petrov !

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Rutger Petrov !
Rutger Petrov is the new heavyweight champion!