PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Xxx Xxx (ranked 24962 p4p, 24575 weight class) and Basit Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Xxx
vs
Ali

165 cm
19
143
3 - 15 - 1

150 cm
23
130
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Xxx Xxx!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Basit Ali!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Frank Dennis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ali misses with a low kick as Xxx jumps back.
And Xxx counters with a quick kick to the body but Ali blocks it.

Ali clinches up against the cage.

Ali breaks the clinch.

Ali moves into the clinch successfully.
Ali fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ali has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Xxx is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Xxx breaks from the clinch.
Basit Ali seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Xxx as Ali shoots in.
Xxx jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Xxx Xxx has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Basit Ali.

Ali closes the distance and pushes Xxx back into the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Xxx's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Xxx is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali wants to break free but Xxx has control.
Xxx tries to break the clinch but Ali is controlling the position.
A bit of stalling here from Ali.
Ali dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ali is trying to drag Xxx to the mat but Xxx just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Xxx is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Ali can't fight it off and eventually Xxx manages to take the fight to the floor. Ali looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Ali has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Xxx is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xxx is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Ali prevents Xxx from breaking the clinch.

Xxx manages to break the clinch.
Ali will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Xxx thinks about countering with a body kick.
Ali throws a sloppy head kick
and Xxx counters with a nice kick to the body.
Ali is looking to clinch but Xxx is avoiding it.
Ali gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Xxx counters with a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ali has managed to clinch.
Xxx blocks the elbow strike.
Xxx keeps control of Ali as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Xxx can't break the clinch.
Ali displaying some good clinch control by pressing Xxx up against the cage.
Xxx is trying to break the clinch but Ali has him pressed against the cage.
Ali will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Xxx up against the cage.
Xxx tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Xxx breaks the clinch.
Ali shoots for a takedown but Xxx saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Xxx thinks about countering with a body kick.
Ali throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Xxx.

Xxx shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Ali is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Xxx tries to break the clinch but Ali is controlling the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ali closes this distance looking for a takedown but Xxx circles away.
Xxx stuffs the takedown attempt from Ali. Ali gets slowly back to his feet.
Xxx is looking to counter with a body kick.
Xxx avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Xxx quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
A punch combination from Ali misses.
Xxx shoots in and drives through. Ali sprawls well.
Basit Ali is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Xxx gets the takedown into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Xxx tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xxx trying to control the action but Ali is working from the bottom.
Xxx prevents Ali from escaping the position.
Ali is looking for a sweep.
Xxx tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Xxx decides to stand up, so the ref orders Ali to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ali tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Xxx swivels and escapes.
Xxx Xxx has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Basit Ali.
Ali is looking to clinch but Xxx is avoiding it.
Xxx jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Ali shoots in for a takedown but Xxx shows good takedown defense.
Xxx half committed to a counter leg kick.
Xxx shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ali as he avoids it easily.
Ali gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Xxx finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Ali is breathing heavily.
Ali tries to clinch up but Xxx circles away and keeps his distance.
Xxx quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Ali defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Xxx.
Ali should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Xxx throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xxx defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ali.
Ali looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Xxx is fending him off so far but Ali persists. Nope, Xxx circles away and we're back to standing.
Xxx thinks about countering with a body kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Xxx.
Ali fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ali shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Xxx as he avoids it easily.
Xxx quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Xxx shoots in but no luck this time.
No luck for Xxx with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali shoots in but Xxx avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ali closes the distance and clinches up with Xxx, looking for a takedown. Ali pushes Xxx against the cage but Xxx circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Xxx Xxx is winning the standup battle so far.
Xxx shoots in for a takedown but Ali shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Xxx shoots in looking for a takedown but Ali manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Xxx's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ali shoots for a takedown but Xxx saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Xxx shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Ali napping and manages to drive through into side control!
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!

Xxx decides to take the fight back to the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Xxx is defended easily by Ali.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Xxx Xxx dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Ali as Xxx shoots in.
Ali shoots in but no luck this time.
Xxx swats away the attempt to clinch by Ali.
Ali fails with the takedown.
Xxx throws a counter high kick but Ali was just alert enough to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Xxx quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Xxx Xxx has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Basit Ali.
Xxx shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ali defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Xxx closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ali to the mat! Ali manages to get full guard.
Xxx is standing up over Ali. Ali looks to escape but Xxx dives into side control.

Ali struggling a bit here.

Xxx decides to stand up, so the ref orders Ali to his feet.
Xxx dives in for a single leg takedown but Ali sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ali pushes Xxx back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ali is trying to drag Xxx to the mat but Xxx just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ali tries to pull guard but Xxx holds him up against the cage and eventually Ali drops back down to his feet.
Ali takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Xxx breaks the clinch.

Ali moves into the clinch.
Ali looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali has Xxx pressed against the cage, preventing Xxx from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Xxx's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ali fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ali is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ali throws a right and a left that Xxx avoids nicely.
A right-left combo lands from Ali.
Ali moves to clinch but Xxx breaks away
and Xxx counters with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Xxx closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ali tries to kick Xxx off in order to stand up. Xxx Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

Xxx has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ali moves into the clinch successfully.
Ali fails to pull guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ali keeps control of Xxx as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Xxx blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ali trying to stall but Xxx improves his position.

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 Xxx Xxx.
I think Xxx 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xxx Xxx!