PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gideon Navarro (ranked 215 p4p, 657 weight class) and Abdul Rahman (ranked 37 p4p, 94 weight class). Abdul Rahman has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Navarro
vs
Rahman

181 cm
37
173
40 - 22 - 1

182 cm
31
184
19 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

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 40 - 22 - 1, fighting out of New York, Gideon Navarro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Abdul Rahman!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Hirohito Nitta and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rahman closes the distance and clinches.
Navarro has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rahman avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Navarro managing to block the knees to the body from Rahman.
Rahman scores with a nice hook to the head.
Navarro avoiding damage as Rahman throws knees to the body.
Navarro blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rahman lands an uppercut.
Navarro tries to pull guard but Rahman forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Navarro tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rahman smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gideon Navarro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rahman is looking to clinch.
Rahman throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
It looked like Navarro was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Rahman.
Navarro swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rahman tries to clinch there but Navarro circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rahman has managed to clinch.
Rahman tries to land knees in the clinch but Navarro avoids the damage to the body.
Rahman utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Navarro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Navarro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Navarro fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rahman prevents the takedown attempt.
Navarro is trying to pull guard but Rahman turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Rahman throws a head punch that misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rahman creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Navarro tries to pull guard but Rahman forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Navarro tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rahman smiles and moves away.

Rahman moves into the clinch.
Rahman lands an uppercut.
Rahman utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rahman lands a hook to the side of the head.
Navarro managing to block the knees to the body from Rahman.
Rahman throws a head punch that misses.
Navarro tries to pull guard but Rahman holds him up against the cage and eventually Navarro drops back down to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Navarro blocking some punches.

Navarro manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Navarro is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rahman is looking for a sweep. Navarro is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rahman is trying is best to control the position here.

Navarro is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rahman is trying to get back to full guard.

Navarro is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rahman is just riding it out for now. Navarro eventually gives up the hold.
Navarro is looking to advance position but Rahman won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Navarro is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rahman is just riding it out for now. Navarro eventually gives up the hold.

Navarro is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rahman defends it well.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Navarro is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

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.
Rahman holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Rahman wants to get back to full guard.
Rahman makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rahman.

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

Navarro trying to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul Rahman dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rahman misses the jab.
Rahman scores with the left hand. Navarro knows he should have avoided that one.
Rahman tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Navarro manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
It looked like Navarro was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Rahman.
Rahman has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Rahman rushes Navarro and presses him up against the cage.
Rahman misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Navarro.
Navarro fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Navarro has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Navarro tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rahman misses with the head strike.
Navarro tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rahman just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gideon Navarro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Navarro takes a shot to the head.
Rahman scores with a nice hook to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Navarro tries to pull guard but Rahman forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Navarro tries to pull guard but Rahman forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Navarro tries to pull guard but Rahman won't allow it.
Rahman throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Navarros head.
Navarro blocks an uppercut.
Navarro tries to pull guard but Rahman holds him up against the cage and eventually Navarro drops back down to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rahman obliges.
Rahman misses with the head strike.
Rahman lands a hook to the side of the head.
Navarro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rahman lands with a right to the head.
Navarro tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rahman throws a punch but it's blocked by Navarro.
Navarro's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Navarro tries to pull guard but Rahman won't allow it.

Navarro pulls guard.
Navarro being controlled here, momentarily.

Navarro looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rahman must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Navarro can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rahman controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Navarro wants to hit a sweep here but Rahman passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Navarro there!
Abdul Rahman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Navarro wants to control but Rahman is having none of it.
Navarro is desperately trying to improve his position but Rahman has a good base and remains in mount.
Rahman looking to control and managing it successfully.
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!
Rahman looking to control but Navarro is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Navarro is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rahman takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Navarro can't escape the position.
Rahman looking to control and managing it successfully.
Navarro really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rahman controlling his opponent.

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.
Navarro tries to lock up and control but Rahman gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rahman can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Navarro is looking to escape.
Navarro is looking to improve his position but Rahman isn't that keen on the idea.
Navarro tries to hold on but Rahman pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Navarro tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rahman avoids the attempt from Navarro to control.
Rahman controlling from mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul Rahman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Navarro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rahman moves away.
Rahman moves to clinch but Navarro breaks away
and Rahman takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rahman tries to clinch up
enabling Navarro to counter with a crisp jab.
Abdul Rahman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rahman tries to clinch up but Navarro circles away and keeps his distance.
A slow jab from Rahman misses its intended target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rahman stuns Navarro with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Rahman moves in looking to clinch but Navarro pushes him off.
Rahman wants to clinch up but Navarro keeps it at a distance.
Navarro throws a quick counter head kick but Rahman was just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rahman fails in his attempt to clinch.

Rahman clinches.
Abdul Rahman seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rahman has a couple of punches blocked by Navarro.
Rahman scores with a shoulder strike.
Rahman lands a nice uppercut.
Navarro is trying to pull guard but Rahman turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Navarro jumps guard but Rahman turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Rahman misses with the head strike.
Rahman scores a nice knee to the body.
Navarro tries to pull guard but Rahman forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gideon Navarro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short right from Rahman on the inside.
Navarro tries to pull guard but Rahman won't allow it.
A head punch on the inside from Rahman fails to land.
A short left from Rahman.
Rahman landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rahman unloads a knee to the mid-section. Navarro lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Navarro blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rahman pushes Navarro back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Navarro blocking some punches.
Rahman scores with a shot to the side of Navarro's head.
Navarro avoiding damage as Rahman throws knees to the body.
Rahman scores with a shoulder strike.
Rahman working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rahman obliges.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rahman.
Rahman lands an uppercut.

Navarro is rocked!
Rahman unloads a knee to the mid-section. Navarro lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rahman working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rahman crunches a lovely knee into Navarro's ribcage.
Rahman scores a nice knee to the body.
Rahman working Navarro over with knees to the body.
Rahman throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Navarros head.
Oh Navarro is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rahman throws a punch but it's blocked by Navarro.
Navarro seems to have got his legs back now.

Navarro pulls guard effortlessly.
Rahman engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rahman's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Abdul Rahman is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Navarro looking for a sweep. Not yet Navarro, not yet.
Rahman is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Gideon Navarro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Navarro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Navarro being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Rahman closes the distance and pushes Navarro back into the cage.
Rahman prevents a body shot from Navarro.
A frustrated look appears on Navarro's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Navarro tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Navarro tries to pull guard but Rahman won't allow it.
Navarro tries to throw a body punch but Rahman avoids it by throwing Navarro back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Rahman fails to land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abdul Rahman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rahman winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abdul Rahman!