PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Abu Khalid (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Colon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Khalid
vs
Colon

180 cm
21
175 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

184 cm
20
179 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abu Khalid!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Colon!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Chris Downing and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Colon showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Khalid.
Khalid tries to close the distance and clinch but Colon swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Colon misses with a low kick.
Colon has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Colon showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Khalid.
Khalid drops his hands momentarily and Colon takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Khalid lands a nice hook to Colon's body. Colon takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Colon works over Khalid's head and body with a nice combination.
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!
Khalid misses with a wild combination.
Colon dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Khalid lands with an uppercut that bounces Colon off the cage and back into rage.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Colon.
Khalid scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Colon tries to clinch but Khalid is having none of it.
Khalid throws a left and a right that both miss

and Colon counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Khalid is looking to stand up but Colon isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Colon drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Khalid dives on top into guard.
Colon is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Colon has a closed guard, preventing Khalid from standing up.

Khalid gets to his feet. Colon looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Colon is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Khalid loads up on a big right hand but Colon slips the punch.

Khalid gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Khalid is looking to stand up but Colon isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khalid keeping full guard, as Colon tries to pass.
Colon throws a big right hand that misses.
Khalid wants to stand up but Colon is controlling him.
Colon wants to control from the top but Khalid keeps moving.
Colon throwing strikes from guard but Khalid blocks nicely.
Colon looking to sit in guard and control but Khalid gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalid has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Colon is proving hard to escape from.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Colon misses with a takedown attempt - Khalid sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Colon takes the fight into the clinch.
Colon wants to get back to striking at distance but Khalid won't allow it.

Khalid's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A punch combination from Khalid misses.

Colon drives through with a takedown into guard.
Khalid keeping moving, preventing Colon from controlling successfully.
Colon throws a strike but Khalid rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khalid wants to stand but Colon has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Khalid gets to his feet. Colon looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Colon dodges the punch combination from Khalid.
Colon fails with the takedown.
Abu Khalid has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Colon.
Colon tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Khalid is able to avoid easily.
Khalid throws a left and a right that both miss
and Colon counters with a lovely straight right hand!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Colon dodges the punch combination from Khalid.
Khalid is breathing heavily.
A swing and a miss from Khalid.
Khalid lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A leg kick checked by Khalid.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abu Khalid dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Colon shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Khalid defends it nicely.
Khalid stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Khalid wants it to stay on the feet.
Abu Khalid seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Khalid swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Colon counters with a three punch combo that has Khalid backing up. Khalid nods at Colon to acknowledge the strikes.

Colon is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Khalid's half guard.
Colon wants to free his trapped foot but Khalid is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Colon is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Khalid sees it coming and defends easily.

Colon is working for a kimura but Khalid is defending it quite comfortably.
Colon is breathing heavily.
Colon misses with a head shot. Khalid uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Colon gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Colon takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Nice uppercut there from Khalid.
Colon uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Khalid.
Khalid misses with a double jab.
A punch lands to the side of Colon 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Khalid throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Khalid throws a nice looking combination but Colon bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Khalid throws a right hand that Colon ducks under and follows up with a left that Colon also avoids with ease.
Khalid will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Colon throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Khalid's waist but Khalid gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Colon off to one side.
Abu Khalid has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Colon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khalid misses with a double jab

and Colon counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Khalid!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Colon raining down shots from the mount!

Colon is working for a guillotine from mount but Khalid frees his head quite easily.
John Colon has got the better of the ground game so far.
Colon misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Colon has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Colon can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Khalid is looking to escape.

Colon stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Khalid.
Colon is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Colon attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Colon keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Khalid.
Colon has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Khalid lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Colon throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Khalid's waist but Khalid gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Colon off to one side.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Khalid!
Khalid shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Danga de danga de dang - Khalid scores with a four punch combination!
Colon throws a nice outside leg kick.
Colon throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Colon shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Khalid but Khalid pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Khalid has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Khalid breaks the clinch.
A swing and a miss from Khalid.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Colon.
Colon trying to control the action but Khalid is working from the bottom.
Colon looking to control but instead Khalid has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Khalid is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Abu Khalid will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Colon looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Khalid!
Khalid wants to get back to his feet.

Colon goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Khalid turns into him and now he's in Colon's guard.
Khalid would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Colon is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Khalid is looking to stand up but Colon won't let him.
Khalid has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Colon is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Khalid is aware though and is defending well.
Khalid wants to stand but Colon is controlling his posture from full guard.
Colon wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Khalid wants to stand but Colon is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Colon manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Khalid manages to get himself to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Colon wants to control from the top but Khalid keeps moving.
Colon stops Khalid from standing up.
Colon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Khalid is keeping the position for now.
Khalid wants to stand but Colon is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Colon wants to pass the guard but Khalid is keeping the position.
Colon trying to control but Khalid is working from the bottom.

Colon is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Khalid is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Khalid has escaped and now he's on top!
Khalid wants to stand and escape but instead Colon has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khalid wants to stand and escape but instead Colon has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Khalid wants to get back to his feet but Colon is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Colon stands up from Khalid's guard - Colon perhaps looking for a knockout.
Colon fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Colon blocks a jab.
Khalid misses with a hook to the body

and Colon counters with a nice double leg into side control. Khalid won't be happy with that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Colon really dominated that round.
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.

Khalid scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Colon lands with a cross.
Khalid jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Khalid throws a one two combo.
Colon fails to land the takedown.
Colon fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Colon shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Khalid fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Colon manages to avoid it.
Colon looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Abu Khalid has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Colon.
Khalid works over Colon's head and body with a nice combination.
Khalid throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Khalid closes the distance and clinches.
Colon has Khalid pressed against the cage, preventing Khalid from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Khalid tries to circle away but Colon has him pinned against the cage.
Khalid has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Khalid prevents Colon from breaking the clinch.
Colon tries for a takedown but Khalid manages to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Khalid pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Khalid throws a jab when Colon was well out of range.

Colon closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Khalid to the mat! Khalid manages to get full guard.

Colon decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Colon looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Khalid is fending him off so far but Colon persists. Nope, Khalid circles away and we're back to standing.
Colon defending well as Khalid loads up on a big left hand.
Khalid misses with a looping left.
Colon scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
A jab from Khalid misses.
Khalid misses with a double jab

and Colon counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Colon.
Khalid wants to stand and escape but Colon is having none of it.
Colon advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Colon decides to take the fight back to the feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Khalid stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Khalid wants it to stay on the feet.
Khalid misses with a two punch combination.
Abu Khalid is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Colon ducks under a wild hook from Khalid.

Colon moves into the clinch.
Colon has Khalid pressed against the cage, preventing Khalid from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Khalid is trying to break the clinch but Colon is controlling him.
Colon lands with a light punch inside.
Colon tries to pull guard but Khalid holds him up against the cage and eventually Colon drops back down to his feet.
A frustrated look appears on Khalid's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Khalid working hard to break the clinch.
Khalid is trying to break the clinch but Colon has him pressed against the cage.

Colon manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalid falls off balance throwing a combination

so Colon counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Colon works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Colon passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Khalid!
Colon landing punches.
Khalid's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

Colon working for a guillotine from mount but Khalid is in no mood to give up.
Khalid avoids a series of strikes thrown by Colon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khalid really wants to buck Colon off and get back to his feet.

Colon jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Khalid is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Khalid and Colon has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Khalid sneaks out the side door and pushes Colon away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Colon uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Khalid.

Colon shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Colon loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Colon trying to control the position from guard on top but Khalid is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Colon dominated that fourth round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Khalid throws a combination that misses

and Colon counters with a takedown into side control.

Colon goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Khalid has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Colon but great work by Khalid.

Khalid decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Khalid misses with a series of wild punches.
Khalid swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Colon shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Colon passes Khalid's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Khalid has one foot on Colon's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Colon slips a jab and a cross from Khalid.
Abu Khalid is winning the standup battle so far.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Colon dodges the punch combination from Khalid.
Colon fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Khalid throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Colon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalid tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Colon was well out of range. Poor timing from Khalid.
Colon shoots in for a double leg but Khalid sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Khalid works the jab nicely.

Colon drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Colon looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Khalid is avoiding damage well.
Khalid wants to get back to his feet but Colon drags him back down.
Colon trying to control the action but Khalid is working from the bottom.
Colon postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khalid wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Colon working the body and head with strikes.

Colon is trying to get an arm triangle but Khalid is defending well.
Khalid wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Colon decides to stand up, so the ref orders Khalid to his feet.
Colon shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalid rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Colon moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Colon shoots for a double leg takedown but Khalid sprawls well. He's pushed Colon's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Abu Khalid has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Colon.
Khalid loads up on a big right hand but Colon slips the punch.
Colon fails with the takedown.
Colon slips a jab and a cross from Khalid.
Colon scores with a shot to the body.
Colon avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Abu Khalid is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Khalid swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Khalid stuffs the takedown attempt from Colon. Colon gets slowly back to his feet.
Khalid throws a right hand that Colon ducks under and follows up with a left that Colon also avoids with ease.
Khalid keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
No joy there for Khalid, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Colon takes the fight into the clinch.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khalid will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Colon shoots in for a takedown but Khalid shows good takedown defense.
Colon shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Khalid but Khalid pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Khalid uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Colon has time to react.
Khalid lands with a nice body punch.

Colon scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Khalid is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Colon is controlling him well.
Khalid is not content to let Colon control the position.

Colon goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Khalid rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Colon's guard! Nice work there by Khalid!

And that's the end of the fight!
John Colon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Colon 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 47:48
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 47:48
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Colon!
John Colon is the new middleweight champion!