PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mbala Ubuntu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eli Halfdead (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ubuntu's entrance music is Hohodza. A fine choice. Eli Halfdead has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Mbala Ubuntu's chin.

Ubuntu
vs
Halfdead

175 cm
22
164 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

155 cm
22
155 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mbala Ubuntu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Eli Halfdead!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Alec Ball and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ubuntu is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Halfdead's half guard.
Halfdead won't allow Ubuntu to pass to mount.
Halfdead trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ubuntu has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ubuntu is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Halfdead is surviving well by controlling Ubuntu's body position as best he can.
Halfdead wants to hold on but Ubuntu pushes him away.

Ubuntu is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Halfdead can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Halfdead is squirming around, avoiding Ubuntu's attempts to control the action.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ubuntu tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ubuntu has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Halfdead is trying to get back to half guard.
Halfdead stops Ubuntu from passing to mount.
Halfdead struggling a bit here.
Halfdead tries to buck Ubuntu off but Ubuntu is having none of it.

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.

Ubuntu tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ubuntu has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Halfdead is looking to regain half guard here but Ubuntu keeps moving and retains side control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ubuntu shoots in for a takedown but Halfdead shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ubuntu fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Halfdead tries for a takedown but Ubuntu sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ubuntu with a lazy takedown attempt
and Halfdead counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ubuntu thinking.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mbala Ubuntu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ubuntu is breathing heavily.
Ubuntu shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Halfdead counters with a takedown into side control.
Halfdead staying calm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Halfdead is trying to get an arm triangle but Ubuntu is defending well.
Halfdead tries to get to his feet but Ubuntu is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Halfdead in his guard.
Halfdead throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Halfdead throws a strike but Ubuntu rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Halfdead keeping moving, preventing Ubuntu from controlling successfully.
Ubuntu tries to free his leg and advance position but Halfdead is retaining full guard.
Ubuntu pushes down on Halfdead's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Halfdead wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mbala Ubuntu will probably get the nod.
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.

Ubuntu gets the takedown into side control.
Ubuntu just content to control the position.

Ubuntu thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Ubuntu wants to control but Halfdead is keeping him busy.
Halfdead tries to buck Ubuntu off but Ubuntu is having none of it.

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

Halfdead is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ubuntu is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Halfdead wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ubuntu keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ubuntu can't do much from the bottom here.

Halfdead goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Ubuntu has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Halfdead but great work by Ubuntu.
Halfdead is breathing heavily.
Halfdead keeping his opponent close.
Ubuntu controls the position from side control.

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.

Ubuntu is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Halfdead knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Halfdead tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Ubuntu presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Halfdead tries to hold on but Ubuntu postures up.

Ubuntu looking for a guillotine from mount but Halfdead is having none of it.
Ubuntu tries to control but Halfdead wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halfdead is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ubuntu wants to control the pace but Halfdead is squirming around nicely.
Ubuntu is really struggling to control Halfdead but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Ubuntu is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Halfdead has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Ubuntu looking to control but Halfdead is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Ubuntu jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Halfdead manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Halfdead manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ubuntu moves into full mount! Halfdead won't be happy about that!
Ubuntu tries to control but Halfdead wriggling away.
Halfdead is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ubuntu controlling his opponent.
Ubuntu trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Halfdead sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Ubuntu wants to advance to full mount but Halfdead doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mbala Ubuntu dominated that second 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ubuntu misses with a takedown attempt

and Halfdead counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ubuntu's guard now.
Halfdead trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ubuntu's guard.
Ubuntu managing to control the position.
Halfdead pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ubuntu is keeping the position for now.
Halfdead must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ubuntu seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Mbala Ubuntu just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Ubuntu misses with a takedown attempt
and Halfdead counters with a three punch combo that has Ubuntu backing up. Ubuntu nods at Halfdead to acknowledge the strikes.
Halfdead tries to clinch up.

Ubuntu scores a takedown into full mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Ubuntu looking for a guillotine from mount but Halfdead is having none of it.
Halfdead is squirming around, avoiding Ubuntu's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halfdead is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ubuntu looking to control but Halfdead is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Halfdead tries to lock up and control but Ubuntu gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ubuntu controlling his opponent.
Mbala Ubuntu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ubuntu swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Halfdead is now in Ubuntu's guard. A big mistake from Ubuntu there, giving up the dominant position!
Ubuntu pulls Halfdead in close to prevent any damage.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Mbala Ubuntu just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Ubuntu scores with a takedown into Halfdead's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ubuntu advances to half guard.
Halfdead wants to control but Ubuntu is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ubuntu moves into full mount! Halfdead won't be happy about that!
Ubuntu looking to control but Halfdead is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Ubuntu will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ubuntu takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Halfdead tries to lock up and control but Ubuntu gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mbala Ubuntu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ubuntu, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mbala Ubuntu!