PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tristan Mkhalele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rual Ferdinand (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Mkhalele might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Noir Désir - Un jour en France. Ferdinand has chosen Fluorecent Adolecent as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Mkhalele
vs
Ferdinand

180 cm
24
201 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

184 cm
24
199 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Tristan Mkhalele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rual Ferdinand!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ferdinand fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mkhalele.
Mkhalele takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Mkhalele is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mkhalele moves in looking to clinch but Ferdinand pushes him off.

Ferdinand fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mkhalele, pushing him back against the cage.
Ferdinand creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mkhalele's defenses.
Ferdinand avoids the elbow strike from Mkhalele, against the cage.
Ferdinand tries a knee to the head but Mkhalele blocks it.
Mkhalele looking to throw knees to the head but Ferdinand is blocking nicely.
Mkhalele is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Mkhalele fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ferdinand dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ferdinand dodges an elbow strike from Mkhalele.
Mkhalele lands an elbow just above Ferdinand 's eye.
Ferdinand scores with a knee to the head.
Ferdinand working Mkhalele over with knees to the body.
Ferdinand lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Tristan Mkhalele has been cut.
Mkhalele tries to stall but Ferdinand uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Mkhalele is breathing heavily.
Mkhalele on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ferdinand as Mkhalele tries to tie him up.
Ferdinand tries a knee to the head but Mkhalele blocks it.
Ferdinand tries to land knees in the clinch but Mkhalele avoids the damage to the body.
Mkhalele goes for a takedown attempt but Ferdinand pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tristan Mkhalele. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mkhalele closes the distance but Ferdinand moves to the side
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Ferdinand lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mkhalele's sensitive parts.
Mkhalele takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ferdinand scores with a leg kick.
Mkhalele takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ferdinand.
Ferdinand moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ferdinand throws a nice outside leg kick.
Ferdinand throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Rual Ferdinand is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Ferdinand closes the distance and clinches.
Mkhalele is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Mkhalele takes an elbow to the temple.
Ferdinand throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ferdinand gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Mkhalele pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Ferdinand just leaning against Mkhalele, taking a breather.
Ferdinand lands an elbow that stopped Mkhalele in his tracks for a moment.
Ferdinand with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mkhalele tries to land a knee to the head but Ferdinand blocks with his arms.
Ferdinand with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferdinand scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ferdinand.
Ferdinand with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ferdinand lands a nice knee to the body.
Ferdinand tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ferdinand pushes Mkhalele back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ferdinand avoids a wild elbow strike from Mkhalele.
Ferdinand gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Ferdinand looking to throw knees to the head but Mkhalele is blocking nicely.
Mkhalele takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ferdinand with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mkhalele tries to score a body lock takedown but Ferdinand shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A knee to the head by Ferdinand.
Ferdinand unloads a knee to the mid-section. Mkhalele lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Ferdinand with a knee to the head.
Ferdinand lands a damaging elbow.
Ferdinand connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mkhalele's face.
Ferdinand lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Ferdinand looking to throw knees to the head but Mkhalele is blocking nicely.
Ferdinand lands a damaging elbow.
Ferdinand with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mkhalele comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mkhalele lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Mkhalele throws an elbow but misses.
Ferdinand throws an elbow that misses.
The referee calls for Ferdinand to work.
Ferdinand has a couple of punches blocked by Mkhalele.
Mkhalele lands an elbow inside.
Mkhalele's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Mkhalele blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The referee calls for Mkhalele to work.
Ferdinand lands an elbow that stopped Mkhalele in his tracks for a moment.
Mkhalele avoiding damage as Ferdinand throws knees to the body.
Ferdinand landing knees to the head.
Mkhalele fails to pull guard.
Ferdinand throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Mkhalele pushes off an throws an elbow but Ferdinand leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Mkhalele stalling in the clinch but Ferdinand improves position.
Ferdinand avoids a wild elbow strike from Mkhalele.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ferdinand as Mkhalele tries to tie him up.
Ferdinand connects with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mkhalele is looking to control Ferdinand's arms but Ferdinand gets an underhook and turns him. Now Mkhalele has his back to the cage.
Ferdinand connects with a knee to the head.
Mkhalele looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Ferdinand takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ferdinand tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mkhalele avoids it.
Ferdinand unloads a knee to the mid-section. Mkhalele lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Ferdinand avoids a wild elbow strike from Mkhalele.
Mkhalele misses with an elbow over the top.
Ferdinand with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ferdinand softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ferdinand looking to throw knees to the head but Mkhalele is blocking nicely.

Mkhalele ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Mkhalele no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Mkhalele wants to control but Ferdinand passes easily into half guard.
Mkhalele is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mkhalele is controlling Ferdinand's position as best he can from this difficult position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rual Ferdinand dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tristan Mkhalele's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mkhalele tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Ferdinand counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Mkhalele throws a sloppy head kick

and Ferdinand holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nice elbow from Mkhalele.
Mkhalele throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Mkhalele connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ferdinand's face.
Mkhalele pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Ferdinand connects with a knee to the head.
Mkhalele misses with an elbow strike.
Ferdinand cracks Mkhalele with a nice body shot.
Ferdinand stalling.
Mkhalele drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ferdinand gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mkhalele on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ferdinand tries to land knees in the clinch but Mkhalele avoids the damage to the body.
Ferdinand lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ferdinand obliges.
Ferdinand putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Mkhalele in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ferdinand with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ferdinand lands a knee to the head.
Ferdinand has Mkhalele pushed against the cage.
Ferdinand scores with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mkhalele creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Ferdinand lands a nice elbow.
Ferdinand with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mkhalele pushes off an throws an elbow but Ferdinand leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Mkhalele blocks an elbow strike from Ferdinand.
Ferdinand tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mkhalele wants to stall.
Ferdinand blocks the elbow strike.
Knees to the body from Ferdinand.
Ferdinand with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ferdinand landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Ferdinand with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Mkhalele just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ferdinand's brow.
Ferdinand lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rual Ferdinand seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ferdinand avoids the elbow strike from Mkhalele, against the cage.
Mkhalele lands an elbow inside that Ferdinand shrugs off.
Mkhalele trying to stall but Ferdinand improves his position.
Ferdinand creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mkhalele's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mkhalele throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Ferdinand tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mkhalele throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Ferdinand connects with a knee to the head.
Mkhalele tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ferdinand is stalling here.
Ferdinand is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Ferdinand tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mkhalele lands a knee to the head.
Ferdinand is trying to stall.
Ferdinand using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mkhalele has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ferdinand tries to land a knee to the head but Mkhalele blocks with his arms.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Mkhalele.
Mkhalele lands a damaging elbow.
Ferdinand takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ferdinand takes an elbow to the temple.
Mkhalele pushes off an throws an elbow but Ferdinand leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Mkhalele lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferdinand scores a nice knee to the body.
Ferdinand avoids the elbow strike from Mkhalele, against the cage.
Mkhalele pushes off an throws an elbow but Ferdinand leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Ferdinand working Mkhalele over with knees to the body.
Ferdinand lands a good knee to the midsection. Mkhalele won't want to take too many of those.
Ferdinand lands an elbow that stopped Mkhalele in his tracks for a moment.
Ferdinand slowing the pace effectively.
Ferdinand takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ferdinand tries to land knees in the clinch but Mkhalele avoids the damage to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Ferdinand utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Nice elbow from Mkhalele.
Mkhalele lands an elbow inside.
Ferdinand just leaning against Mkhalele, taking a breather.
Mkhalele is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ferdinand gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Ferdinand misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mkhalele.
Ferdinand dodges an elbow strike from Mkhalele.
Ferdinand scores with a knee to the head.
Mkhalele misses with a knee to the head.
Ferdinand has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ferdinand tries to land a knee to the head but Mkhalele blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferdinand takes an elbow to the temple.
Mkhalele pushes off an throws an elbow but Ferdinand leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Ferdinand creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Mkhalele lands an elbow inside that Ferdinand shrugs off.
Mkhalele is looking to control Ferdinand's arms but Ferdinand gets an underhook and turns him. Now Mkhalele has his back to the cage.
Ferdinand trying to land knees to the body.
Mkhalele throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Mkhalele misses with an elbow strike.
Mkhalele avoiding damage as Ferdinand throws knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Ferdinand.
Ferdinand misses with an elbow strike.
Mkhalele looking to stall.
Ferdinand avoiding damage.
Mkhalele looking to slow down the pace here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ferdinand takes an elbow to the forehead.
Mkhalele lands a damaging elbow.
With the fighters up against the cage, Mkhalele throws an elbow but misses.
Mkhalele trying to control the position but instead, Ferdinand has worked for underhooks and has pushed Mkhalele into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rual Ferdinand showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tristan Mkhalele's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ferdinand lands with a nice body kick.
Ferdinand throws a low kick, looking for Mkhalele's leg but Mkhalele calmly moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ferdinand. Mkhalele does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rual Ferdinand seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ferdinand motions for Mkhalele to come forward. Ferdinand throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Mkhalele clinches but Ferdinand breaks the clinch
and Ferdinand counters with an outside leg kick.
Mkhalele takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Mkhalele misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Ferdinand gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ferdinand tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ferdinand is pushing Mkhalele up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Ferdinand avoids a wild elbow strike from Mkhalele.
Ferdinand throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mkhalele misses with a knee to the head.
Ferdinand misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferdinand using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mkhalele has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ferdinand lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Ferdinand lands an elbow inside that Mkhalele shrugs off.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Mkhalele.
Ferdinand lands an elbow inside that Mkhalele shrugs off.
Ferdinand looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Ferdinand tries a knee to the head but Mkhalele blocks it.
Mkhalele managing to block the knees to the body from Ferdinand.
Mkhalele tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mkhalele tries to stall but Ferdinand uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ferdinand lands a nice knee to the body.
Mkhalele tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ferdinand just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ferdinand tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mkhalele is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ferdinand gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A knee to the head by Ferdinand.
Ferdinand using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mkhalele has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mkhalele blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Mkhalele blocks the elbow strike.
Ferdinand lands a nice knee to the body.
Ferdinand missing with knees to the body.
Mkhalele creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Ferdinand's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferdinand lands a damaging elbow.
Mkhalele drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tristan Mkhalele. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ferdinand avoids a wild elbow strike from Mkhalele.
Ferdinand tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ferdinand blocks an elbow strike from Mkhalele.
Mkhalele lands an elbow inside.
Mkhalele comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ferdinand throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mkhalele blocks it with crossed arms.
Ferdinand takes an elbow to the forehead.
Mkhalele avoiding damage as Ferdinand throws knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Mkhalele.
Ferdinand comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ferdinand tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mkhalele throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Mkhalele lands an elbow that stopped Ferdinand in his tracks for a moment.
Ferdinand using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mkhalele has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mkhalele stalling in the clinch but Ferdinand improves position.
Ferdinand tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ferdinand avoids a wild elbow strike from Mkhalele.
Tristan Mkhalele has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Mkhalele lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Mkhalele tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ferdinand connects with a knee to the head.
Ferdinand dodges an elbow strike from Mkhalele.
A bit of stalling here from Ferdinand.
Mkhalele misses with a knee strike.
Ferdinand missing with knees to the body.
Mkhalele connects with a knee to the head.
Ferdinand tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mkhalele avoids it.
Ferdinand throws a knee to the head but misses.
A bit of stalling here from Mkhalele.
Ferdinand with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
With the fighters up against the cage, Ferdinand throws an elbow but misses.
Mkhalele using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ferdinand has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ferdinand throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ferdinand being controlled against the cage.
Ferdinand using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mkhalele has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ferdinand throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mkhalele blocks it with crossed arms.

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.
Ferdinand using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mkhalele has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mkhalele creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Ferdinand's defenses.
Mkhalele comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
With the fighters up against the cage, Ferdinand throws an elbow but misses.
Mkhalele is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ferdinand is keeping busy.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Ferdinand just misses with a elbow thrown towards Mkhalele's brow.
Ferdinand blocks an elbow strike.
Mkhalele displaying some good clinch control by pressing Ferdinand up against the cage.
Ferdinand using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mkhalele has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mkhalele lands an elbow inside.
Mkhalele throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Mkhalele slows down the pace here.
Ferdinand comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ferdinand lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rual Ferdinand is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ferdinand dodges an elbow strike from Mkhalele.
Mkhalele is trying to stall.
Ferdinand avoids a wild elbow strike from Mkhalele.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rual Ferdinand comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ferdinand 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 James Atkins scores the fight 26:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rual Ferdinand!