PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Diablo Maradona (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sahraim Alib (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Maradona
vs
Alib

180 cm
21
170 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

170 cm
20
170 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Vicious Nutrition :: Proven 159Q Recovery for $100

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Diablo Maradona!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sahraim Alib!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Paulo Santos and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alib slaps away a takedown attempt from Maradona, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Maradona throws a body punch but Alib moves out of range.
Maradona misses with a jab, cross combination.

Maradona gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Alib to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Maradona preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Maradona wants to stand up but Alib is controlling him.
Maradona working a defensive guard here.
Maradona manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Maradona 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 one minute gone in the round.
Maradona thowing shots but they're missing.
Maradona punching from mount but Alib doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Maradona thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Maradona is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Alib reaches up and holds on to Maradona to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Maradona is working for a guillotine from mount but Alib frees his head quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Alib wants to control but Maradona is having none of it.
Alib is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Maradona is staying active.
Alib is working to get back to half guard.
Alib avoids a series of strikes thrown by Maradona.

Maradona is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Alib is surviving well by controlling Maradona's body position as best he can.
Alib is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alib is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Maradona wants to control the pace but Alib is squirming around nicely.
Maradona lands a big shot there that rocks Alib but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Alib gets back to half guard.
Maradona is looking to take a break and control but Alib is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alib controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Maradona wants to pass the guard but Alib is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maradona tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Alib.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Alib can do anything to dispel that myth.
Alib is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Maradona's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Maradona's back!
Alib lands a shot to the body.
Alib is looking to control Maradona but Maradona is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Maradona grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maradona rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Alib misses with a head shot. Maradona uses the momentum to regain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sahraim Alib dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Maradona with a poor takedown

and Alib counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Alib trying to control the position from guard on top but Maradona is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maradona pulls Alib in close to prevent any damage.
Alib trying to control but Maradona is working from the bottom.
Alib is looking to work some ground and pound but Maradona has wrist control.
Maradona preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Alib tries to free his leg and advance position but Maradona is retaining full guard.
Maradona lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Alib!
Alib is desperately trying to improve his position but Maradona has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alib blocking the ground and pound.
Maradona takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Maradona tries to control but Alib wriggling away.
Alib tries to lock up and control but Maradona gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Maradona with shots to the head and body - Alib looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Maradona trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Maradona fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

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

Alib sneaks out the side door and pushes Maradona away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Maradona misses with a takedown

and Alib counters with a shoot takedown. Maradona fights it but they end up in guard.
Alib being controlled here momentarily.
Maradona is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maradona working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Alib.
Alib working some strikes from top position.

Maradona manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Alib shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Alib avoids the attempt from Maradona to control.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Alib cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Maradona is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alib with a couple of short strikes.
Maradona wants to control but Alib is having none of it.
Maradona is trying to escape the mount.
Maradona is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Maradona is trying desperately to improve position.
Alib lands a big shot there that rocks Maradona but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Alib is landing with some decent strikes but Maradona is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sahraim Alib showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Maradona shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Maradona wants to control from the top but Alib keeps moving.
Alib is trying to keep Maradona in close.
Maradona trying to control but Alib is working from the bottom.
Maradona passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Alib gets back to half guard.
Maradona wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alib keeps working.
Maradona wants to free his trapped foot but Alib is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maradona wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alib keeps working.
Alib works his way to full guard. Good work.
Maradona with a flurry of punches that miss.
Maradona stops Alib from standing up.

Maradona stands up and waves to Alib to follow him.
Maradona misses with a takedown attempt

and Alib counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Maradona's guard now.
Maradona looking for a sweep. Not yet Maradona, not yet.
Alib stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maradona swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Alib drops back, looking for a kneebar! Maradona looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Maradona looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Maradona!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maradona trying to control the action but Alib is working from the bottom.

Maradona looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Alib tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Maradona easily slips into full mount!
Alib is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alib holds on to Maradona as tight as he can, avoiding damage.
Alib is looking to improve his position but Maradona isn't that keen on the idea.
Maradona looking to finish Alib with some ground and pound. This is bad for Alib!
Maradona trying to control but Alib is having none of it.
Poor strikes thrown by Maradona there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Alib is trying desperately to improve position.
Alib wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

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.
Alib tries to escape but Maradona has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Alib is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Maradona gets his way!

Alib preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Maradona.
Maradona missing with strikes.
Sahraim Alib is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Maradona has his opponent's back but Alib is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Maradona.
Maradona misses with a takedown attempt

and Alib decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Maradona's guard.
Diablo Maradona has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Maradona is looking for a triangle but Alib pushes his legs off easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sahraim Alib comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Alib has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sahraim Alib!