PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cory Trevor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bakar Ben Khalifa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Trevor comes to the cage accompanied by Can't Not Be Feelin Dis. Ben Khalifa has chosen The Prodigy - Warrior's Dance as his entrance music. Cory Trevor has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Trevor
vs
Ben Khalifa

194 cm
22
133 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

173 cm
22
144 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

O'Brannigan's Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Cory Trevor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bakar Ben Khalifa!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Trevor staying out of range there.
Ben Khalifa misses with the combination.
Ben Khalifa throws a shot from downtown. Trevor moves away and avoids it.
Ben Khalifa throws a hook but Trevor avoids it easily.
Ben Khalifa throws a hook to the side of Trevor's head but Trevor sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Trevor dodges the punch combination from Ben Khalifa.
Trevor showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ben Khalifa.
The fighters circling - Ben Khalifa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Trevor avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Trevor dives in and grabs Ben Khalifa's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ben Khalifa pushes down on Trevor's head and hops out.
Ben Khalifa throws a series of punches but Trevor avoids them all with ease.
Ben Khalifa tries to clinch up but Trevor circles away and keeps his distance.
Trevor blocks a head kick by Ben Khalifa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ben Khalifa has his takedown stuffed

so Trevor counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Trevor slips nicely into half guard.
Trevor is taking a breather. Ben Khalifa says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Ben Khalifa looks like he's trying to stand up.
Trevor is looking to advance position but Ben Khalifa won't allow it.
Trevor content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Trevor seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ben Khalifa for as long as he can get away with.
Ben Khalifa wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Trevor circles away from the clinch attempt

and Trevor counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ben Khalifa wants to get back to his feet but Trevor passes into half guard.

Trevor is working for a kimura but Ben Khalifa is defending it quite comfortably.

Ben Khalifa manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ben Khalifa looks to land a right hand but Trevor moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trevor moves out of range of the strikes.
Trevor keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ben Khalifa.
Trevor swats away the attempt to clinch by Ben Khalifa.
Trevor looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bakar Ben Khalifa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Trevor shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ben Khalifa but Ben Khalifa pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cory Trevor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A jab from Ben Khalifa misses.
Ben Khalifa has his takedown stuffed
and Trevor counters with a good low kick that Ben Khalifa was not able to check.
Ben Khalifa misses with a series of wild punches.

Trevor moves into range and clinches up with Ben Khalifa.

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.
Ben Khalifa wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Trevor has him pressed against the cage.
Ben Khalifa is looking to break free of the clinch but Trevor has double underhooks.
Trevor unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ben Khalifa lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Trevor decides to pull guard.
Trevor is pulling down on Ben Khalifa's head to control his posture.

Trevor is working an open guard so Ben Khalifa takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Trevor throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ben Khalifa was covering up waiting for the punch and Trevor finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Ben Khalifa is pulling down on Trevor's head to control his posture.
Trevor tries to free his leg and advance position but Ben Khalifa is retaining full guard.
Ben Khalifa wants to stand and escape but Trevor is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ben Khalifa with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A slow jab from Ben Khalifa misses its intended target.
Trevor has his takedown stuffed
and Ben Khalifa counters with a nice uppercut.

Trevor moves into the clinch.
Trevor utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Trevor tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Trevor lands a good knee to the midsection. Ben Khalifa won't want to take too many of those.
Trevor is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Trevor utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Trevor is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Trevor content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Trevor drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cory Trevor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Trevor missing with knees to the body.
Trevor looking to stall.
Ben Khalifa wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ben Khalifa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ben Khalifa throws a big shot that misses.
Ben Khalifa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ben Khalifa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Trevor shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Trevor trying to control the position from guard on top but Ben Khalifa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ben Khalifa wants to stand but Trevor is controlling the position.
Trevor is pushing down on Ben Khalifa's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ben Khalifa is fighting to maintain full guard but Trevor has managed to sneak the leg through.
Ben Khalifa works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ben Khalifa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Trevor is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trevor trying to control but Ben Khalifa is working from the bottom.
Ben Khalifa wants to stand up but Trevor is controlling him.
Trevor stands up over Ben Khalifa, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ben Khalifa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Trevor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ben Khalifa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Trevor is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Trevor passes Ben Khalifa's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Trevor is looking for a kimura here.

Ben Khalifa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Trevor pulls his head out easily.
Ben Khalifa is breathing heavily.
Trevor throwing shots but Ben Khalifa is blocking nicely.

Trevor seems to be looking for submissions.
Ben Khalifa wants to control but Trevor is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ben Khalifa is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Trevor is staying active.
Trevor lands strikes from half guard.
Trevor scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Trevor is trying to control the action in half guard but Ben Khalifa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four 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.
Trevor content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ben Khalifa wants to get back to his feet.
Trevor lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Trevor will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Trevor is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Ben Khalifa trying desperately to get to his feet.

Trevor looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cory Trevor dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Ben Khalifa closes the distance but Trevor moves to the side

and Trevor counters by clinching up.

Trevor manages to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ben Khalifa trying to control but Trevor is working from the bottom.
Trevor has Ben Khalifa pulled in close to control his posture.
Ben Khalifa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Trevor lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ben Khalifa!
Trevor landing punches.

Trevor wants to finish this one by submission but Ben Khalifa is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Trevor.
Trevor scoring with strikes but Ben Khalifa is staying in there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trevor sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ben Khalifa wants to hold on but Trevor pushes him away.
Trevor postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Ben Khalifa looks a forlorn figure.

Trevor is working for a guillotine from mount but Ben Khalifa frees his head quite easily.
Ben Khalifa tries to buck Trevor off but Trevor takes his back!
Ben Khalifa is trying to stand back up.
Cory Trevor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ben Khalifa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Ben Khalifa preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Trevor.

Ben Khalifa is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Ben Khalifa tries to escape the position.
Ben Khalifa looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Trevor working for a choke but Ben Khalifa is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trevor lands punches and elbows.
Cory Trevor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ben Khalifa is in bad spot here.
Trevor controlling the position well here. Ben Khalifa rolled but Trevor kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Ben Khalifa is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Trevor off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Bakar Ben Khalifa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Ben Khalifa looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Ben Khalifa has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Trevor keeps control of the position as Ben Khalifa tries to break free.
Ben Khalifa is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Trevor controlling the position well here. Ben Khalifa rolled but Trevor kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Ben Khalifa has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cory Trevor showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Trevor, 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cory Trevor!