PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Amir Mahmoud (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Worawat Fairtex (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mahmoud
vs
Fairtex

190 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

{GTI} - HGH Nutrients
Hell's Balls Recovery

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Amir Mahmoud!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Worawat Fairtex!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paul Aken and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fairtex stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fairtex wants it to stay on the feet.

Fairtex moves into the clinch.
Mahmoud doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mahmoud is trying to break the clinch but Fairtex has him pressed against the cage.
Mahmoud really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mahmoud swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mahmoud wants to break free but Fairtex has control.
Fairtex prevents the takedown attempt.
Fairtex tries to stall but Mahmoud uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Mahmoud looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Mahmoud tries to circle away but Fairtex has him pinned against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Fairtex manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Mahmoud in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mahmoud postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Fairtex seems keen to control Mahmoud's posture.
Mahmoud throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mahmoud preventing the sweep.
Mahmoud wants to stand but Fairtex is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fairtex is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Mahmoud drops back looking for a leg! Fairtex is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Fairtex manages to kick Mahmoud off! Mahmoud jumps back into Fairtex's guard.
Mahmoud trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fairtex has momentary wrist control but Mahmoud slips an elbow through the middle.
Fairtex looking for a sweep. Not yet Fairtex, not yet.
Mahmoud wants to control from the top but Fairtex keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Fairtex looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mahmoud is one step ahead there.
Mahmoud throws a big right hand that misses.
Mahmoud tries to free his leg and advance position but Fairtex is retaining full guard.
Mahmoud wants to stand but Fairtex has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Mahmoud has gone for a leg lock! Fairtex slips out almost immediately though and dives into Mahmoud's guard.
Mahmoud is breathing heavily.
Mahmoud working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fairtex.
Mahmoud avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex wants to pass the guard but Mahmoud is keeping the position.
Fairtex is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
I looks like Fairtex might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Mahmoud keeping full guard, as Fairtex tries to pass.
Fairtex prevents Mahmoud from getting back to his feet.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Worawat Fairtex wasn't active enough on the ground.
Mahmoud stuffs the takedown.
Fairtex dives in and grabs Mahmoud's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mahmoud pushes down on Fairtex's head and hops out.
Mahmoud fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Amir Mahmoud. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Fairtex rushes Mahmoud and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mahmoud takes an elbow to the forehead.

Mahmoud's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mahmoud fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mahmoud slaps away a takedown attempt from Fairtex, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mahmoud swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mahmoud fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fairtex tries for a takedown but Mahmoud sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Mahmoud has managed to clinch.
Mahmoud has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Fairtex utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Fairtex ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Fairtex no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fairtex preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Fairtex utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Worawat Fairtex dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Fairtex clinches.
Mahmoud is trying to stall.

Fairtex is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Mahmoud can't fight it off and eventually Fairtex manages to take the fight to the floor. Mahmoud looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Mahmoud scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Mahmoud lands with a right hand.
Fairtex ducks under a wild hook from Mahmoud.
Fairtex slips a jab and a cross from Mahmoud.
Amir Mahmoud is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mahmoud is looking to score with low kicks.
Fairtex fails to land the takedown.
Fairtex gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Mahmoud counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fairtex looking to stall.
Mahmoud is trying to push Fairtex away but Fairtex has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mahmoud breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Mahmoud closes the distance and clinches.
Fairtex can't get the takedown.
Amir Mahmoud has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Worawat Fairtex.
Mahmoud misses with a punch to the body.
Mahmoud has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Mahmoud breaks from the clinch.

Mahmoud has closed the distance and engaged Fairtex in a clinch.

Mahmoud pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fairtex circles away from the clinch attempt

and Fairtex counters with a shoot takedown. Mahmoud fights it but they end up in guard.
Fairtex stops Mahmoud from standing up.
Fairtex is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Fairtex wants to control from the top but Mahmoud keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mahmoud wants to stand and escape but Fairtex is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Mahmoud scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Fairtex drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fairtex is in close to Mahmoud's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fairtex throwing strikes but missing.
Fairtex keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mahmoud's head.
Mahmoud keeping moving, preventing Fairtex from controlling successfully.
Mahmoud has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Mahmoud looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahmoud wants to get back to his feet but Fairtex is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Fairtex wants to control from the top but Mahmoud keeps moving.
Fairtex not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Worawat Fairtex hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Fairtex defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mahmoud.
Mahmoud is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Fairtex scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Mahmoud is trying to stand back up but Fairtex is controlling him
Fairtex stalling.
Fairtex lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Mahmoud manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Fairtex shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Mahmoud trying to control from the bottom.
Mahmoud tries to roll over but Fairtex keeps him under control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice strikes from Fairtex there.
Fairtex prevents Mahmoud from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Worawat Fairtex showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Fairtex shoots in and gets a takedown into Mahmoud's guard.
Mahmoud wants to stand but Fairtex is controlling the position.
Fairtex trying to control but Mahmoud is working from the bottom.

Mahmoud is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Fairtex landing with the ground and pound.
Fairtex trying to control but Mahmoud is working from the bottom.
Fairtex chips away with some ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fairtex pushing down on Mahmoud's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Fairtex prevents Mahmoud from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fairtex wants to take a breather but Mahmoud is having none of it.
Mahmoud is looking to improve his position.
Nice strikes from Fairtex there.
Mahmoud is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Fairtex passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Mahmoud!
Mahmoud is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Fairtex content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Mahmoud is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Mahmoud in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Fairtex is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Fairtex punishing his opponent with strikes.
Mahmoud throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Fairtex lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Fairtex prevents Mahmoud from getting the reversal.
You get the feeling that Mahmoud really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Mahmoud really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Mahmoud is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahmoud is looking to improve his position but Fairtex isn't that keen on the idea.
Fairtex has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Mahmoud's face.
Fairtex looking to finish Mahmoud with some ground and pound. This is bad for Mahmoud!
Worawat Fairtex has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mahmoud throwing hammer fists to the chest of Fairtex. What's that going to do exactly?
Fairtex lands with some strikes.
Mahmoud trying desperately to get to his feet.
Mahmoud is working to get back to half guard.
Mahmoud is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Fairtex really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mahmoud. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

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.
Mahmoud is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Amir Mahmoud has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fairtex landing strikes from the mount.
Fairtex dominating with strikes here.
Fairtex with good strikes from the mount here!
Mahmoud in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Fairtex scoring with strikes but Mahmoud is staying in there.
Fairtex raining down shots from the mount!
Fairtex dominating with strikes here.
Mahmoud really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
A nice elbow there by Fairtex.

And that's the end of the fight!
Worawat Fairtex comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Fairtex 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Worawat Fairtex!