PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bakar Ben Khalifa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abuda Taruda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ben Khalifa comes to the cage accompanied by The Prodigy - Warrior's Dance. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ben Khalifa
vs
Taruda

173 cm
23
144 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

175 cm
24
138 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Heavy handed

Balco Boys Battle Gear
Balco Boys - Hilo

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bakar Ben Khalifa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Abuda Taruda!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Ben Khalifa misses.
Taruda drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Taruda fails with the takedown
and Ben Khalifa counters with a leg kick.
Ben Khalifa throws an overhand right that lands on Taruda's shoulder, as Taruda tries to avoid the shot.

Ben Khalifa clinches with his opponent.
Taruda tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ben Khalifa scores with a nice hook to the head.

Ben Khalifa breaks from the clinch.
Ben Khalifa swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Taruda counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ben Khalifa's guard now.
Taruda stops Ben Khalifa from standing up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Taruda accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ben Khalifa trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taruda pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ben Khalifa is keeping the position for now.
Taruda wants to control from the top but Ben Khalifa keeps moving.

We're going to have a standup here because Bakar Ben Khalifa wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Ben Khalifa forces Taruda back against the cage and clinches.
Ben Khalifa lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ben Khalifa lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Taruda.

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

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.
Ben Khalifa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Ben Khalifa clinches with his opponent.

Ben Khalifa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ben Khalifa lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Ben Khalifa throws a low kick but Taruda avoids it.
Ben Khalifa falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Taruda counter with a right hand.

Ben Khalifa has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ben Khalifa presses Taruda against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Ben Khalifa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Ben Khalifa has Taruda up against the cage in a clinch.
Ben Khalifa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ben Khalifa struggles to land a body shot inside as Taruda controls his hands.

Ben Khalifa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ben Khalifa throws a jab when Taruda was well out of range.
Taruda shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Ben Khalifa to counter with a crisp jab.
Bakar Ben Khalifa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Abuda Taruda.
Taruda misses with a double jab.
Ben Khalifa throws a series of punches but Taruda moves out of range.
Taruda takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Nice uppercut there from Ben Khalifa.
Taruda with a poor takedown
and Ben Khalifa counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ben Khalifa misses with a hook

and Taruda counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ben Khalifa won't be happy with that.

Taruda working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Taruda looks gassed!
Ben Khalifa manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Taruda stops Ben Khalifa from getting back to his feet.

Taruda is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Taruda is working for an americana but Ben Khalifa has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Taruda was thinking about the submission.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ben Khalifa pulls Taruda in close to prevent any damage.
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 Bakar Ben Khalifa will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ben Khalifa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Taruda is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Ben Khalifa misses with an uppercut.
Bakar Ben Khalifa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ben Khalifa misses with a right hand

and Taruda counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ben Khalifa is controlling Taruda's posture.

Ben Khalifa pushes Taruda off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ben Khalifa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ben Khalifa throws a left and a right that both miss

and Taruda decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ben Khalifa's guard.

Ben Khalifa pushes Taruda off and gets back to his feet.
Taruda has his takedown stuffed
and Ben Khalifa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Taruda is breathing heavily.
Taruda takes a kick to the side of the head.
Taruda closes the distance but Ben Khalifa moves to the side

and Ben Khalifa counters by clinching up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ben Khalifa just leaning against Taruda, taking a breather.

Ben Khalifa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taruda tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ben Khalifa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ben Khalifa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taruda swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Taruda uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ben Khalifa.
Taruda uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ben Khalifa.
Taruda avoids a punch combination nicely.
Taruda misses with a takedown attempt
and Ben Khalifa counters with a series of strikes. Taruda will be more careful next time no doubt.
Taruda ducks right into an uppercut from Ben Khalifa.
Ben Khalifa lands a nice looking kick to the body. Taruda takes a step back to recover.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ben Khalifa scores with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taruda takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Ben Khalifa connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Taruda momentarily.
Ben Khalifa lands with a cross.
Bakar Ben Khalifa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ben Khalifa lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Taruda circles away quickly and effectively.
Ben Khalifa paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Taruda shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ben Khalifa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bakar Ben Khalifa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Abuda Taruda.
Ben Khalifa misses the jab.
Ben Khalifa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ben Khalifa's corner calls for a 1-2. Ben Khalifa obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Ben Khalifa lands a nice shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ben Khalifa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Taruda.
Ben Khalifa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ben Khalifa bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Ben Khalifa throws an overhand right that lands on Taruda's shoulder, as Taruda tries to avoid the shot.
Ben Khalifa throws a right hand that misses

and Taruda counters with a single leg into guard. Ben Khalifa didn't expect that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ben Khalifa wants to stand but Taruda is controlling the position.
Taruda loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ben Khalifa pushes Taruda off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Ben Khalifa rushes Taruda and presses him up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bakar Ben Khalifa will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ben Khalifa lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Ben Khalifa throws a hook but Taruda blocks it.
Ben Khalifa looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Taruda fails with the takedown
and Ben Khalifa counters with a left to the body.
Taruda with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ben Khalifa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
An inside leg kick lands from Ben Khalifa.
Ben Khalifa misses with a two punch combination.
Ben Khalifa throws the left hand but Taruda avoids the punch easily.
Ben Khalifa misses with a body kick.
Taruda takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ben Khalifa throws a right and a left that Taruda avoids nicely.
Ben Khalifa throws a right hand that misses
and Taruda counters with a one-two to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taruda fails with the takedown
and Ben Khalifa counters with a right hand to the body.
Bakar Ben Khalifa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Abuda Taruda.
Ben Khalifa takes a swing at Taruda's ribcage but misses.
Bakar Ben Khalifa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Taruda on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ben Khalifa. Ben Khalifa obviously looking to wear him down.
Taruda ducks under a wild hook from Ben Khalifa.
Taruda slips a jab from Ben Khalifa.
Ben Khalifa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Taruda sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ben Khalifa goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Ben Khalifa clinches with his opponent.

Ben Khalifa manages to break the clinch.

Ben Khalifa forces Taruda back against the cage and clinches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ben Khalifa creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ben Khalifa breaks from the clinch.
Ben Khalifa lands a jab-cross combination.
Taruda tries to clinch
and Ben Khalifa counters with a leg kick.
A combination from Ben Khalifa does no damage.
Ben Khalifa connects with a right hand. Taruda shakes it off.
Ben Khalifa scores with a jab.
Sloppy strikes from Ben Khalifa. Those never looked like landing.
Ben Khalifa throws a sloppy head kick and Taruda moves out of range easily.
Sloppy strikes from Ben Khalifa. Those never looked like landing.

Ben Khalifa fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Taruda, pushing him back against the cage.
Ben Khalifa lands a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ben Khalifa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bakar Ben Khalifa is winning the standup battle so far.
Ben Khalifa scores with a punch to the head.
Taruda fails with the takedown

and Ben Khalifa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Ben Khalifa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ben Khalifa paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ben Khalifa darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Taruda tries for a takedown but Ben Khalifa circles away easily
and Ben Khalifa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ben Khalifa lands the left hand.
Bakar Ben Khalifa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jab, jab by Ben Khalifa - just one landing.
Taruda has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ben Khalifa.
Taruda gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Abuda Taruda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ben Khalifa looks to land a combination but Taruda avoids it well.
Taruda moves to clinch but Ben Khalifa breaks away
and Ben Khalifa counters with an outside leg kick.
Ben Khalifa moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Ben Khalifa throws a left and a right that both miss

and Taruda counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taruda stopping the sweep attempt from Ben Khalifa.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taruda won't allow Ben Khalifa to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ben Khalifa pushes Taruda off and scrambles back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bakar Ben Khalifa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ben Khalifa, 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... Bakar Ben Khalifa!