PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bakar Ben Khalifa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and The Kicking Pokemon Hitmonlee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ben Khalifa's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, The Prodigy - Warrior's Dance. Hitmonlee has chosen The Hitmonlee Entrance Theme as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Bakar Ben Khalifa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ben Khalifa
vs
Kicking Pokemon Hitmonlee

173 cm
23
144 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

173 cm
21
143 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Balco Boys Battle Gear

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 7 - 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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, The Kicking Pokemon Hitmonlee!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ben Khalifa lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Ben Khalifa.
The Kicking Pokemon Hitmonlee seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Good work by Ben Khalifa as he checks the leg kick.

Ben Khalifa throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hitmonlee was covering up waiting for the punch and Ben Khalifa finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Ben Khalifa preventing the sweep.
Ben Khalifa throwing strikes but missing.
Ben Khalifa trying to control but Hitmonlee is working from the bottom.
Ben Khalifa won't allow Hitmonlee to get back to his feet.
Ben Khalifa trying to control the position from guard on top but Hitmonlee is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ben Khalifa stopping the sweep attempt from Hitmonlee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ben Khalifa missing there with some ground and pound from the 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 Hitmonlee is working from the bottom.
Ben Khalifa tries to free his leg and advance position but Hitmonlee is retaining full guard.
Hitmonlee is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hitmonlee throws a body punch but Ben Khalifa moves out of range.

Ben Khalifa shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ben Khalifa prevents Hitmonlee from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ben Khalifa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hitmonlee keeps working.
Ben Khalifa not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hitmonlee won't allow Ben Khalifa to pass to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hitmonlee is looking to improve his position.
Hitmonlee is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ben Khalifa 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.
Hitmonlee wants to get back to his feet.
Ben Khalifa thows a huge punch but Hitmonlee dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ben Khalifa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ben Khalifa is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Hitmonlee tries to reverse the position but Ben Khalifa maintains control.
Hitmonlee wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Ben Khalifa lands a heavy elbow.
The referee warns Hitmonlee that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Ben Khalifa landing shots from mount.
Hitmonlee wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Ben Khalifa.
Poor strikes thrown by Ben Khalifa there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ben Khalifa throws some wild stikes that Hitmonlee manages to avoid easily.
Ben Khalifa working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Hitmonlee is bucking up trying to escape but Ben Khalifa cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Ben Khalifa throwing strikes here but Hitmonlee is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Hitmonlee wants to get back to his feet.

Ben Khalifa is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Hitmonlee can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Ben Khalifa landing strikes from the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hitmonlee throws an off balance right hand

and Ben Khalifa counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hitmonlee!

Ben Khalifa working for a submission but Hitmonlee is keeping him at bay.
Ben Khalifa throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Hitmonlee because Ben Khalifa loaded up on that one.
Ben Khalifa avoids the attempt from Hitmonlee to control.
Hitmonlee gets back to half guard.
Hitmonlee has his hands clasped together around Ben Khalifa's back. He's all about the action.
Ben Khalifa wants to free his trapped foot but Hitmonlee is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ben Khalifa throws a strike but Hitmonlee avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Hitmonlee manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ben Khalifa manages to get himself to full guard.

Ben Khalifa is working an open guard so Hitmonlee takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Hitmonlee swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hitmonlee tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hitmonlee lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ben Khalifa gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ben Khalifa shoots in looking for a takedown. Hitmonlee tries to sprawl out of it but Ben Khalifa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hitmonlee manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ben Khalifa checks a leg kick.
Hitmonlee connects with a high kick.
Hitmonlee tries to work over Ben Khalifa's front leg with a kick but Ben Khalifa checks it.
Hitmonlee throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hitmonlee throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hitmonlee tries to score with a low kick but Ben Khalifa moves his leg out of the way.
Hitmonlee cracks the inside of Ben Khalifa's front leg.

Ben Khalifa closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hitmonlee wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Hitmonlee tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ben Khalifa wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hitmonlee takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Bakar Ben Khalifa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ben Khalifa advances to full mount.
Ben Khalifa wants to control the pace but Hitmonlee is squirming around nicely.
Hitmonlee is trying to escape the mount.
Ben Khalifa misses with a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ben Khalifa connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Hitmonlee is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Ben Khalifa trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Poor strikes thrown by Ben Khalifa there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Ben Khalifa throwing strikes here but Hitmonlee is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Hitmonlee is squirming around, avoiding Ben Khalifa's attempts to control the action.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ben Khalifa is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hitmonlee is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
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.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hitmonlee throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hitmonlee stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Ben Khalifa on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Hitmonlee throws a chopping leg kick but Ben Khalifa manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Ben Khalifa throws a leg kick but Hitmonlee checks it.
Ben Khalifa throws a body punch but Hitmonlee moves out of range.
Hitmonlee misses with a lunging right hand
and Ben Khalifa makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Hitmonlee turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hitmonlee chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hitmonlee throws a low kick but Ben Khalifa moves out of range easily.
Ben Khalifa misses with a left hand
and Hitmonlee counters with a good low kick that Ben Khalifa was not able to check.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hitmonlee checks a low kick from Ben Khalifa.
Hitmonlee with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ben Khalifa stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hitmonlee.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hitmonlee just misses with a punch to the body.
Hitmonlee scores with a sloppy right hand. Ben Khalifa should have avoided that one.
Hitmonlee lands a slapping body shot.
Hitmonlee scoring well with a low kick there.
Ben Khalifa is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hitmonlee.
Hitmonlee connects with a solid leg kick.
Hitmonlee connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
The Kicking Pokemon Hitmonlee is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hitmonlee keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hitmonlee throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ben Khalifa stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hitmonlee.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hitmonlee.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hitmonlee jabs at Ben Khalifa's body.
Hitmonlee lands a nice shot that snaps Ben Khalifa's head back.
Hitmonlee with a jab.
Hitmonlee connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ben Khalifa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hitmonlee.
Hitmonlee cracks the inside of Ben Khalifa's front leg.
Ben Khalifa walks into a jab.
Hitmonlee connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hitmonlee tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ben Khalifa on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hitmonlee throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hitmonlee feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Ben Khalifas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Hitmonlee lands a glancing blow to the side of Ben Khalifa's head.
Hitmonlee connects with a body shot that sends Ben Khalifa's belly button to the back.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hitmonlee.
Hitmonlee scoring well with a low kick there.
Ben Khalifa takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A shot to the liver by Hitmonlee. Beautiful body shot.
Hitmonlee throws a leg kick which misses Ben Khalifa's front leg but catches the back leg as Ben Khalifa tries to avoid it.
Hitmonlee connects with a single shot there.
Bakar Ben Khalifa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hitmonlee.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ben Khalifa chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hitmonlee can pounce on him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ben Khalifa takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Hitmonlee lands with a shot to the body.
Hitmonlee throws a leg kick which misses Ben Khalifa's front leg but catches the back leg as Ben Khalifa tries to avoid it.
Ben Khalifa doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Good leg kick by Hitmonlee there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hitmonlee throws a head kick that misses.
Hitmonlee dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The Kicking Pokemon Hitmonlee has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ben Khalifa takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hitmonlee.
Good leg kick by Hitmonlee there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hitmonlee throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Hitmonlee lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ben Khalifa's sensitive parts.
Hitmonlee pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ben Khalifa is out of range and Hitmonlee settles back down.

And that's the end of the fight!
The Kicking Pokemon Hitmonlee comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ben Khalifa has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 28:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bakar Ben Khalifa!