PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Craig Noons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Basit Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Noons kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is right above it. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Noons
vs
Ali

190 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
19
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Craig Noons!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Basit Ali!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ali throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Noons tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ali is in Noons's guard.

Noons pushes Ali off and gets back to his feet.
Ali tries to clinch up but Noons circles away and keeps his distance.
Craig Noons seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Noons misses with a double jab

and Ali counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Ali is looking for a kimura but Noons is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ali to get the leverage.
Noons is trying to stand back up but Ali is controlling him

Noons has one foot on Ali's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Danga de danga de dang - Noons scores with a four punch combination!
Ali moves in looking to clinch but Noons pushes him off.
Noons throws a series of punches but Ali moves out of range.

Ali bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Noons is looking to get back to his feet here but Ali is keeping cool and he's managed to take Noons's back.
Noons controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noons is keeping busy.
Noons is trying to stand back up.

Ali is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Noons has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Ali looks gassed!

Noons is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
Ali tries to clinch up but Noons circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Noons.
Noons stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Noons wants it to stay on the feet.
A combination from Noons does no damage.
Noons throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ali.
Noons misses with a wild combination.
Noons swinging wildly here.
Noons misses with a double jab

and Ali counters with a nice double leg into side control. Noons won't be happy with that.
Noons is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Noons bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
A punch combination from Noons misses.
Sloppy strikes from Noons. Those never looked like landing.
Noons lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Ali backs up against the cage.
Noons throws a right hand that Ali ducks under and follows up with a left that Ali also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noons throws a nice looking combination but Ali bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ali tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Noons paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Noons throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Ali decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Noons's guard.
Noons is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ali is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ali wants to control from the top but Noons keeps moving.
Noons wants to stand up but Ali is controlling him.

Noons pushes Ali off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Sloppy strikes from Noons. Those never looked like landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noons avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ali will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Noons rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ali moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A left and a right from Noons both land. Nice combination.
Noons goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Sloppy strikes from Noons. Those never looked like landing.
Noons throws a series of strikes that have Ali backpedaling.
Some wild striking there from Noons.
Noons misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Noons works over Ali's head and body with a nice combination.
Noons swinging wildly here.
Noons throws a left and a right that both miss

and Ali counters with a shoot takedown. Noons fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ali wants to control from the top but Noons keeps moving.

Noons pushes Ali off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Basit Ali dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Noons moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Ali misses with a body kick.
Ali dodges the punch combination from Noons.
Noons throws a nice looking combination but Ali bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Noons falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ali counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Noons is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Noons misses with a combination
and Ali counters with an inside leg kick.
Noons throws a combination that misses

and Ali counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ali.

Noons uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Noons misses with a combination

and Ali counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ali.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Noons wants to stand up but Ali is controlling him.

Noons scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noons rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ali moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ali showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Noons.
Noons rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ali moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Noons throws a left and a right that both miss

and Ali counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Basit Ali has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ali is trying to control the action in half guard but Noons is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Noons is looking to escape.

Noons kicks Ali off and gets back to his feet.
Noons throws a right and a left that Ali avoids nicely.
Craig Noons is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Noons blocks a head kick by Ali.
Noons shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Ali eats them both and turns towards Noons to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Noons throws a series of punches but Ali moves out of range.
Ali is looking to clinch.
Ali closes the distance and clinches up with Noons, looking for a takedown. Ali pushes Noons against the cage but Noons circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ali fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ali has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Noons throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Noons throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ali.
Noons misses with the combination.
Noons will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Ali shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Noons avoids a series of strikes thrown by Ali.
Noons is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Ali working the ground and pound effectively.
Ali trying to control but Noons is having none of it.
Ali won't let Noons get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali looking to control but Noons is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Noons defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Ali.
Noons is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Noons bucks up and throws Ali to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Noons stalks Ali and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ali's face. Ali staggers backwards, shaken.
Noons throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nice takedown defense from Noons. No joy for Ali on that attempt.
Craig Noons has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Basit Ali.
Noons swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Noons lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Craig Noons is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ali closes the distance and clinches up with Noons, looking for a takedown. Ali pushes Noons against the cage but Noons circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Noons misses with a double jab.
Noons swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ali tries to land a front kick but Noons steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ali slips a jab and a cross from Noons.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Noons scores with a one two! Ali had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Noons throws a series of punches but Ali avoids them all with ease.
Ali slips a jab and a cross from Noons.
Noons swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Ali counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Basit Ali 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Noons falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ali connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ali looks for a takedown but Noons sprawls well.
Noons throws a right and a left that Ali avoids nicely.
A combination from Noons does no damage.
A punch combination from Noons misses.
A nice combination there by Noons.
Noons swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Noons fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Noons is working the combinations to good effect here.
Noons misses with a few strikes there.
Ali throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Noons's waist but Noons gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ali off to one side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noons scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A punch combination from Noons misses.
Ali showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Noons.
Noons throws a nice looking combination but Ali bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ali tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noons fails to land with a series of punches.
Noons swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Noons throws a right hand that Ali ducks under and follows up with a left that Ali also avoids with ease.
Noons lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ali circles away quickly and effectively.
Noons throws a nice looking combination but Ali bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Noons moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Noons misses with a double jab.
Noons lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Ali dives in and grabs Noons's left leg, looking for a takedown. Noons pushes down on Ali's head and hops out.
Craig Noons has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Basit Ali.
Noons stalks Ali and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ali's face. Ali staggers backwards, shaken.
Noons moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Noons looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Noons misses with a wild combination.
Noons misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Noons rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ali moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noons misses with a series of wild punches.
Noons throws a nice looking combination but Ali bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Noons lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ali circles away quickly and effectively.
Noons scores with a one two! Ali had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Sloppy strikes from Noons. Those never looked like landing.
Noons feints a jab promting Ali to slip. Noons then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Ali slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
A punch combination from Noons misses.
Noons throws a series of punches but Ali moves out of range.
Noons misses with a two punch combination.
Ali misses with a kick to the body.
Noons fails to land with a series of punches.
Ali shoots in but no luck this time.
A left and a right from Noons both land. Nice combination.
Noons misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Noons works over Ali's head and body with a nice combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noons throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Noons goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Noons lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Ali backs up against the cage.
Noons lands a two punch combo.
Noons looks to land a combination. Ali sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Noons misses with a double jab
and Ali counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Ali has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Noons fails to land with a series of punches.
Noons throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ali.
Noons stalks Ali and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ali's face. Ali staggers backwards, shaken.
Basit Ali is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Noons swinging wildly here.
Noons fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Noons misses with a jab, cross combination.
Noons falls off balance throwing a combination

and Ali counters with a single leg into guard. Noons didn't expect that.
Noons wants to stand but Ali is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Noons pushes Ali off and scrambles back to his feet.
Noons looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ali dives in and grabs Noons's left leg, looking for a takedown. Noons pushes down on Ali's head and hops out.
Ali doesn't manage to clinch there - Noons circles away.
Noons works over Ali's head and body with a nice combination.
Noons swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ali counters with a three punch combo that has Noons backing up. Noons nods at Ali to acknowledge the strikes.
Ali wants to clinch.
Ali looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Noons is fending him off so far but Ali persists. Nope, Noons circles away and we're back to standing.
Noons misses with a wild combination.
Noons fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
Craig Noons showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ali has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Basit Ali!