PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rachid Hadji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Arona (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arona has chosen Knock you out! as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Hadji
vs
Arona

165 cm
26
150 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

179 cm
24
155 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rachid Hadji!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jon Arona!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hadji throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hadji tries a head kick but it misses.
Hadji takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Arona closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hadji did well to prevent Arona getting side control.
Arona wants to take a breather but Hadji is having none of it.

Arona is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hadji defends it well.
Hadji wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hadji is looking to control Arona's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hadji avoid being mounted?

Arona is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hadji is in trouble now - Arona has advanced to mount!

Arona jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Hadji manages to avoid the submission attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Arona working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Arona tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hadji wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Arona is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hadji has escaped the position, nice work there.
Hadji is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Arona has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Arona goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hadji has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Arona but great work by Hadji.
Hadji wants to stand but Arona is controlling his arm.
Arona is trying to control Hadji's posture but Hadji avoids it.
The ground and pound from Hadji seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Arona manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hadji stands up and beckons Arona to join him on the feet.
Arona shoots in looking for a takedown but Hadji manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Arona's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Arona dives in and grabs Hadji's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hadji pushes down on Arona's head and hops out.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hadji misses with an uppercut
and Arona counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Arona drags the fight down to the ground.
Arona trying to control the position.
Arona looking for a sweep. Not yet Arona, not yet.
Hadji postures up.
Hadji won't allow Arona to sweep him here.
Arona preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hadji looking to pass the guard.
Hadji advances to half guard.
Hadji wants to stand but Arona has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Arona trying to control from the bottom.
Arona moves into full guard.
Hadji has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Arona has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hadji can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hadji trying to control but Arona is working from the bottom.
Hadji wants to stand and escape but instead Arona has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arona trying to control the position from guard on top but Hadji is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hadji might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hadji looking to hit a scissor sweep but Arona is one step ahead there.
Arona stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hadji swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Arona drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Arona jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hadji is on top 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.
Hadji wants to control from the top but Arona keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Arona dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hadji misses with a series of wild punches.
Hadji tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Arona manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Arona shoots in for a takedown but Hadji shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hadji tries to work over Arona's front leg with a kick but Arona checks it.

Arona drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hadji lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Arona!
Hadji controlling the pace for now.
Arona is squirming around, avoiding Hadji's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arona tries to lock up and control but Hadji gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hadji can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Arona is looking to escape.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Arona is trying to escape the mount.
Hadji wants to control the pace but Arona is squirming around nicely.
Arona is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hadji trying to control but Arona is having none of it.
Hadji looking to control and managing it successfully.
Arona wants to hold on but Hadji pushes him away.
Hadji looking to control and managing it successfully.
Arona tries to lock up and control but Hadji gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arona is desperately trying to improve his position but Hadji has a good base and remains in mount.
Hadji wants to control the pace but Arona is squirming around nicely.
Arona is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Arona wants to control but Hadji is having none of it.
Hadji wants to control the pace but Arona is squirming around nicely.
Arona regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hadji moves into full mount! Arona won't be happy about that!
Arona is looking to improve his position but Hadji isn't that keen on the idea.
Hadji wants to control the pace but Arona is squirming around nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Arona wants to control but Hadji is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rachid Hadji dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Arona keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hadji.
Hadji tries to bum rush Arona with a series of wild strikes but Arona uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nice sprawl there from Hadji as Arona shoots in.

Arona takes the fight into the clinch.
Hadji misses with an elbow strike.
Arona wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hadji has him pressed against the cage.
Arona tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hadji smiles and moves away.
Arona shoots in for a takedown but Hadji shows good takedown defense.
Rachid Hadji has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Arona.
Hadji is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hadji looks to land a combination but Arona avoids it well.

Arona clinches up against the cage.
Arona avoids the elbow strike from Hadji, against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Arona tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hadji just stands there and leans against the cage.
Arona scores with a hook to the body.
Arona tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hadji smiles and moves away.
Hadji jabs at Arona's body.
Arona swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arona takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Nice takedown defense from Hadji. No joy for Arona on that attempt.
Arona takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Arona lands with an overhand left.
Arona avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hadji throws a series of punches but Arona avoids them all with ease.
Hadji misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hadji displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Arona.
Rachid Hadji is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Hadji clinches with his opponent.
Hadji trying to stall but Arona improves his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hadji trying to land knees to the body.
Hadji is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Arona is keeping busy.
Hadji lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hadji lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Arona manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Arona manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hadji manages to get himself to full guard.
Arona wants to control from the top but Hadji keeps moving.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hadji keeping full guard, as Arona tries to pass.

Arona is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hadji wants to stand but Arona is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Arona drops back looking for a leg! Hadji is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hadji manages to kick Arona off! Arona jumps back into Hadji's guard.
Arona trying to control the position from guard on top but Hadji is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Arona passes Hadji's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hadji wants to control but Arona is keeping busy.

Arona wants to work for an arm triangle but Hadji is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Arona performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Arona is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hadji doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Arona.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jon Arona.
I think Arona 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... Jon Arona!