PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Powers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mohamad Najar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Powers
vs
Najar

196 cm
22
269 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

215 cm
19
265 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

South Side Swagger

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michael Powers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mohamad Najar!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Sosuke Kotani and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Najar fails with a takedown attempt.
Najar will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Powers connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Najar momentarily.

Powers drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Najar tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Powers has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Najar keeping moving, preventing Powers from controlling successfully.

Powers 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.

Najar looking for a guillotine here but Powers defends easily.
Powers trying to control but Najar is working from the bottom.
Powers looking to pass the guard.
Powers slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Powers looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Powers working the head and body with strikes.
Najar manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Powers is refusing to be controlled, as Najar sits in half guard.
Najar looks gassed!
Najar wants to pass to mount but Powers is defending the position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Powers manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powers moves into full guard.
Powers is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Powers escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Najar gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Powers throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Najar thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Powers is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Powers keeping full guard, as Najar tries to pass.
Powers tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Powers might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Powers keeping full guard, as Najar tries to pass.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Powers misses with an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Najar doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Powers counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Najar!
Michael Powers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mohamad Najar.
Najar tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Najar bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Najar tries to free his leg and advance position but Powers is retaining full guard.
Najar with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Powers working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Najar doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Najar manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Najar stays in close to Powers's body and controls the position.
Najar won't allow Powers to sweep him here.
Powers pulls Najar in to control the position.
Najar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Powers is keeping the position for now.
Powers has control of Najar's left arm, preventing Najar from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powers controls Najar momentarily but Najar frees himself.
Powers striking off his back but it's not causing Najar any problems.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Najar fails with the takedown

and Powers counters with a takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Powers wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Najar, who protects the arm well.

Powers tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Powers has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Powers tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Powers has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Powers wants to control but Najar is keeping him busy.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Powers wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Najar, who protects the arm well.
Najar being controlled for a moment.
Najar is looking to regain half guard here but Powers keeps moving and retains side control.
Powers advances to full mount.
Najar working to try and regain half guard.
Najar is squirming around, avoiding Powers's attempts to control the action.
Najar is trying to escape the mount.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Powers tries to control but Najar wriggling away.
Najar slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Powers is thwarting Najar's attempts to control the position.
Powers is looking to stall here but Najar recovers full guard.
Najar looking to hit a scissor sweep but Powers is one step ahead there.
Powers is pushing down on Najar's leg trying to pass to half guard. Najar is fighting to maintain full guard but Powers has managed to sneak the leg through.
Powers trying to control from half guard but Najar is working away.
Najar is trying to get back to full guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Powers seems to be looking for submissions.
Najar manages to get to full guard.

Najar is looking for a triangle but Powers pushes his legs off easily.
Powers passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Najar regains half guard.
Najar manages to get to full guard.

Najar had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Powers is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Najar Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Powers's back instead.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Powers breaks Najar's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Powers wants to control from the top but Najar keeps moving.
Powers is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Najar is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Powers drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Powers jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Najar looking to hit a scissor sweep but Powers is one step ahead there.
Najar looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Powers puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Powers stalling.
Powers prevents Najar from improving his position.
Powers takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Powers is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Najar has managed to free his arm - good work.
Powers thows a huge punch but Najar dodges it nicely.

Powers is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Najar doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Powers.
Powers wants to lay and pray for a moment but Najar keeps working.
Najar is pressing down on Powers's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Najar looking for a sweep. Not yet Najar, not yet.

Powers drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Najar manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Powers has Najar in his guard.
Najar wants to control from the top but Powers keeps moving.

Powers throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Powers dominated that round.
That's time! Powers's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Najar tries to clinch but Powers moves away
enabling Powers to counter with a crisp jab.
Powers lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Najar has his takedown stuffed

and Powers counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Powers.
Powers looking to pass the guard.
Najar looking to hit a scissor sweep but Powers is one step ahead there.
Najar is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Powers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Najar is keeping the position for now.

Najar throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Najar keeping moving, preventing Powers from controlling successfully.
Najar is breathing heavily.
Powers slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Najar trying to remain calm as Powers controls from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Najar is trying to work for a sweep but Powers has mounted him!

Powers looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Najar working to try and regain half guard.
Najar regains half guard.
Najar moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Najar looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Najar tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Najar throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Powers escapes and throws Najar's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Najar tries to improve position but can't.

Powers looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Najar is trying to control Powers's posture but Powers avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powers in side control, throwing shots but Najar defends.

Powers is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Najar has escaped the position, nice work there.
Najar struggling a bit here.

Powers is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Najar is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Powers tries to move into full mount but can't pass Najar's legs.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Najar fails with the takedown

and Powers counters by moving into the clinch.
Powers stops a takedown attempt from Najar.
Michael Powers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mohamad Najar.
Najar tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Powers is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Najar gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Najar fails to pull guard.
Najar drops down looking for an ankle pick but Powers pulls his leg out and moves away.
Powers's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Powers duly obliges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Najar closes the distance but Powers moves to the side
and Powers counters with a nice uppercut.

Powers shoots in and bounces Najar off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.

Najar looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Powers passes into side control.
Najar is trying to improve his position.
Powers tries to advance to mount but Najar denies him.
Najar is trying to control Powers's posture but Powers avoids it.
Michael Powers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Najar tries to buck Powers off but Powers is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powers is looking to take a break and control but Najar is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Najar shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Powers counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Najar keeping moving, preventing Powers from controlling successfully.
Powers pushing down on Najar's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Powers sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Najar trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Powers postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Najar looks a forlorn figure.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Powers lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Najar is squirming around, avoiding Powers's attempts to control the action.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Powers with the ground and pound from mount.
Najar is in all sorts of trouble here.
Najar is squirming around, avoiding Powers's attempts to control the action.
Najar wants to hold on but Powers pushes him away.
Najar is trying desperately to improve position.
Najar tries to hold on but Powers postures up.
Powers wants to take Najar's back but he can't do it this time.
Powers looking to control but Najar is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Najar is working to get back to half guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Powers wants to finish this one by submission but Najar is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Powers.
Najar looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.
Najar is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Najar wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

Powers working for the choke.
Najar is trying to break free.
Najar wants to control his opponent's hands but Powers gets his hands free.

Najar fending off the submission attempt from Powers.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Powers. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Powers is cranking Najar's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Najar! He's tightened the choke and Najar is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 7:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Michael Powers!