PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rab Rehab (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kareem al Rashid (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rehab comes to the cage accompanied by saturday nights alright for fighting. Kareem al Rashid told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Rehab
vs
al Rashid

185 cm
24
177 lbs
11 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
167 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

O'Brannigan's Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Rab Rehab!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Kareem al Rashid!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Chris Edwards and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
al Rashid takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Rehab bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
al Rashid swings for the body but Rehab moves out of range.
Rehab throws the left hand but al Rashid avoids the punch easily.
Rehab misses with a looping left.
al Rashid is looking to score with low kicks.
Rab Rehab seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
al Rashid slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Rehab keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rehab. al Rashid does a little dance to reset his feet.
al Rashid looks to clinch
and Rehab counters with a right hand to the body.
al Rashid tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
al Rashid tries to close the distance and clinch but Rehab swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rehab misses with a straight right.
Rehab swats away the attempt to clinch by al Rashid.
al Rashid misses with a looping left.
al Rashid lands a nice looking body kick.
Nice shot lands for Rehab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
al Rashid tries to clinch but Rehab is having none of it.
al Rashid throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rehab stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

al Rashid moves into the clinch successfully.
Rehab lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of al Rashid backwards.
al Rashid works on Rehab's body with a couple of short punches.
al Rashid misses with a short punch on the inside.
al Rashid doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nice body punch from al Rashid - that landed with a thud.
Rehab can't get the takedown.
A right handed body shot lands from Rehab.
Rehab wants a takedown but no success here.
al Rashid tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rehab misses with a body punch.
al Rashid throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rehabs head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rehab lands a left hand.
al Rashid is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
al Rashid pushes Rehab back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Rehab fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rehab prevents a body shot from al Rashid.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
al Rashid misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rehab misses with a hook from the clinch.
al Rashid tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from al Rashid fails to land.
Rehab swings away with an uppercut that misses.
al Rashid's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rehab displaying some good clinch control by pressing al Rashid up against the cage.
al Rashid is trying to stall.
al Rashid lands a hook that snaps the head of Rehab backwards.
al Rashid can't find room to land a body shot as Rehab controls the action.
Rehab fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Rehab has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics al Rashid uses from the top position.
al Rashid must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Rehab throws his legs up looking for a submission but al Rashid uses it to pass to side control.

al Rashid decides to stand back up. al Rashid steps back and let's Rehab get back to his feet.
Rehab lands with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
al Rashid tries to clinch but Rehab moves out of range.
al Rashid tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rehab paws at him with a jab and circles away.
al Rashid is looking to clinch but Rehab is avoiding it.

Rehab closes the distance and clinches.
al Rashid lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from al Rashid.
al Rashid scores with a shoulder strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by al Rashid.
Rehab scores with a shoulder strike.
Rehab lands a body shot in the clinch.
al Rashid lands with a left to the head.
Rehab tried to land a shot to the body but connects with al Rashid's elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rehab misses with a hook from the clinch.
al Rashid misses with a shot to the kidneys.
al Rashid misses with a punch to the body.
Rehab lands a hook to the side of the head.
al Rashid lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
al Rashid lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
al Rashid lands a nice uppercut.
al Rashid lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Rehab.
al Rashid stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Rehab throws a head punch that misses.
al Rashid misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rehab misses with some punches.
al Rashid is working Rehab over against the cage.
al Rashid scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short right from al Rashid.
A right hook to the body lands for al Rashid.
Rehab fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
al Rashid tries to work over Rehab's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rehab.
Still in the clinch, al Rashid scores with a nice short uppercut.
al Rashid misses with a hook to the ribs.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rehab misses with some punches.
al Rashid doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rehab tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rab Rehab. That's going to take a lot out of him.
al Rashid lands with a light punch inside.
al Rashid fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from al Rashid.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kareem al Rashid dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

al Rashid is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kareem al Rashid is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

al Rashid closes the distance and clinches.
Rehab tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. al Rashid smiles and moves away.
Rehab uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by al Rashid.
Rehab misses with a right hand
and al Rashid makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Rehab really felt that one!
al Rashid tries to clinch up.
Rehab works the jab nicely.
al Rashid tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rehab paws at him with a jab and circles away.
al Rashid misses with a few strikes there.

al Rashid closes the distance and clinches.
Rehab misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rehab tries to work over al Rashid's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
al Rashid digs a right hand into Rehab's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rehab's gas tank.
al Rashid lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
al Rashid misses with a body punch.
al Rashid scores with a nice hook to the head.
al Rashid doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rehab fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Rehab breaks from the clinch.
al Rashid avoids a punch combination nicely.
al Rashid feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rehabs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
al Rashid throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rehab counters with a straight right hand.
Rehab scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
al Rashid looks to land a combination but Rehab avoids it well.
al Rashid tries to clinch up but Rehab circles away and keeps his distance.
al Rashid fails with an attempt to clinch.
al Rashid tries to clinch but Rehab is having none of it.
al Rashid tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
al Rashid tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
al Rashid fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
al Rashid wants to clinch up but Rehab keeps it at a distance.
A big right from al Rashid misses.
Some bone on bone action there as Rehab checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
al Rashid feints and then cracks Rehab's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rehab down.
al Rashid throws a sloppy head kick and Rehab moves out of range easily.
Rehab is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
al Rashid tries to close the distance and clinch but Rehab swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rehab keeps the fight on the outside.
Rehab uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from al Rashid.
al Rashid throws a head kick but Rehab moves out of range.
Rehab moves out of range of the body kick from al Rashid.
al Rashid blocks a head kick by Rehab.
Rehab thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kareem al Rashid seems to be getting the better of the standup.
al Rashid uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rehab.
Rehab changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. al Rashid tries to avoid it but Rehab manages to keep hold of a leg and drag al Rashid to the ground. al Rashid escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
al Rashid tries to clinch up but Rehab circles away and keeps his distance.

Rehab gets a double leg takedown into al Rashid's guard.
Rehab is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rehab throwing strikes but missing.
Rehab trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rehab postures up in al Rashid's guard and throws a big left but al Rashid blocks it.
al Rashid keeping moving, preventing Rehab from controlling successfully.
Rehab trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
al Rashid is trying to control the position but Rehab postures up.
Rehab passes al Rashid's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
al Rashid moves into full guard.
Rehab throwing strikes but missing.
Rehab lands a couple of digs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rehab stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. al Rashid swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rehab lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rehab postures up in al Rashid's guard and throws a big left but al Rashid blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rehab is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rehab wants to control from the top but al Rashid keeps moving.
al Rashid has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kareem al Rashid will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Rehab's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rehab swinging wildly here.
al Rashid throws a sloppy head kick and Rehab moves out of range easily.
Rehab is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
al Rashid lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
al Rashid wants to clinch up but Rehab keeps it at a distance.
Rehab throws a nice looking combination but al Rashid bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

al Rashid closes the distance and pushes Rehab back into the cage.
Rehab swings wildly with an uppercut but al Rashid uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by al Rashid.
al Rashid lands a left hand.
Rehab tries to pull guard but al Rashid won't allow it.
Rehab prevents a body shot from al Rashid.
Rehab swings away with an uppercut that misses.
al Rashid throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rehab tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. al Rashid smiles and moves away.
al Rashid tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rehab swats him away and circles back towards the center.
al Rashid misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rehab.
Rehab waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract al Rashid.
Rehab throws a lazy right hand but al Rashid sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rehab looks to throw the jab but al Rashid is out of range.
al Rashid closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
al Rashid keeps the fight on the outside.
al Rashid misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rehab misses with a straight right.
Rehab swings for the body but al Rashid moves out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from al Rashid lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Rehab has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rehab and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
al Rashid tries to close the distance and clinch but Rehab swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A solid body kick from al Rashid.

al Rashid moves into the clinch.
Good body shot from al Rashid.
Rehab lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
al Rashid stalling in the clinch but Rehab improves position.
Rehab lands with a left to the head.
al Rashid tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rehab's elbow.
al Rashid working aggressively here.
Rehab tries to throw a body punch but al Rashid avoids it by throwing Rehab back against the cage.
Kareem al Rashid seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
al Rashid throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rehabs head.
Rehab fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

al Rashid escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
al Rashid swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rehab.
al Rashid slips under a jab from Rehab.
al Rashid tries to clinch up but Rehab circles away and keeps his distance.
al Rashid lands with an uppercut that bounces Rehab off the cage and back into range.
A swing and a miss from al Rashid.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
al Rashid looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
al Rashid staying out of range there.
al Rashid finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Rehab misses with the combination.
al Rashid defending well as Rehab loads up on a big left hand.
al Rashid throws a head kick that half lands.
Rehab dips to his left and cracks al Rashid with an uppercut!
al Rashid avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
al Rashid wants to clinch.
al Rashid fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rehab has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rehab throws a jab when al Rashid was well out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
al Rashid misses with a few strikes there.
Rehab shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. al Rashid defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rab Rehab. That's going to take a lot out of him.
al Rashid fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rehab is out of range.
al Rashid tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rehab swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kareem al Rashid is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
al Rashid wants to clinch up but Rehab keeps it at a distance.
al Rashid is looking to clinch but Rehab is avoiding it.
Rehab fakes high and swings low for a body shot but al Rashid manages to avoid it.
al Rashid slips a jab and a cross from Rehab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rehab moves out of range as al Rashid throws a body kick.
Rehab circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rehab throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rehab throws an overhand right that lands on al Rashid's shoulder, as al Rashid tries to avoid the shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kareem al Rashid really dominated that 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.

Rehab circles away from the clinch attempt.
al Rashid avoids the body shot from Rehab.
Rehab throws a big shot that misses.
Rehab throws a shot to the body.
al Rashid throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rehab throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
al Rashid lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
al Rashid blocks a jab.
al Rashid tries a head kick but it misses.
Rehab lands an overhand right.
Rehab blocks a head kick by al Rashid.
Rehab avoids the head kick by al Rashid.
al Rashid looks to land a body kick but Rehab moved away.
Rehab misses with a looping left.
al Rashid scores with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
al Rashid tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rehab paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rehab. al Rashid does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rehab lands the left hand.
A jab from Rehab misses.
al Rashid misses with the combination.
al Rashid throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
al Rashid closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rehab counters with a right hand to the body.
Rehab throws a right and a left that al Rashid avoids nicely.
Rehab missing with a left hand there. al Rashid was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rehab throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rehab swings away with a body shot that misses
and al Rashid counters with a nice uppercut.
al Rashid stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and al Rashid wants it to stay on the feet.
Rehab lands a glancing blow to the side of al Rashid's head.
Rehab misses with a hook.

al Rashid darts in and clinches Rehab up against the cage.
al Rashid working some nice short punches in the clinch.
al Rashid swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rehab pulls guard effortlessly.
Rehab wants to sweep but no luck.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Rehab 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.

Rehab is looking for a triangle but al Rashid pushes his legs off easily.
al Rashid pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rehab is keeping the position for now.
al Rashid wants to stand but Rehab has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
al Rashid stopping the sweep attempt from Rehab.
Rehab has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but al Rashid has passed into side control.
al Rashid is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Rehab will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rehab is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rehab is trying to escape the position but al Rashid is controlling the position.
Rehab is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked al Rashid off and has taken his back!
al Rashid trying to control the position but Rehab manages to sink in the hooks.
Rehab lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.

al Rashid is rocked!
Rab Rehab overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rehab is working for a rear naked choke. al Rashid is not defending it well and Rehab has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! al Rashid refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of al Rashid's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Rab Rehab!
Rab Rehab is the new welterweight champion!