PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andre Winner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdul Alibaba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Winner
vs
Alibaba

188 cm
20
203 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Andre Winner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Abdul Alibaba!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Paul Tew and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alibaba throws a jab when Winner was well out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alibaba looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Winner feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Winner gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Alibaba ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Winner scores a takedown into full mount!

Winner is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Alibaba has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Alibaba!
Alibaba won't allow Winner to sweep him here.
Alibaba is in close to Winner's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Alibaba must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Winner is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Winner is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Winner keeping full guard, as Alibaba tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alibaba wants to control from the top but Winner keeps moving.
Alibaba is looking to stand up but Winner won't let him.

Winner looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Winner is breathing heavily.
Alibaba with a nice head shot there.

Winner throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Alibaba sitting in guard here, content to control.
Alibaba wants to pass the guard but Winner is keeping the position.
Winner trying to strike off his back.

Winner looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Alibaba decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Winner, up you get!
Winner fails to land the takedown.
Horrible takedown by Winner or perhaps it was just good defense by Alibaba which made him look bad.
Abdul Alibaba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Winner looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Alibaba is fending him off so far but Winner persists. Nope, Alibaba circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andre Winner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Alibaba as Winner shoots in.
Alibaba is looking to clinch.

Winner shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Winner wants to pass the guard but Alibaba is keeping the position.
Winner trying to control the position from guard on top but Alibaba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alibaba trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winner trying to control the position from guard on top but Alibaba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Winner wants to pass the guard but Alibaba is keeping the position.
Alibaba is looking to stand up but Winner isn't so interested in that idea.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
A clash of legs there as Winner blocks the low kick.
Alibaba is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Winner fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Alibaba sprawls well initially but Winner persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Winner passes to full mount!
Winner scoring with strikes but Alibaba is staying in there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Winner looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
The referee warns Alibaba that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Winner with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Winner with shots to the head and body - Alibaba looks very uncomfortable down there.

It looks like Abdul Alibaba has been cut.
Winner trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Winner lands a nice shot to the head.
Winner tries to control but Alibaba wriggling away.
Alibaba gets back to half guard.
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alibaba tries to get to full guard but Winner has control of the leg.
Alibaba is controlling Winner's trapped leg to prevent Winner from advancing to side control.
Alibaba tries to roll over but Winner keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Winner dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Abdul Alibaba's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Alibaba with a lazy takedown attempt

and Winner counters with a nice double leg into side control. Alibaba won't be happy with that.
Winner is looking to take a break and control but Alibaba is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Alibaba tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Alibaba wants to control but Winner postures up.
Winner tries to move into full mount but can't pass Alibaba's legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Winner wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Alibaba, who protects the arm well.
Winner working the ground and pound from side control.
Winner working away.
Winner creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Alibaba sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Alibaba struggling a bit here.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Winner tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Winner has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alibaba is looking to reverse the position.
Winner lands a nice forearm strike.
Andre Winner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Alibaba sneaks back into half guard.
Alibaba is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Winner's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Winner's back!
Winner tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Winner tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Winner tries to hold on but Alibaba pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Winner gets back to half guard.
Winner tries to roll over but Alibaba keeps him under control.
Winner flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Winner is pressing down on Alibaba's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Winner tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Winner controls Alibaba momentarily but Alibaba frees himself.
Alibaba wants to control from the top but Winner keeps moving.
Alibaba stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Winner swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Winner wants to sweep here but Alibaba controlling him for the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Alibaba shoots and misses

and Winner counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Alibaba!

Winner is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Alibaba has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Alibaba!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.Alibaba looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alibaba wants to control from the top but Winner keeps moving.
Alibaba wanted to stand there but Winner had control of the position.
Winner tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Winner striking off his back.
Winner is trying to control the position but Alibaba postures up.

Winner is looking for a triangle but Alibaba pushes his legs off easily.
Winner looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Winner.
Alibaba takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Alibaba takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Winner trying to control the position but Alibaba is working away.

Winner tries for a kimura but Alibaba is defending well.

Winner wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Alibaba, who protects the arm well.
Winner advances to full mount.
Winner scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Winner is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Alibaba is surviving well by controlling Winner's body position as best he can.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Winner landing strikes, looking to finish!
Alibaba is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Winner dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Abdul Alibaba's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Winner gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Alibaba counters with a single leg into guard. Winner didn't expect that.

Alibaba decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Winner, up you get!
Alibaba wants to clinch.
Alibaba misses with a takedown

so Winner counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alibaba lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Winner!
Winner really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Alibaba tries to control but Winner wriggling away.
Winner can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winner wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Alibaba can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Winner is looking to escape.
Winner is looking to get to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Alibaba landing strikes, looking to finish!
Winner regains half guard.

Winner looking for submissions off his back.
Alibaba prevents Winner from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Alibaba working Winner over with strikes.

Alibaba is trying to work for a kimura but Winner is defending well.
Alibaba prevents Winner from standing back up.
Alibaba not doing much here.
Winner tries to roll over but Alibaba keeps him under control.
Alibaba not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

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

and Alibaba counters with a shoot takedown. Winner fights it but they end up in guard.
Winner throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Alibaba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Winner is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Winner looking for a guillotine here but Alibaba defends easily.
Winner can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Alibaba controls the pace.
Alibaba looking to pass the guard.
Winner is trying to keep Alibaba in close.
Winner manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Alibaba manages to get himself to full guard.
Winner preventing the sweep.
Alibaba keeping moving, preventing Winner from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Alibaba wants to get back to his feet but Winner is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Alibaba manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Winner manages to get himself to full guard.

Winner looking for a guillotine here but Alibaba defends easily.

Winner is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Winner looking for a guillotine here but Alibaba defends easily.

Winner looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Abdul Alibaba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Winner working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Alibaba doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Alibaba manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Abdul Alibaba.
I think Winner 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andre Winner!