PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Talib Kweli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Areeno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kweli comes to the cage accompanied by 2Pac - Hit em up . Talib Kweli has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kweli
vs
Areeno

160 cm
32
152 lbs
16 - 12 - 0

175 cm
29
155 lbs
15 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Powerful

[WOT] Inner Beast Nutrition And Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Talib Kweli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Steve Areeno!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Alec Ball and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Areeno bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kweli throws a body punch but Areeno moves out of range.
Kweli misses with a few strikes there.
Kweli tries to bum rush Areeno with a series of wild strikes but Areeno uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Areeno moves into range and clinches up with Kweli.
Kweli stalling in the clinch but Areeno improves position.
Areeno lands an elbow just above Kweli 's eye.
A nice left hand lands by Kweli.

Kweli breaks from the clinch.
Areeno throws a head kick but Kweli moves out of range.
Areeno's corner calls for a 1-2. Areeno obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Areeno tests Kweli's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nice takedown defense from Areeno. No joy for Kweli on that attempt.

Kweli shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Areeno is trying to defend but Kweli finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Areeno looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Areeno is looking for a sweep. Kweli is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kweli is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kweli is keen to just control but Areeno is a slippery customer.
Kweli trying to control from Areeno's half guard. Areeno has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Areeno keeping moving, preventing Kweli from controlling successfully.
Areeno wants to sweep but no luck.
Kweli wants to control from the top but Areeno keeps moving.
Areeno can't keep his opponent in guard - Kweli advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Kweli is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Areeno sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Areeno wants to improve his position but Kweli is controlling well.
Areeno is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Areeno blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kweli.
Kweli has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Areeno is looking to improve his position but Kweli isn't that keen on the idea.
Kweli can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Areeno is looking to escape.
Areeno is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kweli throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Areeno because Kweli loaded up on that one.
Areeno really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Kweli jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Areeno is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Areeno and Kweli has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Kweli sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Areeno is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Areeno tries to buck Kweli off but Kweli is having none of it.
Areeno prevents Kweli from moving into mount.
Areeno gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Areeno is looking to improve his position.
Areeno is trying to maintain the position but Kweli is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kweli is trying to control the action in half guard but Areeno is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kweli takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kweli sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Areeno defending well though.
Areeno wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Areeno works his way to full guard. Good work.

Areeno is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kweli loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Areeno keeping moving, preventing Kweli from controlling successfully.
Kweli postures up and lands a big shot to Areeno's brow.
Areeno wants to sweep here but Kweli controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Talib Kweli dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Kweli shoots in but no luck this time.
Areeno tries to clinch up.
A head kick misses from Areeno.
Kweli lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Areeno circles away quickly and effectively.
Kweli dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Areeno with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kweli moves forwards but Areeno connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Areeno throws a front kick aimed at Kweli's knee but Kweli avoids it well.
Areeno stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Areeno wants it to stay on the feet.
Kweli with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Areeno to score with a decent uppercut.
Areeno throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kweli works the jab nicely.
A slow jab from Kweli misses its intended target.
Areeno tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kweli sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Areeno somewhat.
Areeno throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot by Kweli.
Kweli rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Areeno moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kweli lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Areeno at a distance.
Kweli slips a jab from Areeno.
Kweli fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Talib Kweli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Areeno closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kweli circles away.
Kweli doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Areeno counters with a slapping leg kick.
Kweli misses with a wild body shot.
Areeno lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Talib Kweli is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kweli shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Kweli lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Areeno makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Kweli shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Areeno but Areeno pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters circling a little - Areeno finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Kweli fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kweli looks to throw the jab but Areeno is out of range.
Areeno scores with the left hand. Kweli knows he should have avoided that one.
Areeno fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kweli manages to avoid it.

Areeno shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Kweli holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Areeno tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Areeno raining down shots from the mount!
Areeno lands a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Areeno scoring with strikes but Kweli is staying in there.
Kweli might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Areeno fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Areeno can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kweli is looking to escape.
Kweli really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kweli is bucking up trying to escape but Areeno cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Kweli is desperately trying to improve his position but Areeno has a good base and remains in mount.
Kweli is working hard here to advance position.
Areeno landing punches.

Kweli somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Areeno tries a head kick but it misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Areeno looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kweli is fending him off so far but Areeno persists. Nope, Kweli circles away and we're back to standing.
Areeno misses with a wild body shot.
Areeno lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Kweli misses with a series of wild punches.
Kweli lands a lovely overhand right.
Kweli rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Areeno counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Areeno lands with a good body shot.
Areeno uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kweli.

Kweli gets tackled into the cage by Areeno. Areeno maintains the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kweli is looking to control Areeno's arms but Areeno gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kweli has his back to the cage.
Kweli is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Kweli looking to throw knees to the head but Areeno is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Areeno showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kweli shoots in but no luck this time.
Kweli walks into a left hand.
Areeno scores with a head kick.
Kweli takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Areeno is looking to slow Kweli down with leg kicks.
Areeno is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Areeno throws a body kick that misses.
Areeno bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kweli's head.
Areeno swings for the body but Kweli moves out of range.
Kweli fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kweli scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Areeno lands with a straight right. Kweli didn't see that one coming.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kweli.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Talib Kweli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Areeno avoids a punch combination nicely.
Areeno slaps away a takedown attempt from Kweli, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Areeno tries to clinch there but Kweli circles away.
Kweli lands a slapping body shot.
Areeno stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Areeno wants it to stay on the feet.

Areeno gets a takedown into half guard.
Areeno prevents Kweli from standing back up.
Kweli is refusing to be controlled, as Areeno sits in half guard.
Kweli trying to hold on to Areeno's head to control him but Areeno postures up.
Areeno wants to pass to mount but Kweli is defending the position.
Areeno passes to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Areeno raining down shots from the mount!
Kweli wants to hold on but Areeno pushes him away.

Areeno looking for a guillotine from mount but Kweli is having none of it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kweli bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Areeno 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.
Kweli wants to control from the top but Areeno keeps moving.
Kweli stopping the sweep attempt from Areeno.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Areeno not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kweli working some strikes from top position.
Areeno looking to control.
Kweli wants to control from the top but Areeno keeps moving.

Areeno is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kweli trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kweli won't allow Areeno to sweep him here.
Kweli wants to control from the top but Areeno keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Areeno is trying to control the position from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Talib Kweli wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Areeno throws a jab but it's blocked by Kweli.
Areeno jabs Kweli to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kweli defending well as Areeno loads up on a big left hand.
Areeno throws a head kick that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A clash of legs there as Kweli blocks the low kick.
Steve Areeno seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kweli fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kweli lands a nice looking body shot.
Kweli fails to land the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Areeno comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Areeno 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Areeno!
Our winner, Steve Areeno, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.