PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abdul Rashid Naji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thorbjorn Ramsberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ramsberg has chosen Immigrant Song as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rashid Naji
vs
Ramsberg

195 cm
28
277 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

190 cm
34
275 lbs
37 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

CEC Nutrition Q160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Abdul Rashid Naji!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thorbjorn Ramsberg!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Chris Downing and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Naji's jab looks to have found its range, popping Ramsberg under the eye.

It looks like Thorbjorn Ramsberg has been cut.
Naji throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ramsberg's waist but Ramsberg gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Naji off to one side.
Ramsberg lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Naji takes a shot right to the bread basket.
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!
Naji on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Ramsberg scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ramsberg throws a sloppy head kick
and Naji counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Ramsberg gets caught flat footed, as Naji shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Naji trying to control but Ramsberg is working from the bottom.
Naji throwing strikes but missing.
Ramsberg is pulling down on Naji's head to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naji trying to control but Ramsberg is working from the bottom.
Ramsberg lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Naji!
Ramsberg controlling his opponent.
Naji tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Naji is working hard here to advance position.
The referee warns Naji that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naji is desperately trying to improve his position but Ramsberg has a good base and remains in mount.
Naji sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Ramsberg content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Naji won't allow Ramsberg to pass to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Naji is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ramsberg is looking to take a break and control but Naji is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Naji controlling the position well.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Thorbjorn Ramsberg.
Naji defending well as Ramsberg loads up on a big left hand.
Thorbjorn Ramsberg is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramsberg swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ramsberg swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Naji.
Ramsberg ducks right into an uppercut from Naji.
Ramsberg lands a nice looking body shot.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ramsberg. That's going to slow Naji down.
Ramsberg with a body punch. A glancing blow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ramsberg throws a quick inside leg kick.
Ramsberg paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Ramsberg swinging wildly here.
A lazy left from Ramsberg finds it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ramsberg, right into the meat.
Naji doesn't manage to clinch there - Ramsberg circles away.
Thorbjorn Ramsberg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ramsberg tries a head kick but it misses.
Ramsberg with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Naji is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ramsberg.
Nice sprawl there from Ramsberg as Naji shoots in.
Ramsberg connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ramsberg lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ramsberg looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ramsberg misses with a straight right.
Naji misses with a hook. Ramsberg ducked under it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thorbjorn Ramsberg dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thorbjorn Ramsberg's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ramsberg tries to bum rush Naji with a series of wild strikes but Naji uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Naji avoids a kick to the body.
Naji jabs Ramsberg right on the nose. Ramsberg blinks but takes it well.
Ramsberg scores with a jab to the jaw.
Naji throws out a loose jab but Ramsberg uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ramsberg throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ramsberg misses with a wild combination.
Naji misses with a body shot.
Ramsberg throws a right and a left that both miss.
Naji tries to clinch up.
Naji keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ramsberg looks to land a combination but Naji avoids it well.
Ramsberg misses with a left hand
letting Naji counter with a right hand.
Ramsberg scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Naji lands a nice shot that snaps Ramsberg's head back.
Naji takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Ramsberg fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Good leg kick by Ramsberg there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Naji shoots in looking for a takedown. Ramsberg tries to sprawl out of it but Naji keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ramsberg manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ramsberg moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naji takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Naji avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Naji slips under a jab from Ramsberg.
Ramsberg throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thorbjorn Ramsberg is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Naji lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Ramsberg throws a hook but Naji avoids it easily.
Naji takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Naji closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ramsberg.
Naji has a takedown stuffed.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ramsberg fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramsberg lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ramsberg lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Naji on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Ramsberg throws a series of punches but Naji avoids them all with ease.
Thorbjorn Ramsberg seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Naji tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ramsberg was well out of range. Poor timing from Naji.
Naji pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Naji misses with a hook
and Ramsberg counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
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!
Ramsberg keeps Naji at a distance using the push kick.
Ramsberg lands a head shot.
Ramsberg looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Naji is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ramsberg throws a quick inside leg kick.
Ramsberg misses with a hook. Naji ducked under it nicely.
Ramsberg throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ramsberg throws a hook to the side of Naji's head but Naji sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A head kick misses from Ramsberg.
Ramsberg throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Naji stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Ramsberg takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Ramsberg scores with a leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ramsberg scoring well with a low kick there.
Naji throws a jab but it's blocked by Ramsberg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thorbjorn Ramsberg showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Thorbjorn Ramsberg's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Naji takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Naji tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Naji takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Ramsberg lands a slapping body shot.
Naji takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Naji takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Ramsberg smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ramsberg darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Ramsberg connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Naji wants to stay close but Ramsberg steps back to make room for something. Naji seems frozen to the spot and bam! huge swing of the leg from Ramsberg and Naji drops like he has been shot! A huge head kick and it's all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Thorbjorn Ramsberg!
A very excited looking Thorbjorn Ramsberg made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.