PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Robledo Puch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taj Mahal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Puch
vs
Mahal

170 cm
19
155 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

164 cm
33
154 lbs
16 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Robledo Puch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Taj Mahal!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Radbod Blank and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mahal tries to sprawl but Puch drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Puch missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Mahal is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Puch pulls his head out easily.

Mahal is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Puch pulls his head out easily.
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.

Mahal actively working from the bottom here.
Puch sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mahal defending well though.

Mahal looking for submissions off his back.
Mahal is refusing to be controlled, as Puch sits in half guard.
Puch not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mahal blocking the ground and pound attempt from Puch.
Puch trying to control from half guard but Mahal is working away.
Mahal is pressing down on Puch's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mahal is on top in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mahal works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puch is looking for a sweep. Mahal is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Puch trying to control here.
Puch misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Mahal looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Mahal seems to be working for a kimura but Puch defends the submission attempt.

Puch is defending against the submission attempts here by Mahal.
Puch trying to hold on to Mahal's head to control him but Mahal postures up.

Mahal is looking for a kimura here.
Puch is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puch is working hard here to advance position.

Puch looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mahal not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Mahal is trying to work for a kimura but Puch is defending well.

Puch looking for a kimura from the bottom but Mahal passes into side control!

Mahal is trying to get an arm triangle but Puch is defending well.
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!
Mahal connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Puch some visible discomfort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puch is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Mahal advances to mount.
Puch gets back to half guard.
Mahal missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mahal moves into full mount! Puch won't be happy about that!
Mahal lands a nice shot to the head.
Mahal scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Puch bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
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!
Puch working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Puch pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mahal is keeping the position for now.
Mahal has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Puch got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mahal has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Puch has managed to get both his arms back between Mahal's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puch working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mahal's head.

Mahal is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Puch defends well.

Mahal is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Puch's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Puch is in close to Mahal's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Puch lands a couple of elbows.
Puch is working Mahal over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Puch is working Mahal over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Puch throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mahal works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Mahal working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Puch doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Puch manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Puch wants to control from the top but Mahal keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Taj Mahal will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mahal throws an overhand right that lands on Puch's shoulder, as Puch tries to avoid the shot.

Puch gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mahal to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Puch seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Puch is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mahal is aware though and is defending well.
Puch trying to control the position.
Mahal stands and throws Puch's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Puch misses with a strike from the bottom.

Mahal working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Puch can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puch tries to improve position but can't.

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

Mahal thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Puch can't do much from the bottom here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Mahal landing strikes.
Puch regains half guard.
Mahal sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Puch defending well though.
Taj Mahal has got the better of the ground game so far.

Mahal is trying to work for a kimura but Puch is defending well.
Mahal wants to lay and pray for a moment but Puch keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puch makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Puch.
Puch is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Puch lands strikes from half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mahal has hold of Puch's hands but Puch slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Puch working Mahal over with strikes.
Puch prevents Mahal from improving his position.

Mahal looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Puch connects with a nice short shot to Mahal's temple.
Puch is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Puch winds up and cracks Mahal with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Puch is trying to control the action in half guard but Mahal is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Puch there.
Puch throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Puch missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Puch lands strikes from half guard.
Puch wants to free his trapped foot but Mahal is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Mahal looking for submissions off his back.
Puch throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mahal gets full guard.
Puch connects with a couple of short punches.

Puch avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Mahal escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Puch gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mahal is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Puch lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mahal escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Puch gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Puch keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mahal's head.
Puch keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mahal's head.

Mahal had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Puch defends it easily.
Puch with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Puch scoring with some ground and pound.
Puch scoring with punches to the head and body.

Mahal is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Puch connects with a couple of short punches.
Puch cracks Mahal with a solid left hand.
Puch postures up in Mahal's guard and throws a big left but Mahal blocks it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Puch's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robledo Puch dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Mahal misses with a low kick.
Puch shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mahal pinned against the ropes. Mahal gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Puch misses with a takedown attempt
and Mahal counters with a nice uppercut.

Puch closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Mahal's guard.
Mahal has momentary wrist control but Puch slips an elbow through the middle.

Mahal is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Puch is aware though and is defending well.
Puch working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Puch throwing strikes from guard but Mahal blocks nicely.
Mahal utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mahal manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Puch manages to get himself to full guard.
Puch is trying to control the position from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mahal throws a big elbow that misses.

Puch is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Puch had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mahal defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahal trying to control but Puch is working from the bottom.
Mahal pushes down on Puch's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Puch moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Mahal's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Mahal stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Puch swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mahal trying to control the position from guard on top but Puch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mahal controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Puch trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puch manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mahal manages to get himself to full guard.
Puch slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Puch in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Puch stands up over Mahal, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Mahal looking for a guillotine here but Puch defends easily.
Puch has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
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!

Mahal is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Puch is aware though and is defending well.
Puch scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Mahal has his feet on Puch's thighs here. He's pushed Puch off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Puch screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Taj Mahal!