PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Koa Polunu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Haji Muakbar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Muakbar's choice of entrance music: That Punjabi Jay-Z song. Haji Muakbar has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Polunu
vs
Muakbar

176 cm
26
164 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

171 cm
31
169 lbs
21 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KO Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Koa Polunu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Haji Muakbar!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, John Roberts and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Muakbar misses with a kick to the body.
Muakbar misses with a hook to the body

and Polunu counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Polunu being controlled here momentarily.
Polunu stays in close to Muakbar's body and controls the position.
Muakbar tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Polunu wants to stand but Muakbar has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Polunu trying to control but Muakbar is working from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Koa Polunu wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Polunu moves out of range as Muakbar strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polunu takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Polunu throws a chopping leg kick but Muakbar manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Muakbar tries to score a power double leg takedown but Polunu sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Muakbar somewhat.
Polunu ducks under a wild hook from Muakbar.
Muakbar scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Polunu throws an overhand right that lands on Muakbar's shoulder, as Muakbar tries to avoid the shot.
Muakbar moves out of range of the strikes.
Polunu connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Muakbar throws a big shot that misses.
Muakbar thows a body shot but no joy.
Muakbar closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Muakbar loads up on a big right hand but Polunu slips the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muakbar throws a leg kick

and Polunu counters with a single leg into guard. Muakbar didn't expect that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Muakbar is adopting a defensive guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Polunu's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Muakbar keeping moving, preventing Polunu from controlling successfully.
Polunu sitting in guard, not really doing much.

We're going to have a standup here because Koa Polunu wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Muakbar has a takedown stuffed.
Polunu throws a shot from downtown. Muakbar moves away and avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polunu misses with a wild body shot.
Muakbar throws a leg kick which misses Polunu's front leg but catches the back leg as Polunu tries to avoid it.
Polunu slips a jab and a cross from Muakbar.
Polunu scores with a jab to the jaw.
Muakbar misses with an uppercut. Polunu saw that one coming.
Polunu throws a combination that misses

and Muakbar counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Muakbar.
Muakbar is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Muakbar postures up in Polunu's guard and throws a big left but Polunu blocks it.
Muakbar in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Muakbar missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Muakbar missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Muakbar throws a big right hand that misses.
Muakbar has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polunu utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Polunu keeping moving, preventing Muakbar from controlling successfully.
Muakbar lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Muakbar with a flurry of punches that miss.
Muakbar stopping the sweep attempt from Polunu.
Muakbar trying to control but Polunu is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Muakbar working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Haji Muakbar will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Muakbar displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Polunu throws out the jab.
Muakbar throws an overhand right that lands on Polunu's shoulder, as Polunu tries to avoid the shot.
Muakbar misses with a straight right.
Polunu does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Muakbar listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Muakbar tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Polunu defends well and Muakbar ends up having to push Polunu into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Polunu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Polunu fails to land.
Nice body punch from Muakbar - that landed with a thud.
Polunu throws a punch but it's blocked by Muakbar.
Polunu has a couple of punches blocked by Muakbar.
Muakbar blocking some punches.
Muakbar has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Muakbar stalls.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Polunu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muakbar trying to control the position but instead, Polunu has worked for underhooks and has pushed Muakbar into the cage.
Muakbar dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Polunu lands a hook to the side of the head.
Polunu misses with some punches.
Muakbar throws a head punch that misses.
Polunu lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Polunu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Muakbar blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Muakbar lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Polunu lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Muakbar turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Muakbar manages to end up in side control.
Muakbar throws a strike aimed at the side of Polunu's head but Polunu avoids it well.
Muakbar creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Polunu sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Muakbar scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Polunu to see if he's OK.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Muakbar creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Muakbar laying and praying for a moment but Polunu takes advantage and regains half guard.
Polunu blocking the ground and pound attempt from Muakbar.
Muakbar is trying to control. Polunu wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Polunu wants to control but Muakbar is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Muakbar thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Polunu's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polunu is trying to get back to full guard.
Muakbar looks to land a strike but Polunu avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Polunu is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Muakbar tries to get to full guard but Polunu has control of the leg.
Muakbar regains full guard. Nicely done.
Muakbar lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Polunu!
Muakbar lands a nice shot to the head.

Polunu is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Polunu wants to control but Muakbar is having none of it.
Oh Polunu is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Muakbar scoring with strikes but Polunu is staying in there.
Polunu takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Muakbar's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Haji Muakbar!
Haji Muakbar bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.