PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thurgood Jenkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kareem al Rashid (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jenkins comes to the cage accompanied by Mary Jane. al Rashid has chosen Highlight Reel as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jenkins
vs
al Rashid

170 cm
31
147 lbs
20 - 16 - 0

178 cm
34
167 lbs
22 - 14 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

[JMFC] Arashi Fighting Nutrition

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 20 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Thurgood Jenkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Kareem al Rashid!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jenkins shoots for a takedown but al Rashid saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A good leg kick by al Rashid.
al Rashid misses with a series of wild punches.
Jenkins waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract al Rashid.
al Rashid moves in looking to clinch but Jenkins pushes him off.
al Rashid moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Jenkins blocks a head kick by al Rashid.
Jenkins blocks a jab.
Jenkins looks to land a right hand but al Rashid moved out of range.
Jenkins seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Kareem al Rashid seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jenkins connects with a good right hand that stumbles al Rashid. al Rashid circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that al Rashid has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Jenkins misses with a hook

so al Rashid counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Jenkins looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
al Rashid wants to control from the top but Jenkins keeps moving.
al Rashid must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Jenkins is looking for a triangle but al Rashid pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jenkins looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
al Rashid trying to control but Jenkins is working from the bottom.
Jenkins is trying to keep al Rashid in close.

Jenkins has his foot on al Rashid's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. al Rashid works his way back into a safe position though.

al Rashid thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
al Rashid trying to control the position from guard on top but Jenkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

al Rashid postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Jenkins is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of al Rashid, into his guard.
al Rashid trying to keep a closed guard but Jenkins is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jenkins's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Jenkins trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jenkins looking to sit in guard and control but al Rashid gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Jenkins keeping moving, preventing al Rashid from controlling successfully.
Jenkins manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Jenkins looking to control but al Rashid is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
al Rashid tries to reverse the position but Jenkins maintains control.

al Rashid defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Jenkins.
al Rashid wants to hold on but Jenkins pushes him away.
al Rashid working to try and regain half guard.
al Rashid 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.
al Rashid wants to control but Jenkins is keeping busy.
Jenkins is looking to advance position but al Rashid won't allow it.
Jenkins is trying to control the action in half guard but al Rashid is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jenkins works his foot free and advances to mount.
al Rashid is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Jenkins controlling the pace for now.
al Rashid is working to get back to half guard.
Jenkins landing strikes from the mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
al Rashid tries to lock up and control but Jenkins gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Jenkins wants to control the pace but al Rashid is squirming around nicely.

Jenkins swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and al Rashid is now in Jenkins's guard. A big mistake from Jenkins there, giving up the dominant position!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Thurgood Jenkins will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

al Rashid throws a leg kick but Jenkins sees it coming and checks it nicely.
al Rashid fails in his attempt to clinch.
A leg kick checked by Jenkins.
al Rashid tries to clinch up.
al Rashid scores with a leg kick.
al Rashid misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jenkins.
Jenkins gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and al Rashid holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
al Rashid misses with a hook to the ribs.
al Rashid misses with a shot to the kidneys.
al Rashid tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
al Rashid misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jenkins softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
al Rashid misses with some punches.
al Rashid can't find room to land a body shot as Jenkins controls the action.
al Rashid throws a head punch that misses.
A short right from Jenkins on the inside.
Jenkins is looking to take this one to the mat.
Jenkins effectively controlling the action here.
al Rashid lands an uppercut.
al Rashid tries to work over Jenkins's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
al Rashid tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
al Rashid misses with a punch on the inside.
al Rashid misses with the head strike.
al Rashid tries to work over Jenkins's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Jenkins has clasped his hands together around al Rashid's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
al Rashid is not content to let Jenkins control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jenkins tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Jenkins has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
al Rashid is trying to get back to half guard.
Jenkins has knee on belly and moves into mount.
You get the feeling that al Rashid really doesn't like being in this position too much.
al Rashid can't escape the position.
al Rashid tries to hold on but Jenkins pushes him away.
Jenkins tries to control but al Rashid wriggling away.
Jenkins controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jenkins has hold of al Rashid's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and al Rashid manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Jenkins raining down shots from the mount!
Jenkins wants to control the pace but al Rashid is squirming around nicely.

Jenkins jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… al Rashid is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by al Rashid and Jenkins has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Jenkins is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. al Rashid knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
al Rashid gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Jenkins is trying to work for a kimura but al Rashid is defending well.
al Rashid is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Jenkins's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Jenkins's back!

Jenkins is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if al Rashid gets his way!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Jenkins is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kareem al Rashid will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

al Rashid misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
al Rashid connects with a right hand. Jenkins shakes it off.
Jenkins goes for a double leg but al Rashid avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as al Rashid continues to drive forward.
Jenkins blocks an uppercut.
al Rashid misses with a short punch on the inside.
Jenkins throws a head punch that misses.
Jenkins tries to pull guard but al Rashid holds him up against the cage and eventually Jenkins drops back down to his feet.
Jenkins wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thurgood Jenkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
al Rashid doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Jenkins tries to score a body lock takedown but al Rashid shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
al Rashid tries to work over Jenkins's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
al Rashid misses with a punch to the body.
al Rashid lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
al Rashid misses with a punch to the body.
A body shot lands from al Rashid.
Jenkins tries for a takedown. No joy.
Jenkins is looking to control al Rashid's arms but al Rashid gets an underhook and turns him. Now Jenkins has his back to the cage.
al Rashid misses with a punch on the inside.
Jenkins blocking some punches.
al Rashid misses with a body punch.
Nice body punch from al Rashid.
Jenkins wants to take the fight to the mat but al Rashid manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
al Rashid digs a right hand underneath Jenkins's ribcage. Jenkins let out a lung full of air as it connected.
al Rashid misses with a body punch.
Nice body punch from al Rashid - that landed with a thud.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
A short right from al Rashid.
al Rashid blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Jenkins tries to score a body lock takedown but al Rashid shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
al Rashid misses with a hook to the ribs.
Jenkins is working for takedown but al Rashid is calmly controlling the position for now.
Jenkins prevents a body shot from al Rashid.
Jenkins blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Jenkins blocks a punch to the side of the head.

al Rashid pulls guard successfully.

al Rashid kicks Jenkins off and gets to his feet.
Jab, jab by al Rashid - just one landing.
al Rashid misses with a low kick.
al Rashid getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
al Rashid throws a right and a left that Jenkins avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
al Rashid wants to slow Jenkins down by chopping away at his legs.

al Rashid gets in close and instigates a clinch.
al Rashid misses with some punches.
al Rashid scores with a nice hook to the head.
Jenkins can't get the takedown.
al Rashid working aggressively here.
Jenkins lands with a light punch inside.
Jenkins is trying to work for a single leg takedown but al Rashid pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Jenkins tries for a takedown. No joy.

al Rashid jumps into guard, dragging Jenkins to the mat.
al Rashid looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
al Rashid keeping moving, preventing Jenkins from controlling successfully.
Jenkins looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
al Rashid wants to sweep but no luck.
Jenkins pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. al Rashid is keeping the position for now.
al Rashid not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
al Rashid utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
al Rashid looking to control.
al Rashid is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Jenkins is controlling him.
Jenkins trying to control the position from guard on top but al Rashid is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kareem al Rashid wasn't active enough on the ground.
Jenkins misses with a looping left.
The crowd cheers as al Rashid lands an impressive looking overhand right. Jenkins doesn't seem phased though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kareem al Rashid comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think al Rashid 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kareem al Rashid!
During a confident post fight interview, Kareem al Rashid thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.