PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Gustafsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mohammed Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gustafsson
vs
Ali

195 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

200 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Gustafsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mohammed Ali!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Gwen Towbar and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ali pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ali shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gustafsson as he avoids it easily.
Left hook, right uppercut from Gustafsson.
Gustafsson throws a nice head kick!
Ali misses with a series of wild punches.
Gustafsson looks to land a combination but Ali avoids it well.
Gustafsson dips to his left and cracks Ali with an uppercut!
Gustafsson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gustafsson doesn't manage to clinch there - Ali circles away.

Ali closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ali wants to stand but Gustafsson has his arm trapped.
Ali scoring with punches from side control.
Gustafsson is trying to control Ali's posture but Ali avoids it.
Gustafsson is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Gustafsson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustafsson is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Ali seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ali missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ali is pressing down on Gustafsson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gustafsson is holding on for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ali looks gassed!
Gustafsson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Gustafsson wants to stand and escape but Ali is having none of it.
Ali has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gustafsson is proving hard to escape from.
Ali scoring with some ground and pound.
Ali must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gustafsson trying to control the position here.
Gustafsson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ali trying to control the position from guard on top but Gustafsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gustafsson is looking to stand up but Ali isn't so interested in that idea.
Gustafsson looking to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Gustafsson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ali paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ali tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gustafsson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gustafsson lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Nice body kick there by Gustafsson.
Ali has a takedown stuffed.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gustafsson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Alis head.
Ali is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Alexander Gustafsson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mohammed Ali.
Gustafsson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Gustafsson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alexander Gustafsson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ali tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gustafsson swivels and escapes.
Ali takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Gustafsson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ali tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ali trying to control the position.
Ali 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.
Gustafsson pushing down on Ali's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Ali is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gustafsson stands up and beckons Ali to join him on the feet.
A punch combination from Gustafsson misses.
Gustafsson tries to clinch but Ali moves away

and Ali counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Gustafsson gets underhooks to prevent Ali's takedown attempt.
Ali tries to break the clinch but Gustafsson is controlling the position.
Ali misses with a knee strike.
Gustafsson is trying to break the clinch but Ali has him pressed against the cage.
Gustafsson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ali lands with a short shot to the head.
Gustafsson is working for takedown but Ali is calmly controlling the position for now.

Ali escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ali tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gustafsson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gustafsson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Gustafsson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ali takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Ali lands with an overhand left.
A right-left combo lands from Ali.
Ali avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gustafsson tries to clinch there but Ali circles away.

Ali drives through and clinches with Gustafsson against the cage.
Ali is stalling here.
Still in the clinch, Gustafsson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Gustafsson lands a knee to the body.

Ali drags the fight down to the ground.

Ali working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gustafsson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gustafsson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gustafsson won't allow Ali to sweep him here.
Gustafsson stays in close to Ali's body and controls the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gustafsson stands and steps away. Ali gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Ali throws a leg kick
and Gustafsson counters with a thumping low kick.

Gustafsson closes the distance and clinches.
Gustafsson is working for takedown but Ali is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gustafsson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ali pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Ali manages to break the clinch.
Gustafsson scores with a jab to the jaw.
Gustafsson tries to clinch there but Ali circles away.
Ali is looking to clinch but Gustafsson is avoiding it.
Ali misses with a shot to the body
and Gustafsson counters with a right hand to the body.
Ali misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gustafsson shoots for a double leg takedown but Ali sprawls well. He's pushed Gustafsson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Gustafsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ali lands with a nice combination. Gustafsson backs away looking to recover.
Gustafsson shoots for a double leg takedown but Ali sprawls well. He's pushed Gustafsson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Gustafsson ducks right into an uppercut from Ali.
Horrible takedown by Gustafsson or perhaps it was just good defense by Ali which made him look bad.
A slow jab from Ali misses its intended target.
Ali misses the shot to the body.
A solid body kick from Gustafsson.
Danga de danga de dang - Gustafsson scores with a four punch combination!
Ali keeps the fight on the outside.
Gustafsson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gustafsson stuffs the takedown.
Gustafsson throws a head kick but Ali moves out of range.
Gustafsson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ali moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Ali darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ali is thwarting Gustafsson's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Gustafsson manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Ali takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

Ali closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gustafsson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Gustafsson manages to get to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gustafsson is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Ali looking for a sweep. Not yet Ali, not yet.
Gustafsson advances position into side control!
Gustafsson controls the position.
Ali is trying to improve his position.
Gustafsson is looking to take a break and control but Ali is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ali wants to control but Gustafsson postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mohammed Ali 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. This is the final round!

Gustafsson wants to clinch but Ali slips to the side
enabling Ali to counter with a crisp jab.
Gustafsson shoots in and drives through. Ali sprawls well.
Gustafsson throws a right hand that Ali ducks under and follows up with a left that Ali also avoids with ease.
Gustafsson throws a nice looking combination but Ali bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gustafsson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ali has a takedown stuffed.
Ali slips a jab and a cross from Gustafsson.
Gustafsson has a takedown stuffed.
Ali wants to clinch
and Gustafsson counters with a one-two to the body.

Ali gets a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gustafsson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ali just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Gustafsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Ali breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ali smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Ali fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gustafsson moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustafsson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ali counters with a single leg into guard. Gustafsson didn't expect that.
Ali really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gustafsson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ali throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gustafsson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ali is looking to work some ground and pound but Gustafsson has wrist control.

Gustafsson kicks Ali off and gets to his feet.
Ali misses with a takedown attempt - Gustafsson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ali fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gustafsson looks to land a combination but Ali avoids it well.

Ali gets a clinch.
Gustafsson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ali avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ali gets underhooks to prevent Gustafsson's takedown attempt.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Ali.
Gustafsson prevents the takedown attempt.
Gustafsson prevents Ali from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ali breaks from the clinch.
Gustafsson scores with a shot to the body.
Gustafsson wants to clinch.
Gustafsson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nice takedown defense from Ali. No joy for Gustafsson on that attempt.

Gustafsson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
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!
Ali tries to reverse the position but Gustafsson maintains control.
Mohammed Ali has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ali is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ali tries to hold on but Gustafsson pushes him away.
A nice elbow there by Gustafsson.
Ali is working to get back to half guard.
You get the feeling that Ali really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Ali tries to lock up and control but Gustafsson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ali is desperately trying to improve his position but Gustafsson has a good base and remains in mount.
Gustafsson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Gustafsson prevents Ali from getting the reversal.
Ali trying desperately to get to his feet.
BOOM! Gustafsson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Ali is squirming around, avoiding Gustafsson's attempts to control the action.
Ali is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gustafsson punishing his opponent with strikes.
Gustafsson controlling his opponent.
Gustafsson landing punches.
Ali regains half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mohammed Ali comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ali 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mohammed Ali!