PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Salam Abdulrahim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hakeem Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Hakeem Ali was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Abdulrahim
vs
Ali

165 cm
21
143 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

168 cm
20
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Salam Abdulrahim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hakeem Ali!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Emerson Jorge and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ali doesn't manage to clinch there - Abdulrahim circles away.
Ali shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Abdulrahim pinned against the cage. Abdulrahim gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hakeem Ali seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ali goes for a double leg but Abdulrahim avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Abdulrahim continues to drive forward.

Abdulrahim works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Abdulrahim landing some decent shots from guard.
Ali looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Abdulrahim in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Abdulrahim throws a big elbow that misses.
Abdulrahim in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Ali has his foot on Abdulrahim's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Abdulrahim works his way back into a safe position though.
Abdulrahim with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdulrahim lands a couple of elbows.
Abdulrahim keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ali's head.
Abdulrahim with a nice head shot there.
Abdulrahim with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Ali throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Abdulrahim has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Abdulrahim scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Abdulrahim postures up.
Abdulrahim landing with the ground and pound.
Ali looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ali is trying to control the position but Abdulrahim postures up.
Ali utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ali working for a triangle but Abdulrahim defends it easily.
Abdulrahim loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abdulrahim throws a big right hand that misses.
Abdulrahim postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Abdulrahim is in close to Ali's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Abdulrahim postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Ali is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Abdulrahim, into his guard.
Ali working some strikes from top position.
Ali postures up and lands a big shot to Abdulrahim's brow.

Abdulrahim working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ali doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ali manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Ali working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.

Abdulrahim looking for a guillotine here but Ali defends easily.
Abdulrahim has a closed guard, preventing Ali from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali wants to pass the guard but Abdulrahim is keeping the position.

Abdulrahim is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ali slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Ali drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ali jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Abdulrahim is looking for a triangle but Ali pushes his legs off easily.
Ali advances position into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Abdulrahim down.

Ali stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Ali punishes Abdulrahim's body with a nice straight punch.
Ali fails with the takedown.
Salam Abdulrahim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hakeem Ali.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Abdulrahim slips a jab and a cross from Ali.
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 Salam Abdulrahim will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ali swinging wildly here.
Ali shoots in for a takedown but Abdulrahim shows good takedown defense.
Ali throws a nice looking combination but Abdulrahim bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
No joy there for Ali, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali looks to land a combination but Abdulrahim avoids it well.
Ali swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so Abdulrahim counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Abdulrahim scoring with some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Abdulrahim accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Abdulrahim working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ali working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Abdulrahim.
Ali is trying to keep Abdulrahim in close.
Abdulrahim throws an elbow that misses. Ali uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Abdulrahim's guard. Nice move by Ali!
Ali postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ali stands up over Abdulrahim, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ali lands a couple of digs.
Abdulrahim has a closed guard, preventing Ali from standing up.

Ali avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Abdulrahim is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ali is looking to stand up but Abdulrahim won't let him.

Abdulrahim escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ali gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Ali stands up from Abdulrahim's guard - Ali perhaps looking for a knockout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ali looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Abdulrahim avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ali misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ali throws a right hand that Abdulrahim ducks under and follows up with a left that Abdulrahim also avoids with ease.
Ali is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ali throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Abdulrahim counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Abdulrahim.
Abdulrahim throws a strike but Ali rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ali drops back looking for a leg! Abdulrahim is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Abdulrahim manages to kick Ali off! Ali jumps back into Abdulrahim's guard.

Abdulrahim is looking for a triangle here but Ali uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salam Abdulrahim dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ali moves in looking to clinch but Abdulrahim pushes him off.
Abdulrahim takes one on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali fails with the takedown.
Abdulrahim avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali misses with a wild combination.
Ali looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ali looks to land a combination but Abdulrahim avoids it well.
Ali fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ali throws a sloppy head kick and Abdulrahim moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ali with a poor takedown

and Abdulrahim counters with a takedown into side control.
Abdulrahim grinds an elbow into Ali's temple.
Ali is looking to reverse the position.
Abdulrahim prevents Ali from escaping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ali takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Abdulrahim has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Ali is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Abdulrahim yanks on the arm and Ali is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Abdulrahim.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Salam Abdulrahim!