PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Oscar Avila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Farid Ismail (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ismail has chosen Darude - Sandstorm as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Avila
vs
Ismail

170 cm
25
145 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

170 cm
23
137 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Atlantis

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Oscar Avila!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Farid Ismail!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Bart Greer and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Avila misses.
A punch lands to the side of Ismail 's head but he takes it in his stride.

It looks like Farid Ismail has been cut.
Ismail tries to close the distance and clinch but Avila swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A head kick misses from Ismail.
Ismail displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Avila throws out the jab.
Avila connects with a body shot that sends Ismail's belly button to the back.
Ismail showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Avila.
Avila looks to land a combination but Ismail avoids it well.
Avila throws a right and a left that Ismail avoids nicely.

Ismail feints and as Avila raises his hands in defense, Ismail changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Ismail trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Avila is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ismail postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ismail pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Avila is keeping the position for now.
Ismail advances position into side control!

Ismail is trying to get an arm triangle but Avila is defending well.
Ismail throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Ismail trying to control the action but Avila is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Ismail.
Avila pushes Ismail away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Ismail gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Ismail postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Avila is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Ismail is controlling him well.

Ismail is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Avila has escaped the position, nice work there.
Ismail is looking to take a break and control but Avila is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ismail misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
My spies in Island Top Team inform me that Ismail has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Ismail has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Avila is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Ismail is looking to take a break and control but Avila is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Avila avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Ismail.
Ismail postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Avila being controlled for a moment.
Ismail throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Ismail trying to control the position but Avila is working away.
Avila definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ismail working the ground and pound but Avila is defending the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Farid Ismail dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Farid Ismail's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Avila misses with a wild body shot.

Ismail closes the distance and clinches.
Ismail has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Avila avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Avila has had enough of the clinch but Ismail keeps him there for the moment.

Ismail has clasped his hands together around Avila's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Avila is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Ismail has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Ismail misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Ismail tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Ismail throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ismail looking to control but instead Avila has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Ismail wants to take a breather but Avila is having none of it.

Ismail seems to be looking for submissions.
Ismail wants to take a breather but Avila is having none of it.
Avila looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ismail trying to pass the guard but Avila defending well.
Ismail missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ismail trying to control from Avila's half guard. Avila has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Avila keeping moving, preventing Ismail from controlling successfully.
Ismail looking to sit in guard and control but Avila gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Avila decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avila throws a nice looking combination but Ismail bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Avila misses with a series of wild punches.
Ismail is looking to clinch.
Avila misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Avila misses with an uppercut.
Avila looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Ismail darts in and clinches Avila up against the cage.
Ismail tries to land knees in the clinch but Avila avoids the damage to the body.
Avila throws a punch but it's blocked by Ismail.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ismail prevents Avila from breaking the clinch.
Ismail tries for a takedown but Avila manages to get underhooks.
Ismail misses with a knee strike.
Avila is trying to push Ismail away but Ismail has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Avila wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ismail has him pressed against the cage.
Ismail slowing the pace effectively.
Ismail is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Avila is defending well for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ismail is trying to pull guard but Avila turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Oscar Avila has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Farid Ismail.
Ismail has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Avila avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Farid Ismail showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Farid Ismail's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Avila throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Ismail counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ismail trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ismail trying to control but Avila is working from the bottom.

Avila has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Ismail has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Avila gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ismail.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Ismail.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ismail has Avila pressed against the cage, preventing Avila from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ismail can't get the takedown.
Ismail is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Avila is defending well for now.
Ismail keeps control of Avila as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Avila looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Avila wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ismail has him pressed against the cage.
Avila has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Avila wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ismail has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ismail keeps control of Avila as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Avila is trying to break the clinch but Ismail has him pressed against the cage.
Ismail is trying to pull guard but Avila turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Oscar Avila has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Farid Ismail.
Ismail jumps guard but Avila stands there with Ismail around his waist. Ismail gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ismail has Avila pressed against the cage, preventing Avila from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ismail throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Avila blocks it with crossed arms.
Ismail misses with a knee to the head.
Avila looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ismail jumps guard but Avila turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Ismail unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Ismail is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Avila pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ismail looking to throw knees to the head but Avila is blocking nicely.
Avila wants to get back to striking at distance but Ismail won't allow it.
Farid Ismail is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Avila wants to get back to striking at distance but Ismail won't allow it.

Avila breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Avila misses with a series of wild punches.
Avila throws a right hand that Ismail ducks under and follows up with a left that Ismail also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ismail tries to clinch up.
Avila fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Avila moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Ismail throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Ismail takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Ismail is rocked!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Avila misses with the combination.
Ismail is still on wobbly legs! Can Avila finish him?
Avila misses with the combination.
Oscar Avila is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Avila misses with a two punch combination.
Avila throws a right and a left that Ismail avoids nicely.
Oscar Avila is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Avila looks to land a left hand but Ismail moved out of range nicely.
Ismail shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Avila pinned against the cage. Avila gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Ismail looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Avila preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ismail trying to control but Avila is working from the bottom.
Ismail stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Avila swivels though and keeps the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Avila wants to stand but Ismail is controlling the position.
Ismail looking to sit in guard and control but Avila gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Avila wants to stand but Ismail has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Ismail seems to have recovered his senses.
Ismail working a defensive guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Farid Ismail.
I've got Ismail winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Farid Ismail!
After the fight, Farid Ismail was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.