PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Haji Muakbar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Torrance (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Muakbar comes to the cage accompanied by That Punjabi Jay-Z song. Torrance has chosen Black Strobe - I'm a man as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Muakbar
vs
Torrance

171 cm
35
179 lbs
27 - 19 - 2

175 cm
31
174 lbs
24 - 22 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 19 - 2, fighting out of New York, Haji Muakbar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jack Torrance!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Steve Montenegro and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Muakbar misses with a low kick.
Torrance has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Torrance there as he acknowledges the shot.
Muakbar bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Torrance tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Muakbar paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Torrance tries to clinch there but Muakbar circles away.

Torrance forces Muakbar back against the cage and clinches.
Torrance misses with the head strike.
Muakbar is trying to maintain a safe position but Torrance gets an underhook and turns Muakbar into the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Muakbar.
Muakbar misses with a short punch on the inside.
Torrance working aggressively here.
Muakbar changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Torrance fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Torrance tries to close the distance and clinch but Muakbar swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Torrance takes the fight into the clinch.
Muakbar dodges an elbow strike from Torrance.
Muakbar blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Muakbar pressing his opponent against the cage.
Muakbar lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Torrance breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Torrance 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.
Torrance tries to clinch but Muakbar moves out of range.
Muakbar misses with a looping left.
Torrance fails with an attempt to clinch.
Muakbar throws a hook but Torrance blocks it.
Muakbar digs a good body shot into Torrance's ribs.
Torrance darts in trying to clinch

and Muakbar counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Muakbar wants to stall.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Muakbar.
Muakbar working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Torrance working aggressively here.
Muakbar lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Torrance backwards.
Torrance throws a punch but it's blocked by Muakbar.
Muakbar is trying to maintain a safe position but Torrance gets an underhook and turns Muakbar into the cage.
Muakbar lands a hook to the side of the head.
Muakbar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Torrance's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torrance lands a left hand that snaps the head of Muakbar backwards.
Torrance blocking some punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Muakbar lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
I was talking to Muakbar's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Muakbar just leaning against Torrance, taking a breather.
Torrance lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Torrance wants to get back to striking at distance but Muakbar won't allow it.
Muakbar keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Torrance's efforts to push away.
A short left from Torrance.
Muakbar looking to slow down the pace here.
A head punch on the inside from Torrance fails to land.
Muakbar tries to work over Torrance's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A nice left hand lands by Torrance.
Muakbar is trying to maintain a safe position but Torrance gets an underhook and turns Muakbar into the cage.

Torrance's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Torrance manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Muakbar on his heels. He'll look to pass Muakbar's guard now, I'm sure.
Muakbar keeping moving, preventing Torrance from controlling successfully.
Muakbar has a closed guard, preventing Torrance from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Torrance stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Muakbar swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Torrance is looking to stand up but Muakbar won't let him.
Torrance pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Muakbar is keeping the position for now.

Torrance stands up from Muakbar's guard - Torrance perhaps looking for a knockout.
Haji Muakbar is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Torrance is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Torrance tries to close the distance and clinch but Muakbar swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Muakbar throws a lazy right hand but Torrance sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's four 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.
Muakbar throws a jab but it's blocked by Torrance.
Muakbar thows a left - swing and a miss!
Torrance fails in his attempt to clinch.
Muakbar lands with a nice combination. Torrance backs away looking to recover.

Torrance shoots in and bounces Muakbar off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Torrance is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Torrance wants to control from the top but Muakbar keeps moving.
Muakbar has a closed guard, preventing Torrance from standing up.
Muakbar seems keen to control Torrance's posture.
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 Haji Muakbar will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Torrance tries to clinch up.

Torrance moves into the clinch.
Muakbar blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Torrance pulls guard successfully.
Torrance bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Muakbar's guard.

Muakbar tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Torrance tries to stand but Muakbar is controlling from the bottom.
Torrance wants to control from the top but Muakbar keeps moving.
Torrance stays in close to Muakbar's body and controls the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torrance stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Muakbar swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Muakbar is trying to keep Torrance in close.
Muakbar pulls Torrance in close to his closed guard and prevents Torrance from doing any damage or advancing position.
Torrance wants to pass the guard but Muakbar is keeping the position.
Torrance wants to get up but he can't break Muakbar's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Muakbar is pulling down on Torrance's head to control his posture.
Torrance looking to pass the guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Torrance fails in his attempt to clinch.
Torrance slips under a jab.
Muakbar jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Torrance keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Muakbar.
Danga de danga de dang - Muakbar scores with a four punch combination!
Muakbar shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Torrance as he avoids it easily.
Torrance bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Haji Muakbar is winning the standup battle so far.
Muakbar circles away from the clinch attempt

and Muakbar counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Muakbar.
Haji Muakbar has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Torrance misses with the head strike.
Torrance is trying to break the clinch but Muakbar is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Torrance.
Muakbar blocking some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Torrance.
Torrance misses with a punch on the inside.

Muakbar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Torrance tries to close the distance and clinch up but Muakbar swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Torrance looks to land a left hand but Muakbar moved out of range nicely.
Torrance wants to clinch up but Muakbar keeps it at a distance.
Torrance tries to score a power double leg takedown but Muakbar sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Torrance somewhat.
Muakbar throws a body punch but Torrance moves out of range.
Torrance wants to clinch up but Muakbar keeps it at a distance.
Torrance bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Torrance walks into a straight right hand from Muakbar.
Torrance tries to clinch up
and Muakbar counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The fighters circling - Muakbar throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muakbar rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Torrance moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Muakbar throws a big shot that misses.
Muakbar scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Torrance is rocked!
A big left from Muakbar misses.
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!
Torrance fails in his attempt to clinch.
Torrance defending well as Muakbar loads up on a big left hand.
A big left from Muakbar misses.
Muakbar throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Jack Torrance seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Muakbar looks to land a right hand but Torrance moved out of range.
A jab from Muakbar finds it's way through Torrance's defenses.
Torrance is still on wobbly legs! Can Muakbar finish him?
Muakbar is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Torrance can do to turn this around?

Torrance clinches up with Muakbar and pushes him back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Torrance fails to land.
Muakbar stalling in the clinch.
Muakbar lands with a light punch inside.
Muakbar looking to stall.
Torrance is trying to push Muakbar away but Muakbar has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Torrance misses with a short punch on the inside.
Muakbar lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Muakbar blocks an uppercut.
Torrance misses with a punch on the inside.
Muakbar is working Torrance over against the cage.
Muakbar lands a big right hand that drops Torrance! The killer instinct kicks in and Muakbar finishes his opponent with a series of strikes from mount. A dominating finish by Muakbar!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Haji Muakbar!
After the fight, Haji Muakbar 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.