PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sigurd Lodbrok (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jalal ad-Dīn Muhammad Rumi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lodbrok comes to the cage accompanied by Killing in the name of.... The crowd seem to be enjoying Rumi's choice of entrance music: Yo-Yo Ma- Soul of Tango. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Lodbrok
vs
ad-Dīn Muhammad Rumi

168 cm
22
165 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

167 cm
21
152 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Modern Wear Apparel

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sigurd Lodbrok!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jalal ad-Dīn Muhammad Rumi!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Aafke Stam and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lodbrok throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rumi.
Lodbrok pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rumi lands a nice hook to Lodbrok's body. Lodbrok takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Lodbrok throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Lodbrok throws a jab when Rumi was well out of range.
Rumi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lodbrok.
A jab from Lodbrok misses.
Rumi avoids the body shot from Lodbrok.
Lodbrok throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rumi misses with a body kick.
Lodbrok scores with a body shot.
Lodbrok misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lodbrok getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Lodbrok swings for the body but Rumi moves out of range.
Lodbrok misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A jab from Lodbrok misses.
Rumi drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Lodbrok defends it well.
Rumi with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lodbrok counters with a nice uppercut.
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!
Lodbrok throws a sloppy head kick and Rumi moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lodbrok takes a swing at Rumi's ribcage but misses.
Lodbrok works Rumi's body with a nice hook.

Rumi looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Lodbrok!
Lodbrok is looking to reverse the position.
Rumi lands an elbow.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Rumi working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Rumi trying to control the action but Lodbrok is working from the bottom.
Lodbrok regains half guard there - taking advantage of Rumi's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rumi wants to pass the guard but Lodbrok is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lodbrok wants to get back to full guard.
Rumi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lodbrok makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Lodbrok.
Rumi tries to free his leg and advance position but Lodbrok is retaining full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Lodbrok holds on and takes a little breather.
Rumi with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lodbrok keeping moving, preventing Rumi from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Lodbrok is pulling down on Rumi's head. It's preventing any offense from Rumi, at least for the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sigurd Lodbrok is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rumi looks for the body kick but Lodbrok saw that one coming.
Lodbrok misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rumi.
Rumi ducks under a wild hook from Lodbrok.
Rumi with the counter takedown but Lodbrok avoids it easily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Lodbrok.
Rumi shoots in for a takedown but Lodbrok shows good takedown defense.
Lodbrok works Rumi's body with a nice hook.

Rumi moves into the clinch successfully.
Rumi wants a takedown but no success here.
Our sources have told us that Lodbrok has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Sigurd Lodbrok has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jalal ad-Dīn Muhammad Rumi.
Lodbrok misses with a body punch.
Lodbrok lands a left hand.
Rumi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rumi misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rumi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lodbrok swings wildly with an uppercut but Rumi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rumi tries for a takedown. No joy.
Lodbrok tries to throw a body punch but Rumi avoids it by throwing Lodbrok back against the cage.
Lodbrok swings wildly with an uppercut but Rumi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rumi has Lodbrok pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lodbrok manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Lodbrok pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rumi defending well as Lodbrok loads up on a big left hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lodbrok explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Lodbrok comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Lodbrok catches Rumi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A slapping leg kick lands for Lodbrok.
Rumi throws a leg kick
letting Lodbrok counter with a right hand.

Rumi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rumi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sigurd Lodbrok dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lodbrok throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice body kick there by Lodbrok.
Rumi slips under a jab from Lodbrok.
Rumi misses with a hook
and Lodbrok counters with a nice leg kick.
Lodbrok throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lodbrok lands with a good body shot.
Rumi blocks a head kick by Lodbrok.
Lodbrok slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Rumi scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rumi is taking a breather. Lodbrok says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Lodbrok trying to control but Rumi postures up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lodbrok trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Rumi manages to pass to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rumi looking to control but Lodbrok is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Lodbrok is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Lodbrok avoids a strike by Rumi and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Rumi's guard! Fantastic escape!
Rumi 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.
Rumi keeps trying to improve his position.
Jalal ad-Dīn Muhammad Rumi has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rumi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lodbrok stops Rumi from standing up.
Lodbrok trying to control the position from guard on top but Rumi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rumi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lodbrok is one step ahead there.
Rumi keeping moving, preventing Lodbrok from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lodbrok wants to pass the guard but Rumi is keeping the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Lodbrok trying to control but Rumi is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lodbrok stuns Rumi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sigurd Lodbrok is winning the standup battle so far.
Rumi swings for the body but Lodbrok moves out of range.
Sigurd Lodbrok seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rumi takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A swing and a miss from Rumi.

Rumi gets a takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lodbrok desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Lodbrok trying to control but Rumi postures up.
Lodbrok keeping control of the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rumi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lodbrok defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sigurd Lodbrok will probably get the nod.
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!

Lodbrok swings for the body but Rumi moves out of range.
Rumi on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Lodbrok scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Lodbrok throws a body punch but Rumi moves out of range.
Jab, jab by Rumi - just one landing.
Lodbrok ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rumi moves away.
Lodbrok looks to score with a jab to the body but Rumi is just out of range.
Rumi drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Lodbrok defends it well.
Rumi lands a nice looking body shot.

Rumi feints and as Lodbrok raises his hands in defense, Rumi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rumi trying to control the position from guard on top but Lodbrok is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lodbrok wants to stand and escape but Rumi is having none of it.
Rumi trying to control the position from guard on top but Lodbrok is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rumi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rumi wants to control from the top but Lodbrok keeps moving.
Lodbrok trying to control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Lodbrok has his hands on Rumi's head, controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Lodbrok misses with a hook. Rumi ducked under it nicely.
Rumi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lodbrok. Rumi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rumi drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Lodbrok defends it well.
Rumi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lodbrok.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rumi throws a head kick that misses.
Lodbrok tries a head kick but it misses.
Rumi with the counter takedown but Lodbrok avoids it easily.
Rumi clobbers Lodbrok with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Lodbrok jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A head kick misses from Lodbrok.
Lodbrok throws a looping overhand right but Rumi ducks down to avoid it.
Rumi with the counter takedown but Lodbrok avoids it easily.
Lodbrok looks to throw the jab but Rumi is out of range.
Lodbrok fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rumi looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Lodbrok is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rumi can do to turn this around?
Lodbrok throws a head kick that Rumi semi-blocks.
Rumi on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lodbrok throws a sloppy head kick and Rumi moves out of range easily.
Lodbrok misses with a head kick.
Lodbrok takes a swing at Rumi's ribcage but misses.
Rumi feints a jab promting Lodbrok to slip. Rumi then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Lodbrok slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
A lazy left from Rumi finds it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rumi on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Lodbrok throws a head kick but Rumi moves out of range.
Lodbrok throws a good cross that connects.
Lodbrok takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Rumi ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Rumi lands with a straight right. Lodbrok didn't see that one coming.
Rumi misses with a leg kick.
Rumi thuds a left hand into Lodbrok's body.
Lodbrok lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rumi at a distance.
Rumi lands with an uppercut that bounces Lodbrok off the cage and back into range.
Rumi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
An attempted straight right counter from Lodbrok misses the target.
Rumi has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Lodbrok finds it's way round the side to connect with Rumi's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rumi lands a nice shot to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rumi. That's going to slow Lodbrok down.
Lodbrok throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rumi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nice shot lands for Rumi.
Lodbrok throws a jab when Rumi was well out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Lodbrok.
Lodbrok works the jab nicely.
Rumi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rumi avoids the body shot from Lodbrok.
Lodbrok throws a body punch but Rumi moves out of range.
Jalal ad-Dīn Muhammad Rumi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lodbrok misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rumi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rumi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lodbrok comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rumi throws a jab when Lodbrok was well out of range.
Rumi blocks the body kick.
Rumi tries to move into range but Lodbrok moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Sigurd Lodbrok.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lodbrok, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 30:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sigurd Lodbrok!
A less than humble Sigurd Lodbrok misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.
The defeated Jalal ad-Dīn Muhammad Rumi had this to say: 'I died as a mineral and became a plant, I died as plant and rose to animal, I died as animal and I was Man. Why should I fear? When was I less by dying?'.