PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ligerito Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mahamud Osman Najib (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mahamud Osman Najib will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Jr
vs
Osman Najib

160 cm
25
136 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
132 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ligerito Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mahamud Osman Najib!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Dean Styles and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Najib is looking to clinch.
Jr throws a leg kick
letting Najib counter with a right hand.

Jr scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Jr postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Jr controlling the position from side mount.
Jr landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
You can see the frustration on Najib's face as Jr controls the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jr working away.

Jr has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Najib circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Najib looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jr is fending him off so far but Najib persists. Nope, Jr circles away and we're back to standing.
Jr takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Jr scores with a takedown into Najib's guard.
Jr tries to free his leg and advance position but Najib is retaining full guard.
Jr slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Jr staying calm.
Jr scores with punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jr taking a breather here.
Jr scoring with punches and elbows.
Jr happy to just control the position for now.
Jr lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jr scores with punches from side control.
Najib is looking for a sweep.

Jr decides to stand back up.

Jr feints and as Najib raises his hands in defense, Jr changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Najib keeping full guard, as Jr tries to pass.
Jr connects with a couple of short punches.
Jr passes Najib's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Jr escapes and gets back to his feet.
Najib doesn't manage to clinch there - Jr circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jr fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Najib manages to avoid it.
Najib is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Jr with a body shot.
Najib will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jr tries to clinch but Najib moves away
and Najib counters with a nice body shot.
Najib fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ligerito Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mahamud Osman Najib.
Najib looks winded!
Najib moves in looking to clinch but Jr pushes him off.
Najib shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jr as he jumps to the side.

Jr throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Najib was covering up waiting for the punch and Jr finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Jr is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ligerito Jr dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Jr misses with a double jab.
Jr tries to clinch but Najib moves out of range.
Najib avoids the head kick by Jr.
Najib is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Najib gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Jr landing with the ground and pound.
Jr scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Najib is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Jr defends well.
Jr working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Najib's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jr decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Najib, up you get!

Jr gets the takedown into side control.
Ligerito Jr overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jr controls the position.

Jr stands up and beckons Najib to his feet.
Jr throws a wild body kick that Najib sees coming a mile off.
Jr is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Najib can do to turn this around?

Jr gets a double leg takedown into Najib's guard.
Najib can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Jr controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jr gets to his feet - Najib follows without any prompting.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Najib enables Jr to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Najib manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Najib looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Jr puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Najib is breathing heavily.
Jr performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Najib really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jr. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jr is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Najib sees it coming and defends easily.

Jr is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Najib doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Jr.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Jr lands a nice short elbow.

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.
Jr winds up and cracks Najib with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Jr is controlling the pace.
Jr has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Jr is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Najib doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Jr.

Jr looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ligerito Jr dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Najib lands a jab-cross combination.
Najib fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jr misses the body punch
and Najib counters with a left and a right that stings Jr.
Najib throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Najib darts in looking for a takedown but Jr gets double underhooks and turns Najib into the cage.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Najib enables Jr to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Najib manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Najib being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jr postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Jr showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

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.
Jr wants to pass the guard but Najib is keeping the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Jr stands up and waves to Najib to follow him.
Jr tries to clinch up but Najib circles away and keeps his distance.
Danga de danga de dang - Najib scores with a four punch combination!
Najib scores with a jab to the body.
Jr wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Najib gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jr not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Jr trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jr lands a couple of elbows.
Jr postures up.
Jr might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Jr advances to half guard.
Najib takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jr working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Jr in particular looking to stall.
Jr working Najib over with strikes.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Jr in particular looking to stall.
Najib is trying to control but Jr passes into side control!
Jr cracks Najib with a big right hand but Najib just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Najib seems a little lost for a moment, as Jr dominates the positioning.
Mahamud Osman Najib has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ligerito Jr is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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 Ligerito Jr.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Jr, 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:26
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:26
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ligerito Jr!