PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Buford Ford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samir Azzam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Samir Azzam has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ford
vs
Azzam

196 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

180 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Buford Ford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Samir Azzam!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Chris Saunders and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ford tries to clinch but Azzam moves out of range.
Ford really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Azzam decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Azzam is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Azzam wants to stand up but Ford is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azzam content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ford is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Azzam is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Azzam working Ford over with strikes.
Ford is trying to maintain the position but Azzam is very close to passing his half guard.
Ford is looking to get back to full guard here but Azzam has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Azzam working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Azzam in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Azzam cracks Ford with a big elbow.
Ford tries to improve position but can't.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Azzam takes a little break here. Ford wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azzam lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Ford down.
Azzam remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Azzam is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ford knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Azzam working the head and body with strikes.
Ford manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Well, if Azzam is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Azzam wants to stand but Ford has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samir Azzam dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ford misses with a few strikes there.
Ford doesn't manage to clinch there - Azzam circles away.
Ford takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Azzam is looking to land body kicks.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Azzam jumps guard and drags Ford to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ford trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azzam wants to stand but Ford is controlling the position.
Azzam manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ford manages to get himself to full guard.

Azzam in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azzam connects with a couple of short punches.
Azzam wants to get up but he can't break Ford's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Azzam content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ford 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.
Azzam tries to stand but Ford is controlling from the bottom.
Ford will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Azzam looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ford gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Azzam to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Ford wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azzam connects with a couple of short punches.
Samir Azzam has got the better of the ground game so far.
Azzam is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Azzam won't allow Ford to get back to his feet.
Azzam sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Azzam gets a double leg takedown into Ford's guard.
Azzam has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ford is proving hard to escape from.
Azzam pushes down on Ford's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ford tries to get to full guard but Azzam has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samir Azzam showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Ford tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Azzam was well out of range. Poor timing from Ford.

Azzam closes the distance and clinches.
Ford fails to pull guard.
Ford is trying to pull guard but Azzam has him pressed against the cage.
Azzam on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

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

Azzam gets the takedown into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Azzam lands some shots froms side control.

Ford is rocked!
Ford takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Oh Ford is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Azzam remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Azzam is continuing to stall.
Azzam has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ford is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azzam landing a few strikes.
Azzam working the head with strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Azzam wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ford, who protects the arm well.

Azzam decides to stand up, so the ref orders Ford to his feet.
Azzam darts in and lands a big hook, right on the button! Ford's legs crumble underneath him as he falls to the canvas! The ref tackles Azzam before he gets to land any more shots to his stricken foe.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:16 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Samir Azzam!