PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mamad Mouba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reem Khalid (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Mouba
vs
Khalid

178 cm
18
158 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

170 cm
26
154 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Great low kicks
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Vikai Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mamad Mouba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Reem Khalid!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, David Hoff and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khalid moves out of range of the body kick from Mouba.
Mouba misses with a kick to the body.
A low kick from Mouba misses

and Khalid counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Mouba!
Mouba tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Khalid wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mouba is letting Khalid control him for a moment.
Khalid trying to control the action but Mouba is working from the bottom.
Mouba knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Khalid on the ground.
Khalid working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mouba is looking for a sweep.
Mouba is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Mouba's face as Khalid controls the position.
Khalid landing strikes.
Mouba tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Khalid wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mouba taking punishment in the form of punches.

Khalid is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mouba knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Khalid scoring with punches and elbows.
Khalid has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
You can see the frustration on Mouba's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mouba is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Khalid's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Khalid prevents Mouba from standing back up.
Mouba wants to control but Khalid is keeping busy.
Khalid controlling the pace.
Mouba wants to get back to full guard.
Khalid throwing shots but Mouba is blocking nicely.
Khalid stops Mouba from getting back to his feet.
Khalid is keen to just control but Mouba is a slippery customer.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalid stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Mouba.
Mouba misses with a body shot.
Mamad Mouba is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A slapping body kick lands there for Mouba.
Mouba bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Mouba throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Khalid changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Mouba lands a nice looking kick to the body. Khalid takes a step back to recover.
Mouba throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Khalid tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Khalid stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Mouba.
Khalid shoots in for a takedown but Mouba shows good takedown defense.
Mouba thows a body kick. Khalid tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Khalid looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mouba is fending him off so far but Khalid persists. Nope, Mouba circles away and we're back to standing.
Mouba misses with a low kick.
A little jabbing left from Khalid on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mouba pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
And Khalid tries to counter it with a takedown but Mouba pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Mouba misses with a head kick.
It seemed like Khalid was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Mouba lands a nice leg kick that just misses Khalid's sensitive parts.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice body kick there by Mouba.
Mamad Mouba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mouba looks for the body kick but Khalid saw that one coming.
Mouba looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Khalid takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Mouba lands a nice leg kick that just misses Khalid's sensitive parts.
Mouba connects with a right hand. Khalid shakes it off.
Mouba just misses with a punch to the body.
Mouba looks for the body kick but Khalid saw that one coming.
Khalid feints the counter takedown.
Mouba pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mamad Mouba dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Khalid takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mouba looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Khalid with the counter takedown but Mouba avoids it easily.
Mouba throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Khalid tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Mouba.
Mouba throws the kick towards the body but Khalid avoids it.
Mouba throws a left and a right that both miss

and Khalid counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Khalid trying to control but Mouba is working from the bottom.
Khalid stopping the sweep attempt from Mouba.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khalid controlling from the top position.
Khalid prevents Mouba from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalid trying to control but Mouba is working from the bottom.
Khalid stays in close to Mouba's body and controls the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Mouba keeping moving, preventing Khalid from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Mouba throws a body kick that misses

so Khalid counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Khalid is pushing down on Mouba's leg trying to pass to half guard. Mouba is fighting to maintain full guard but Khalid has managed to sneak the leg through.
Khalid is trying to control the action in half guard but Mouba is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mouba wants to improve his position but Khalid is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khalid seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mouba does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Khalid is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mouba sees it coming and defends easily.
Mouba has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Khalid is working away from the top position though.
Mouba wants to get back to his feet.
Mouba is looking for a sweep. Khalid is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mouba is not content to let Khalid control the position.
Khalid wants to pass the guard but Mouba is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mouba pushes Khalid off looking to stand but Khalid dives back in and keeps control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A slapping leg kick lands for Mouba.
Khalid fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mouba throws a nice inside leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Mouba.
Mouba thuds his shin into the meat of Khalid's side.
Mouba goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Mouba pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Khalid is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Mouba seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Mouba throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Khalid drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mouba defends it well.
Mouba thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Khalid if he has to take too many more of those.
Khalid's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Khalid's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Mouba connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Khalid scrambles back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mouba misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mouba looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Mouba throws a jab when Khalid was well out of range.
A solid body kick from Mouba.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mouba shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Mouba gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Khalid counters with a takedown into side control.
Khalid throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Khalid working away.
Mouba is looking to reverse the position.
Khalid tries to advance to mount but can't.
Mouba is trying to get back to half guard.
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 Mamad Mouba 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Khalid moves out of range of the body kick from Mouba.
Khalid blocks a head kick by Mouba.
Khalid tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Mouba.
Mouba cracks a nice hook into Khalid's ribs.
Mouba tries to land a body kick

and Khalid counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Mouba is trying to get back to full guard.
Mouba pushes Khalid off looking to stand but Khalid dives back in and keeps control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khalid perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Mouba wants to get back to full guard but Khalid has passed into side control.
Khalid misses with the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalid working the ground and pound.
Mouba is looking for a sweep.
Khalid tries to move to mount but Mouba blocks the move with his legs.
Mouba is trying to improve his position.
Mouba is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Khalid off and has taken his back!
Khalid wants to escape the position.
Mouba just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Khalid can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khalid manages to reverse the position and now he's in Mouba's guard. Nice work there by Khalid.
Khalid throwing strikes from guard but Mouba blocks nicely.
Mouba utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Khalid controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Khalid pushing down on Mouba's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Khalid is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Mouba is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Khalid scores with a couple of nice shots.
Mouba is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mouba trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Khalid passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Mouba!
Mouba on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mouba tries to get out of the position.
Mouba takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Mouba can't escape the position.

Khalid goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Mouba turns into him and now he's in Khalid's guard.
Khalid seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mouba wants to stand but Khalid is controlling his posture from full guard.

Khalid working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mouba doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mouba manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mouba is fighting to break Khalid's control of his arms but Khalid is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mouba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Khalid is keeping the position for now.
Mouba wants to stand but Khalid has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reem Khalid comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mouba has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight for Mamad Mouba!
Judge David Hoff scores the fight for Mamad Mouba!
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Mamad Mouba!

Mamad Mouba wins by unanimous decision!
A very excited looking Mamad Mouba made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.