PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Speedy Atkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). al-Baghdadi comes to the cage accompanied by Till I Collapse - Eminem Feat. Nate Dogg. Atkins has chosen big in japan as his entrance music. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bakr al-Baghdadi
vs
Atkins

178 cm
27
142 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

167 cm
33
150 lbs
28 - 17 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System
GREEN!160

Spartan Nutrition
GREEN!160

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 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Speedy Atkins!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A left and a right from Atkins both land. Nice combination.
Atkins tries to clinch up.
Atkins keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Atkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but al-Baghdadi moves away.
Atkins jabs al-Baghdadi to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Atkins misses with a few strikes there.

al-Baghdadi moves into range and clinches up with Atkins.
We've been hearing reports that al-Baghdadi has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
al-Baghdadi blocking some punches.
al-Baghdadi avoiding damage.
A head punch on the inside from Atkins fails to land.

al-Baghdadi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Atkins throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
al-Baghdadi wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Atkins will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
al-Baghdadi tried to counter with a leg kick but Atkins avoided it.

Atkins closes the distance and clinches.

al-Baghdadi works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
al-Baghdadi is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Atkins looking for submissions from the bottom but instead al-Baghdadi passes into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
al-Baghdadi tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
al-Baghdadi trying to control the position but Atkins is working away.
Atkins is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
al-Baghdadi throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
al-Baghdadi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
al-Baghdadi grinds an elbow into Atkins's temple.
Atkins throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
al-Baghdadi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Atkins manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Atkins is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
al-Baghdadi tries to pass to full mount but Atkins defends it.

Atkins looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atkins is positioning himself well to prevent al-Baghdadi advancing to mount.

Atkins looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
al-Baghdadi looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Atkins with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
al-Baghdadi looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Atkins with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Atkins tries to roll over but al-Baghdadi keeps him under control.

al-Baghdadi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Atkins tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Atkins gets full guard.
al-Baghdadi cracks Atkins with a solid left hand.
al-Baghdadi trying to control but Atkins is working from the bottom.
al-Baghdadi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
al-Baghdadi is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atkins looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Atkins striking off his back but it's not causing al-Baghdadi any problems.

Atkins is looking for a triangle but al-Baghdadi pushes his legs off easily.

Atkins looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Atkins working for a triangle but al-Baghdadi defends it easily.

Atkins escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. al-Baghdadi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Atkins is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
al-Baghdadi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
al-Baghdadi works over Atkins with some ground and pound from guard.
al-Baghdadi scoring with punches to the head and body.

Atkins escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. al-Baghdadi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
al-Baghdadi lands a couple of elbows.
al-Baghdadi trying to control but Atkins is working from the bottom.

Atkins looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Atkins looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
al-Baghdadi lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Atkins throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Atkins has an active guard here but al-Baghdadi has managed to pass into half guard.
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 Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

al-Baghdadi lands a jab to the nose.
Atkins has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from al-Baghdadi finds it's way round the side to connect with Atkins's head.
al-Baghdadi misses with a body shot.
al-Baghdadi throws a quick inside leg kick.
al-Baghdadi throws a body punch but Atkins moves out of range.
Atkins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but al-Baghdadi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Atkins is looking to clinch but al-Baghdadi is avoiding it.
al-Baghdadi throws a head kick that half lands.
Atkins darts in trying to clinch
and Atkins takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
al-Baghdadi circles away from the clinch attempt
and al-Baghdadi counters with a thumping low kick.

Atkins closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
al-Baghdadi lands a left hand that snaps the head of Atkins backwards.
Atkins looking to slow down the pace here.
al-Baghdadi avoiding damage.
Atkins misses with a body punch.
al-Baghdadi lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
al-Baghdadi stalling in the clinch.
Atkins lands a right hand that snaps the head of al-Baghdadi backwards.
Atkins tries to throw a body punch but al-Baghdadi avoids it by throwing Atkins back against the cage.
al-Baghdadi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Atkins can do to turn this around?
Atkins scores with a shoulder strike.
Atkins tried to land a shot to the body but connects with al-Baghdadi's elbow.
al-Baghdadi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
al-Baghdadi throws a head punch that misses.
Atkins tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Atkins misses with a hook to the ribs.
Atkins is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. al-Baghdadi is defending well for now.
Atkins scores with a nice hook to the head.
Good body shot from Atkins.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atkins tries to work over al-Baghdadi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Atkins misses with a body punch.
al-Baghdadi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Atkins tries a body shot but al-Baghdadi blocks it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Atkins throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but al-Baghdadi blocks it with crossed arms.
Speedy Atkins seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Atkins avoids a wild elbow strike from al-Baghdadi.
al-Baghdadi misses with a punch on the inside.
Atkins lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Atkins presses al-Baghdadi against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
al-Baghdadi trying to stall but Atkins improves his position.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Atkins creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
al-Baghdadi blocking some punches.
Atkins blocks the elbow strike.
A head punch on the inside from al-Baghdadi fails to land.
al-Baghdadi takes a shot to the head.
Atkins lands a body shot in the clinch.
al-Baghdadi misses with a body punch.
Atkins lands a good knee to the midsection. al-Baghdadi won't want to take too many of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Atkins tries a body shot but al-Baghdadi blocks it.
Atkins lands with a light punch inside.
Atkins tries to throw a body punch but al-Baghdadi avoids it by throwing Atkins back against the cage.
Atkins scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Atkins.
al-Baghdadi prevents a body shot from Atkins.
Atkins tries a knee to the head but al-Baghdadi blocks it.
Atkins lands a nice uppercut.
Atkins lands a hook to the side of the head.
al-Baghdadi has a couple of punches blocked by Atkins.
al-Baghdadi is working for takedown but Atkins is calmly controlling the position for now.
al-Baghdadi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Atkins.
Atkins lands a shot to the body.
Atkins tried to land a shot to the body but connects with al-Baghdadi's elbow.
Atkins misses with a body punch.
Atkins misses with the head strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by al-Baghdadi.
A quick uppercut on the inside from al-Baghdadi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Atkins fails to land.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Atkins misses with a hook to the ribs.
Atkins throws a punch but it's blocked by al-Baghdadi.
Atkins lands a right hand.
Still in the clinch, al-Baghdadi scores with a nice short uppercut.
al-Baghdadi is looking for a takedown.
Atkins tries to work over al-Baghdadi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
al-Baghdadi lands a hook to the side of the head.
al-Baghdadi misses with a body punch.
al-Baghdadi lands an uppercut.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Atkins trying to stall but al-Baghdadi improves his position.
A short left from al-Baghdadi.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, al-Baghdadi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Atkins tries to stall but al-Baghdadi uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Atkins swings wildly with an uppercut but al-Baghdadi uses good head movement to avoid it.
al-Baghdadi struggles to land a body shot inside as Atkins controls his hands.
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 Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

al-Baghdadi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Atkins.
Atkins moves forwards but al-Baghdadi connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Atkins!
Atkins throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Atkins fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice shot by Atkins.
Atkins blocks a low kick nicely.
Atkins looks to land a left hand but al-Baghdadi moved out of range nicely.
al-Baghdadi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
al-Baghdadi circles away from the clinch attempt
and al-Baghdadi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Atkins lands a slapping body shot.
al-Baghdadi motions for Atkins to come forward. al-Baghdadi throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Atkins ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The fight stays on the outside here - Atkins looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
al-Baghdadi is looking to counter punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
al-Baghdadi tries to score with a low kick but Atkins moves his leg out of the way.
al-Baghdadi swats away the attempt to clinch by Atkins.
Atkins tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. al-Baghdadi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Atkins.
Atkins throws a right and a left that al-Baghdadi avoids nicely.
al-Baghdadi misses with a looping right.

Atkins clinches up against the cage.
al-Baghdadi throws a punch but it's blocked by Atkins.
al-Baghdadi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Atkins backwards.
al-Baghdadi is pushing Atkins up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Atkins effectively controlling the action here.

al-Baghdadi breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atkins tries to clinch but al-Baghdadi is having none of it.
Atkins staying out of range there.
al-Baghdadi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Atkins is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Atkins fails with an attempt to clinch.
Atkins tries to clinch but fails miserably
and al-Baghdadi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
al-Baghdadi misses with a straight left.
Atkins tries to clinch but al-Baghdadi moves away
and al-Baghdadi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is winning the standup battle so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
al-Baghdadi lands a nice shot that snaps Atkins's head back.
al-Baghdadi is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Atkins tries to clinch but al-Baghdadi moves out of range.
al-Baghdadi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Atkins takes a shot to the body in his stride.
al-Baghdadi circles away from the clinch attempt.
al-Baghdadi quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Atkins is looking to clinch but al-Baghdadi is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Atkins gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
al-Baghdadi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A nice left hand lands by al-Baghdadi.
al-Baghdadi with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Atkins dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Atkins misses with some punches.
al-Baghdadi blocks a body shot from Atkins.
Atkins fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
al-Baghdadi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Atkins backwards.
al-Baghdadi misses with a short punch on the inside.
al-Baghdadi scores a nice knee to the body.
Atkins misses with a punch to the body.
al-Baghdadi tries to land a knee to the head but Atkins blocks with his arms.
Atkins swings wildly with an uppercut but al-Baghdadi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Atkins misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right from al-Baghdadi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
al-Baghdadi is looking to control Atkins's arms but Atkins gets an underhook and turns him. Now al-Baghdadi has his back to the cage.
A short uppercut from al-Baghdadi.
Atkins misses with a knee strike.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as al-Baghdadi takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Atkins tries a body shot but al-Baghdadi blocks it.
Atkins lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down al-Baghdadi.

al-Baghdadi lands a takedown into guard.
al-Baghdadi content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
al-Baghdadi stays in close to Atkins's body and controls the position.
al-Baghdadi preventing the sweep.

Atkins looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
al-Baghdadi works over Atkins with some ground and pound from guard.
al-Baghdadi scoring with some ground and pound.
Speedy Atkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Atkins throws his legs up looking for a submission but al-Baghdadi uses it to pass to side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for al-Baghdadi, 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi!
An out of breath Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.