PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pepe Ibarra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alfghanstier Nguyen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alfghanstier Nguyen will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Ibarra
vs
Nguyen

182 cm
24
182 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

195 cm
24
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Solid chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pepe Ibarra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alfghanstier Nguyen!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ibarra throws a right and a left that Nguyen avoids nicely.
Nguyen defending well as Ibarra loads up on a big left hand.
Ibarra looks to score with a jab to the body but Nguyen is just out of range.
Nguyen looks to score with a jab to the body but Ibarra is just out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from Ibarra misses its target.
Nguyen slips a jab and a cross from Ibarra.
A big left from Ibarra misses.
Ibarra lands a lovely overhand right.
Ibarra fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nguyen manages to avoid it.
Ibarra looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Ibarra misses with a wild combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ibarra throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ibarra throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nguyen is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Ibarra throws a body punch but Nguyen moves out of range.
Ibarra throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ibarra sets himself, and Nguyen steps forward looking for the clinch! Ibarra avoids it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Ibarra. That snapped Nguyen's head back.
Ibarra misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nguyen.
Ibarra misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pepe Ibarra seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ibarra lands a nice shot to the body.
Ibarra misses with a hook. Nguyen ducked under it nicely.
Ibarra tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nguyen was well out of range. Poor timing from Ibarra.
Nguyen avoids the body shot from Ibarra.
Nguyen is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Nice defenses there by Ibarra.
Nguyen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ibarra.
Ibarra takes a swing at Nguyen's ribcage but misses.
Nguyen staying out of range there.
Ibarra with a jab.
Nguyen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Ibarra lunges at Nguyen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Nguyen's hand.
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!
Ibarra connects with a nice looking jab.
Ibarra throws a body shot but no joy.
Nguyen is looking to clinch.
Ibarra seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Ibarra misses with a hook.
Ibarra misses with a wild body shot.
Ibarra moves away from the strike by Nguyen.
It looked like Ibarra wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ibarra throws out a loose jab but Nguyen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ibarra throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nguyen ducks under a wild hook from Ibarra.
Ibarra displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nguyen throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibarra swings widly with a right hand

and Nguyen counters by moving into the clinch.
Nguyen throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Nguyen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Nguyen is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Nguyen lands an elbow inside that Ibarra shrugs off.
Nguyen is trying to stall.
Nguyen lands an elbow that stopped Ibarra in his tracks for a moment.
Nguyen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ibarra tries to circle away but Nguyen has him pinned against the cage.
Ibarra takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ibarra misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nguyen's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Still in the clinch, Ibarra scores with a nice short uppercut.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ibarra as Nguyen tries to tie him up.
Ibarra has had enough of the clinch but Nguyen keeps him there for the moment.
Nice elbow from Nguyen.
Ibarra wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nguyen lands a nice elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ibarra tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nguyen's elbow.
Ibarra avoids the elbow strike from Nguyen, against the cage.
Ibarra is trying to push Nguyen away but Nguyen has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Nguyen is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Ibarra wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nguyen pushes off an throws an elbow but Ibarra leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Nguyen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Ibarra blocks the elbow strike.
Nguyen lands a damaging elbow.
Ibarra takes an elbow to the forehead.
Nguyen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ibarra is trying to break the clinch but Nguyen is controlling him.
A right hand to the body from Ibarra.
Ibarra can't find room to land a body shot as Nguyen controls the action.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Ibarra working hard to break the clinch.
Nguyen lands an elbow inside that Ibarra shrugs off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pepe Ibarra 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.

Nguyen dodges the punch combination from Ibarra.
Nguyen blocks a jab.
Ibarra jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ibarra misses with a body shot.
A combination from Ibarra does no damage.

Nguyen clinches.
Nguyen throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Nguyen just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ibarra's brow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ibarra wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nguyen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nguyen lands an elbow just above Ibarra 's eye.
A left hand lands to the body for Ibarra.
Ibarra avoids the elbow strike from Nguyen, against the cage.
Nguyen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ibarra is trying to break the clinch but Nguyen is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nguyen pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Ibarra looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ibarra working hard to break the clinch.
Ibarra tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nguyen keeps control of Ibarra as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nguyen throws an elbow that misses.
Nguyen blocks an uppercut.
Nguyen misses with an elbow strike.
Nguyen throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Nice elbow from Nguyen.
Nguyen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ibarra's efforts to push away.
Ibarra blocks an elbow strike.
Nguyen lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Nguyen pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Nguyen keeps control of Ibarra as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Ibarra's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nguyen lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ibarra.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Ibarra's defenses.
Nguyen throws an elbow that misses.
Nice elbow from Nguyen.
Ibarra working aggressively here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ibarra as Nguyen tries to tie him up.
Nguyen creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Ibarra's defenses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ibarra misses with some punches.
Ibarra misses with a punch to the body.
Ibarra lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Nguyen backwards.
Ibarra tries to break the clinch but Nguyen is controlling the position.
Nguyen looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Ibarra takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ibarra avoids a wild elbow strike from Nguyen.
Ibarra takes an elbow to the temple.
Nguyen prevents Ibarra from breaking the clinch.
Nguyen pushes off an throws an elbow but Ibarra leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Ibarra tries to break free but Nguyen pushes him back against the cage.
Nguyen has Ibarra pressed against the cage, preventing Ibarra from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nguyen pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen has Ibarra pressed against the cage, preventing Ibarra from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nguyen lands an elbow inside.
Nguyen lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nguyen lands an elbow inside that Ibarra shrugs off.
Ibarra is trying to break the clinch but Nguyen has him pressed against the cage.
Ibarra lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Nguyen throws an elbow that misses.
Nguyen lands a damaging elbow.
Nguyen throws an elbow but it misses.
Nguyen misses with an elbow strike.
Nice elbow from Nguyen.
Ibarra goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ibarra wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ibarra lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Ibarra tries to break free but Nguyen pushes him back against the cage.
Ibarra wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ibarra is looking to break free of the clinch but Nguyen has double underhooks.
Ibarra wants to break free but Nguyen has control.
Ibarra blocks an elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibarra blocks an elbow strike.
Nguyen pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Ibarra blocks an elbow strike from Nguyen.
Nguyen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ibarra wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nguyen has him pressed against the cage.
Ibarra tries to circle away but Nguyen has him pinned against the cage.
Ibarra tries to circle away but Nguyen has him pinned against the cage.
Ibarra blocks the elbow strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ibarra lands an uppercut.
Ibarra has had enough of the clinch but Nguyen keeps him there for the moment.
Nice elbow from Nguyen.
A frustrated look appears on Ibarra's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ibarra blocks an elbow strike from Nguyen.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Nguyen.
Ibarra takes an elbow to the forehead.
Nguyen trying to control the position but instead, Ibarra has worked for underhooks and has pushed Nguyen into the cage.
Ibarra wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nguyen has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alfghanstier Nguyen 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! 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.

Nguyen closes the distance and clinches.
Nguyen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Nguyen throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Ibarra can't break the clinch.
Ibarra avoids the elbow strike from Nguyen, against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Nguyen.
Nguyen throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Nguyen lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Ibarra blocks the elbow strike.
Ibarra lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Nguyen backwards.
Nguyen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ibarra blocks an elbow strike.
Ibarra takes an elbow to the forehead.
Alfghanstier Nguyen seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice left hand lands by Ibarra.
Ibarra is looking to break free of the clinch but Nguyen has double underhooks.
Ibarra wants to break free but Nguyen has control.
Nguyen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ibarra's efforts to push away.
Nguyen prevents Ibarra from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Nguyen throws an elbow but misses.
Nguyen throws an elbow but it misses.
Ibarra can't break the clinch.
Ibarra tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nguyen's elbow.
Nguyen lands an elbow just above Ibarra 's eye.
Ibarra lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Nguyen lands an elbow inside.
Nguyen dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ibarra blocks an elbow strike.
Nguyen effectively controlling the action here.
Nice elbow from Nguyen.
Ibarra takes an elbow to the temple.
Ibarra misses with a punch on the inside.
Ibarra blocks an elbow strike from Nguyen.
Nguyen lands an elbow inside.
Ibarra lands a left hand.
Ibarra avoids the elbow strike from Nguyen, against the cage.
Ibarra avoids the elbow strike from Nguyen, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen lands an elbow inside that Ibarra shrugs off.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A frustrated look appears on Ibarra's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nguyen lands an elbow inside.
Nguyen just leaning against Ibarra, taking a breather.
Ibarra wants to get back to striking at distance but Nguyen won't allow it.
Ibarra wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ibarra is trying to break the clinch but Nguyen is controlling him.
Nguyen blocks a body shot from Ibarra.
Ibarra tries to break the clinch but Nguyen is controlling the position.
Ibarra wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ibarra lands an uppercut.
Ibarra tries to work over Nguyen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nguyen lands a damaging elbow.
Nguyen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nguyen throws an elbow but it's blocked.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Nguyen just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ibarra's brow.
Ibarra tries a body shot but Nguyen blocks it.
Nguyen throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen lands an elbow that stopped Ibarra in his tracks for a moment.
Ibarra has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ibarra tries to break the clinch but Nguyen is controlling the position.
Nguyen creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Ibarra tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
With the fighters up against the cage, Nguyen throws an elbow but misses.
Nguyen throws an elbow that misses.
Ibarra misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nguyen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A frustrated look appears on Ibarra's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ibarra wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nguyen trying to control the position but instead, Ibarra has worked for underhooks and has pushed Nguyen into the cage.
Nguyen pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Ibarra's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nguyen lands an elbow inside that Ibarra shrugs off.
Ibarra tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nguyen's elbow.
Ibarra swings wildly with an uppercut but Nguyen uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Nguyen throws an elbow but it misses.
Ibarra misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nguyen keeps control of Ibarra as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ibarra wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ibarra tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nguyen's elbow.
Nguyen keeps control of Ibarra as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nguyen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ibarra's efforts to push away.
Ibarra tries to throw a body punch but Nguyen avoids it by throwing Ibarra back against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ibarra misses with a body punch.
Ibarra tries to break the clinch but Nguyen is controlling the position.
Nguyen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nguyen has Ibarra pressed against the cage, preventing Ibarra from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ibarra wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ibarra misses with a punch to the body.
Nguyen lands an elbow just above Ibarra 's eye.
Ibarra tries to circle away but Nguyen has him pinned against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alfghanstier Nguyen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nguyen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alfghanstier Nguyen!