PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zico Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Youssef El Basmati (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?

Ali
vs
El Basmati

193 cm
22
217 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

186 cm
21
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zico Ali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Youssef El Basmati!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Thiago Cunha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ali throws a poor cross that misses
and El Basmati counters with a nice uppercut.
Ali throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
El Basmati throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ali sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Both fighters circling a little - El Basmati finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Ali closes this distance looking for a takedown but El Basmati circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Ali. Those never looked like landing.
El Basmati lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

El Basmati has taken the fight to the clinch.
El Basmati holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Ali tries to circle away but El Basmati has him pinned against the cage.
El Basmati softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
El Basmati swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Basmati working aggressively here.
El Basmati misses with a hook from the clinch.
El Basmati lands with a left to the head.
El Basmati lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ali backwards.
El Basmati lands with a left to the head.
Ali blocks a punch to the side of the head.
El Basmati dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Still in the clinch, El Basmati scores with a nice short uppercut.
El Basmati lands a right hand.
Ali jumps guard but El Basmati turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Ali wants to get back to striking at distance but El Basmati won't allow it.
El Basmati stalling in the clinch.
Ali is trying to pull guard but El Basmati has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zico Ali. That's going to take a lot out of him.

El Basmati manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
El Basmati digs a good hook to Ali's body.
Ali with a lazy takedown attempt
and El Basmati counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
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!
El Basmati misses with a looping left.
El Basmati has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Ali throws a leg kick but El Basmati sees it coming and moves out of range.
El Basmati throws a nice inside leg kick.
El Basmati keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ali swings widly with a right hand
and El Basmati counters with a straight right hand.
El Basmati slaps away a takedown attempt from Ali, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ali goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Youssef El Basmati has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
El Basmati swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
El Basmati ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ali definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
El Basmati is looking to slow Ali down with leg kicks.
Ali shoots for a takedown but El Basmati saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ali lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Ali slips under a jab.
Ali feinted there with a counter leg kick.
El Basmati slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ali.
Some wild striking there from El Basmati.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali swinging wildly here.
El Basmati catches Ali with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Ali throws a lazy head kick
and El Basmati counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Youssef El Basmati is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ali takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
El Basmati looks to score with a jab to the body but Ali is just out of range.
Ali on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

Ali gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ali is trying to break the clinch but El Basmati has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Youssef El Basmati dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Youssef El Basmati's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ali slips a straight right by El Basmati.
Ali appears to be looking for a big counter.
Youssef El Basmati seems to be getting the better of the standup.
El Basmati throws an overhand right that lands on Ali's shoulder, as Ali tries to avoid the shot.
Good shot there by Ali.
Zico Ali is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ali shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. El Basmati defends it nicely.
Ali throws a low kick, looking for El Basmati's leg but El Basmati calmly moves out of range.
Ali uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from El Basmati.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali lands a nice shot that snaps El Basmati's head back.

Ali instigates a clinch.
A nice left hand lands by El Basmati.
El Basmati lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Basmati throws a head punch that misses.
A nice left hand lands by El Basmati.
El Basmati working aggressively here.
El Basmati misses with some punches.
El Basmati lands a right hand.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, El Basmati creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The referee is keeping an eye on El Basmati - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

El Basmati's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ali throws a series of punches but El Basmati avoids them all with ease.
El Basmati misses with a jab, cross combination.
El Basmati pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
El Basmati misses with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

El Basmati has closed the distance and engaged Ali in a clinch.
El Basmati working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
El Basmati working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A short left from El Basmati.
El Basmati displaying some good clinch control by pressing Ali up against the cage.
Ali is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but El Basmati is defending well.
Ali is trying to force a seperation but El Basmati has the dominant position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for El Basmati.
El Basmati lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
El Basmati has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
El Basmati lands on the inside with an uppercut.
El Basmati working aggressively here.
El Basmati lands a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
El Basmati doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
El Basmati misses with some punches.
El Basmati stalling the fight.
El Basmati lands with a light punch inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for El Basmati.
The referee calls for El Basmati to work.
El Basmati misses with the head strike.
Ali lands with a left to the head.
El Basmati working aggressively here.
El Basmati misses with the head strike.
A short right from El Basmati on the inside.
El Basmati misses with a short punch on the inside.
El Basmati lands with a light punch inside.
A short uppercut from El Basmati.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
El Basmati is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zico Ali. That's going to take a lot out of him.
El Basmati misses with some punches.
Ali can't get the takedown.
A bit of stalling here from El Basmati.
A short left from El Basmati.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
El Basmati lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ali blocking some punches.
El Basmati tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ali tries to pull guard but El Basmati won't allow it.
El Basmati working aggressively here.
El Basmati working aggressively here.
El Basmati misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from El Basmati fails to land.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
El Basmati softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Youssef El Basmati seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
El Basmati throws a punch but it's blocked by Ali.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Youssef El Basmati showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Youssef El Basmati's cut.
That's time! Ali's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

El Basmati looks to score with a jab to the body but Ali is just out of range.

Ali closes the distance and clinches.
Ali blocking some punches.
Ali blocks a body shot from El Basmati.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Ali wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ali is trying to break the clinch but El Basmati is controlling him.
Ali blocks an uppercut.
El Basmati misses with a body punch.
El Basmati has a couple of punches blocked by Ali.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

El Basmati's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
El Basmati throws a jab but it's blocked by Ali.
A big right from El Basmati misses.
El Basmati fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ali moves into the clinch.
El Basmati digs a right hand into Ali's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ali's gas tank.
A right hand to the body from El Basmati.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
El Basmati working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
El Basmati lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
El Basmati lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
El Basmati misses with a body punch.
El Basmati tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
El Basmati working aggressively here.
Ali has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by El Basmati after a bit of a struggle.
El Basmati has Ali pushed against the cage.
Ali being controlled against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from El Basmati fails to land.
Ali tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. El Basmati just stands there and leans against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as El Basmati takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
El Basmati lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
El Basmati swings away with an uppercut that misses.
El Basmati lands a nice uppercut.
El Basmati misses with a punch on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
El Basmati gets through Ali's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as El Basmati takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Ali blocks a punch to the side of the head.
El Basmati lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali blocks an uppercut.
El Basmati has a couple of punches blocked by Ali.
Ali working hard to break the clinch.
El Basmati has a couple of punches blocked by Ali.
El Basmati throws a head punch that misses.
El Basmati lands a hook that snaps the head of Ali backwards.
El Basmati lands a nice uppercut.
Youssef El Basmati is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ali is trying to force a seperation but El Basmati has the dominant position.
Zico Ali has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Ali.
A right handed body shot lands from El Basmati.
Ali tries for a takedown but El Basmati manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zico Ali. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
El Basmati scores with an uppercut up the middle.
El Basmati misses with a hook to the ribs.
El Basmati throws a head punch that misses.
Ali fails to pull guard.
El Basmati lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ali backwards.
El Basmati pushes Ali back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Ali swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ali swings wildly with an uppercut but El Basmati uses good head movement to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Youssef El Basmati comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well El Basmati has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Youssef El Basmati!