PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryo Yoshida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saleem Al Khan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Al Khan is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Three Days Grace - Scared. Saleem Al Khan will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Yoshida
vs
Al Khan

177 cm
30
181 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

182 cm
27
181 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

Good takedowns
Good kicks
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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryo Yoshida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Saleem Al Khan!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yoshida is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Al Khan.
Al Khan lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Al Khan, as that shot connected.
Nice cross by Al Khan.
A left lands for Al Khan.
Yoshida shoots in and drives through. Al Khan sprawls well.
Al Khan lands an overhand right.
Al Khan connects with a right hand. Yoshida shakes it off.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yoshida shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Al Khan but Al Khan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Yoshida changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Al Khan tries to avoid it but Yoshida manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Al Khan to the ground. Al Khan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryo Yoshida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Al Khan turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Yoshida fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Yoshida.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yoshida looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Yoshida takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Al Khan scores with a jab to the jaw.

Yoshida fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Al Khan sprawls well initially but Yoshida persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Yoshida thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Al Khan's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshida missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Yoshida is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Al Khan is defending against the submission attempts here by Yoshida.

Yoshida is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Al Khan sees it coming and defends easily.

Yoshida is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Al Khan doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Yoshida.
Al Khan is trying to stand back up but Yoshida is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Yoshida is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Al Khan has managed to free his arm - good work.
Yoshida throws a strike but Al Khan avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Yoshida throws a big elbow that misses.

Al Khan wriggles free and stands up.
Al Khan lands with an overhand left.
Yoshida moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Good leg kick by Al Khan there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Saleem Al Khan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice uppercut there from Al Khan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Khan lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Al Khan connects with a high kick.
Yoshida has a takedown stuffed.
Yoshida closes this distance looking for a takedown but Al Khan circles away.
Yoshida throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Al Khan's waist but Al Khan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Yoshida off to one side.
Saleem Al Khan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Al Khan stalks Yoshida and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Yoshida's face. Yoshida staggers backwards, shaken.

Yoshida is rocked!
Al Khan drops Yoshida with a big left hand! Yoshida is injured, injured bad! Al Khan jumps in and finished him with strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Saleem Al Khan!
Post fight, Saleem Al Khan took to the microphone: 'I am the freedom fighter, I'll fight for my people until death, and represent my land everywhere I go, look out for me!'.