PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Arslan Rashid (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ajax Armstrong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Arslan Rashid has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Arslan Rashid seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Rashid
vs
Armstrong

170 cm
23
135 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

170 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Arslan Rashid!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ajax Armstrong!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Winston Alpacca and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rashid shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Armstrong's guard.
Rashid missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Armstrong preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rashid throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rashid throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Armstrong works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rashid working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rashid trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rashid throws an elbow that misses. Armstrong uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rashid's guard. Nice move by Armstrong!

Armstrong distracts Rashid with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Armstrong controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rashid wants to sweep but no luck.
Armstrong seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong trying to control the position from guard on top but Rashid is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rashid escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Armstrong gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rashid can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Armstrong controls the pace.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rashid is on top in guard.

Rashid throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Armstrong avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Rashid is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Armstrong is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Armstrong has escaped and now he's on top!

Armstrong not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Armstrong throws a big right hand that misses.
Armstrong trying to control but Rashid is working from the bottom.
Armstrong's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Armstrong postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rashid is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Armstrong slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Rashid is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rashid wants to control the position but Armstrong says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Armstrong not doing much here.
Rashid wants to get back to full guard.
Armstrong controlling the pace.
Armstrong prevents Rashid from improving his position.
Armstrong perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rashid takes one on the button.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Good standup being displayed there by Armstrong as he connects with a hook.
No luck for Armstrong with that takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ajax Armstrong will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rashid walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Rashid ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rashid seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Armstrong throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rashid is looking for a counter combo.
Armstrong shoots in for a double leg but Rashid sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Left hook, right uppercut from Rashid.

Rashid shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rashid showed some decent athleticism there.

Armstrong manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Rashid keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Armstrong breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Armstrong shoots in for a takedown but Rashid shows good takedown defense.

Armstrong tries to keep at a distance but Rashid has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Armstrong has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Rashid regains guard immediately.
Rashid wants to get back to his feet but Armstrong passes into half guard.

Rashid is looking to improve his position.
Rashid keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Armstrong prevents Rashid from improving his position.

Rashid looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Armstrong trying to mount his opponent but Rashid defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rashid actively working from the bottom here.
Rashid is pressing down on Armstrong's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Armstrong is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Armstrong is continuing to stall.

Rashid has his foot on Armstrong's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Armstrong works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rashid is on top in guard.

Armstrong has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Rashid is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Armstrong's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Armstrong moves into range and clinches up with Rashid.
Rashid tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Armstrong avoids it.

Rashid ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rashid no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Armstrong scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Armstrong wants to control from the top but Rashid keeps moving.
Armstrong controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rashid keeping moving, preventing Armstrong from controlling successfully.
Armstrong lands a couple of elbows.
Armstrong is in close to Rashid's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Rashid is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Armstrong sitting in guard here, content to control.
Let's hope that Armstrong has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Rashid is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ajax Armstrong will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Armstrong shoots in for a takedown but Rashid shows good takedown defense.
Rashid keeps the fight on the outside.
Rashid avoids a kick to the body.

Armstrong feints and as Rashid raises his hands in defense, Armstrong changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Rashid manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Armstrong throws a sloppy head kick and Rashid moves out of range easily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rashid.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Rashid working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Rashid goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Armstrong rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Rashid's guard! Nice work there by Armstrong!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong throws a big right hand that misses.
Armstrong won't allow Rashid to get back to his feet.
Rashid trying to keep a closed guard but Armstrong is proving a slippery customer.
Armstrong content to stall in guard here.
Armstrong scoring with some ground and pound.
Armstrong slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Armstrong's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rashid not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Armstrong prevents Rashid from getting back to his feet.
Armstrong not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Armstrong tries to free his leg and advance position but Rashid is retaining full guard.
Armstrong is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Armstrong throws a sloppy head kick

and Rashid counters by moving into the clinch.

Armstrong breaks the clinch.
Armstrong throws a right and a left that Rashid avoids nicely.
Rashid wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Armstrong shoots in looking for a takedown. Rashid tries to sprawl out of it but Armstrong keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rashid manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rashid went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Arslan Rashid is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rashid manages to avoid it.
Rashid tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Armstrong manages to circle out of the way.
Armstrong fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rashid manages to avoid it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Armstrong.
Arslan Rashid has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ajax Armstrong.

Rashid forces Armstrong back against the cage and clinches.

Rashid lands a takedown into guard.
Rashid working some strikes from top position.
Rashid throwing strikes from guard but Armstrong blocks nicely.
Rashid throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Armstrong works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ajax Armstrong is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rashid tries to free his leg and advance position but Armstrong is retaining full guard.
Rashid postures up in Armstrong's guard and throws a big left but Armstrong blocks it.

Rashid has gone for a leg lock! Armstrong slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rashid's guard.

Armstrong's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rashid keeping full guard, as Armstrong tries to pass.
Arslan Rashid has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Armstrong not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Arslan Rashid.
I think Armstrong 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ajax Armstrong!