PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Elias Al Haddad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phoenix Templar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Al Haddad
vs
Templar

174 cm
33
163 lbs
18 - 19 - 2

173 cm
28
167 lbs
11 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 19 - 2, fighting out of New York, Elias Al Haddad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 1, fighting out of London, Phoenix Templar!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Al Haddad slaps away a takedown attempt from Templar, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Al Haddad swinging wildly here.
Al Haddad with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Templar to score with a decent uppercut.

Al Haddad closes the distance and clinches.
Al Haddad lands a hook that snaps the head of Templar backwards.
Templar drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Al Haddad gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Al Haddad misses with a punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Haddad digs a right hand underneath Templar's ribcage. Templar let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Templar has Al Haddad pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Al Haddad manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Elias Al Haddad has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phoenix Templar.
Al Haddad can't find room to land a body shot as Templar controls the action.
Templar can't get the takedown.
Templar goes for a takedown attempt but Al Haddad pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Templar has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Al Haddad is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Templar on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Elias Al Haddad is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Haddad clobbers Templar with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A left and a right from Al Haddad both land. Nice combination.
Al Haddad fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Templar manages to avoid it.
Al Haddad clobbers Templar with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Al Haddad misses with the combination.
Templar blocks a jab.
Templar shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Templar tries to clinch up but Al Haddad circles away and keeps his distance.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Templar.

Al Haddad throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Al Haddad misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Templar takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Elias Al Haddad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Al Haddad throws a body shot but no joy.
Templar fails in his attempt to clinch.
Templar dives in and grabs Al Haddad's left leg, looking for a takedown. Al Haddad pushes down on Templar's head and hops out.
Templar takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Al Haddad throws a combination. Templar tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Al Haddad has Templar up against the cage in a clinch.
Templar drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice body punch from Al Haddad - that landed with a thud.
Al Haddad's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Al Haddad throws a punch but it's blocked by Templar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Al Haddad.
Al Haddad lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Al Haddad misses with a punch to the body.
Al Haddad prevents a takedown attempt there.
Al Haddad throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Templar blocks it with crossed arms.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Al Haddad creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Templar changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Al Haddad fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Al Haddad clinches with his opponent.
Al Haddad prevents the takedown attempt.
Templar goes for a takedown attempt but Al Haddad pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Al Haddad cracks Templar with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Al Haddad as he connects with a hook.
Al Haddad jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Al Haddad misses with a jab, cross combination.
Al Haddad swinging wildly here.
Al Haddad circles away from the clinch attempt.
Al Haddad waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Templar.
Nice body punch from Al Haddad.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Al Haddad throws a jab when Templar was well out of range.
Templar closes the distance and clinches up with Al Haddad, looking for a takedown. Templar pushes Al Haddad against the cage but Al Haddad circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Al Haddad dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Templar takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Al Haddad is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Templar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elias Al Haddad dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Templar shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Templar closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Al Haddad quickly recovers to half guard.
Templar trying to control from half guard but Al Haddad is working away.
Al Haddad wants to control but Templar is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Templar is trying to work for a kimura but Al Haddad is defending well.
Al Haddad is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Templar can do to turn this around?

Templar seems to be looking for submissions.

Templar seems to be working for a kimura but Al Haddad defends the submission attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Templar is trying to work for a kimura but Al Haddad is defending well.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Al Haddad makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Haddad misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Templar.
A swing and a miss from Al Haddad.
Templar tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Al Haddad swivels and escapes.
Nice uppercut lands for Al Haddad. That snapped Templar's head back.
Al Haddad lands a nice shot that snaps Templar's head back.
Al Haddad just misses with a punch to the body.

Al Haddad closes the distance and clinches.
Al Haddad prevents the takedown attempt.
Al Haddad lands a hook that snaps the head of Templar backwards.
Templar changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Al Haddad fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Elias Al Haddad has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phoenix Templar.

Al Haddad closes the distance and pushes Templar back into the cage.
Templar tries for a takedown but Al Haddad manages to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Templar is working for takedown but Al Haddad is calmly controlling the position for now.
Al Haddad gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Templar.
Templar goes for a takedown attempt but Al Haddad pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Templar fails to land the takedown.

Al Haddad gets caught flat footed, as Templar shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Al Haddad looking for a sweep. Not yet Al Haddad, not yet.
Templar trying to control the position from guard on top but Al Haddad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Templar won't allow Al Haddad to sweep him here.
Templar postures up.

Templar is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Elias Al Haddad overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Al Haddad is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Haddad working a defensive guard but Templar passes into half guard.
Templar is thwarting Al Haddad's attempts to control the position.
Al Haddad tries to kick Templar off but Templar keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Al Haddad trying to control but Templar postures up.

Templar is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Al Haddad sees it coming and defends easily.
Al Haddad gets back to full guard.
Al Haddad wants to get back to his feet but Templar is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Templar thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Al Haddad trying to keep a closed guard but Templar is proving a slippery customer.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Templar won't allow Al Haddad to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Templar tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Al Haddad swivels and escapes.
Elias Al Haddad is winning the standup battle so far.
Templar moves out of range of the strikes.
Templar tries for a takedown but Al Haddad circles away easily

and Al Haddad counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Al Haddad slowing the pace effectively.
Templar drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The referee calls for Al Haddad to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elias Al Haddad dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Al Haddad throws a series of strikes that have Templar backpedaling.
Al Haddad throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Templar looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Templar takes one to the side of the head.
A shot to the body from Al Haddad misses
and Templar connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Al Haddad misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Templar.

Al Haddad has closed the distance and engaged Templar in a clinch.
Templar changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Al Haddad fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Al Haddad jabs Templar right on the nose. Templar blinks but takes it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Templar tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Al Haddad swivels and escapes.
Elias Al Haddad is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Al Haddad ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Templar moves away.

Templar tries to keep at a distance but Al Haddad has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Templar turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Al Haddad throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Al Haddad throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Templar stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Templar fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Elias Al Haddad has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phoenix Templar.
Decent striking displayed by Al Haddad there.

Al Haddad moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Al Haddad stops a takedown attempt from Templar.
Al Haddad throws a head punch that misses.
Templar has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Al Haddad is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Templar has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Al Haddad is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Templar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Al Haddad.
Elias Al Haddad has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Al Haddad lands with a short shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Al Haddad to work.
Al Haddad scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Templar being controlled against the cage.
Templar is looking to take this one to the mat.
Al Haddad lands with a short shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Templar can't get the takedown.
Al Haddad prevents a takedown attempt there.
Al Haddad fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Templar being controlled against the cage.
Al Haddad pushes Templar back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Templar is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Al Haddad is defending well.
Al Haddad working aggressively here.
Al Haddad scores with a shot to the side of Templar's head.

Templar is rocked!
Templar is trying to drag Al Haddad to the mat but Al Haddad just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Templar is still on wobbly legs! Can Al Haddad finish him?

Al Haddad breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Templar walks into a straight right hand from Al Haddad.
Templar gets clipped by a big right hand and goes down spinning to the canvas! Al Haddad gets the back mount and begins to drop bombs on his rocked foe! Templar is too out of it to defend against the strikes and the referee jumps in to save him from the beatdown!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Elias Al Haddad!
Elias Al Haddad thanked the fans post fight for their support.