PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Fahad Al Qarni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and How Long (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Al Qarni kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Hells Bells. Long has chosen The Anthem by Onra as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Al Qarni
vs
Long

180 cm
34
187 lbs
26 - 16 - 1

191 cm
40
182 lbs
36 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

King of Clothes

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

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 26 - 16 - 1, fighting out of New York, Fahad Al Qarni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, How Long!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Elvis Blanc and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Al Qarni on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Long is looking to clinch but Al Qarni is avoiding it.
Al Qarni comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Long digs a good hook to Al Qarni's body.
Fahad Al Qarni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Al Qarni throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Al Qarni feints and as Long raises his hands in defense, Al Qarni changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Al Qarni slips nicely into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Long tries to roll over but Al Qarni keeps him under control.
Al Qarni wants to free his trapped foot but Long is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Al Qarni seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Long does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Long is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Al Qarni seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Al Qarni seems to be working for a kimura but Long defends the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Long moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Long working a defensive guard here.
Al Qarni not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Long is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Al Qarni is aware though and is defending well.
Al Qarni stopping the sweep attempt from Long.
Long is still trying to improve position.

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.
Long pulls Al Qarni in close to prevent any damage.
Al Qarni slips nicely into half guard.
Long is trying to maintain the position but Al Qarni is very close to passing his half guard.
Long is trying to get back to full guard.
Long gets back to full guard.
Al Qarni won't allow Long to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Long keeping moving, preventing Al Qarni from controlling successfully.
Al Qarni trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Al Qarni throws a chopping leg kick but Long manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Al Qarni throws a sloppy body shot
and Long connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A jab from Al Qarni misses.
Long misses with a leg kick
and Al Qarni counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Long uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Al Qarni.
Al Qarni misses with the combination.
Al Qarni misses the body punch
and Long counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Long connects with a single shot there.
Long waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Al Qarni.
A slapping leg kick lands for Al Qarni.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Qarni throws a predictable looking body shot
and Long cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Long cracks Al Qarni with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Al Qarni looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Al Qarni connects with a leg kick. Long looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Al Qarni keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Al Qarni closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Long loads up on a big right hand but Al Qarni slips the punch.
Al Qarni takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Long is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Al Qarni takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
How Long is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Long tries to clinch up but Al Qarni circles away and keeps his distance.
A little feinted left hand from Al Qarni on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Al Qarni scores with the left hand. Long knows he should have avoided that one.
Al Qarni swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Long cracks Al Qarni with a right hand to the side of the head.
Al Qarni steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Long.
Long misses with a low kick.
Al Qarni tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Long has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Al Qarni throws a hook to the side of Long's head but Long sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Long swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Al Qarni tries a head kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Fahad Al Qarni will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Long ducks under a wild hook from Al Qarni.
Long tries to score with a low kick but Al Qarni moves his leg out of the way.
Al Qarni sizes up Long with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Long misses with a straight left.
Al Qarni tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Long was well out of range. Poor timing from Al Qarni.
Long throws out a counter right but Al Qarni avoids it with no problem.
Long wants to land a leg kick but Al Qarni is out of range.
How Long seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Al Qarni keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Long.
Long cracks a nice hook into Al Qarni's ribs.
Al Qarni throws a nice inside leg kick.
Long misses with a body kick.
Al Qarni throws a body shot but no joy.
Long tries to counter by closing the distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Qarni thows a left - swing and a miss!
Long scores with a shot to the body.
Long lands a glancing blow to the side of Al Qarni's head.
Long connects with a body shot that sends Al Qarni's belly button to the back.
Al Qarni lands with an overhand left.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Long keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Qarni checks a leg kick nicely.
It looked like Al Qarni was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Long.
A telegraphed right hand from Al Qarni misses the target.
Long jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Al Qarni shoots in looking for a takedown but Long manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Al Qarni's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Long tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Long ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Al Qarni misses the jab.
Al Qarni lands with a cross.
Long tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Al Qarni was well out of range. Poor timing from Long.
Long misses the shot to the body.
Al Qarni misses with a telegraphed body shot
letting Long counter with a right hand.
Long lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Long pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Al Qarni misses with a wild body shot.
Al Qarni avoids a kick to the body.
Al Qarni chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Long can pounce on him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Long throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Al Qarni avoids the body shot from Long.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Long doesn't manage to clinch there - Al Qarni circles away.
Long wants to slow Al Qarni down by chopping away at his legs.
The fighters circling - Al Qarni throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Long uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Al Qarni has time to react.
Al Qarni looks to score with a jab to the body but Long is just out of range.
Al Qarni shoots for a takedown but Long saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Long was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
A big left from Al Qarni misses.
Al Qarni misses with a head kick.
Al Qarni throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Al Qarni lands a right hook to the body.
Al Qarni slips under a jab from Long.
Good standup being displayed there by Al Qarni as he connects with a hook.
Long bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Qarni cracks the inside of Long's front leg.
Long finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Al Qarni throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Al Qarni throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Al Qarni missing with a left hand there. Long was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Long tries to counter with a clinch but Al Qarni shakes him off and moves away.
Long slips a jab from Al Qarni.
Long looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Al Qarni keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Al Qarni. Long does a little dance to reset his feet.
A lazy left from Al Qarni finds it's target.
Long listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Al Qarni takes a jab right on the kisser.
Al Qarni with a hook.
Long ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Al Qarni moves away.
Long connects with a crisp jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Al Qarni misses with a looping left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Long, as that shot connected.
Al Qarni walks into a stiff left hand from Long.
Al Qarni throws the left hand but Long avoids the punch easily.
Long takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Al Qarni is trying hard to land a takedown here. Long sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fahad Al Qarni. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Long throws a jab when Al Qarni was well out of range.
Al Qarni scoring well with a low kick there.
Al Qarni misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Long to counter with a crisp jab.
Long uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Al Qarni.
The fighters circling - Al Qarni throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Al Qarni scores with a decent looking hook.
Long has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Long feints and then cracks Al Qarni's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Al Qarni down.
Long moves out of range of the body kick from Al Qarni.
Long fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Al Qarni looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Long is looking to clinch.
Long throws a hook but Al Qarni avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but How Long will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Long fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A slow jab from Long misses its intended target.
Al Qarni tries to clinch
and Long counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A jab from Long finds it's way through Al Qarni's defenses.

Al Qarni shoots in and bounces Long off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Al Qarni wants to control from the top but Long keeps moving.
Long manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Al Qarni manages to get himself to full guard.

Long is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Al Qarni looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Long advances to half guard.
Al Qarni tries to roll over but Long keeps him under control.
Long is trying to control. Al Qarni wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Long is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Al Qarni tries to roll over but Long keeps him under control.
Long looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Long is looking to take a break and control but Al Qarni is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Long perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Al Qarni is looking for a sweep. Long is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Al Qarni is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Long's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Long's back!

Long has hold of Al Qarni's leg, trying to break free but it's let Al Qarni lock up a rear naked choke! This could be big trouble! Long is turning an unusual color here… he's out! Al Qarni throws him to one side and jumps onto the cage to celebrate with his fans.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Fahad Al Qarni!
Fahad Al Qarni decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
How Long was interviewed post fight and said 'I am impressed by your performance!'.