PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Peter Strange (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Atif Muhammad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Atif Muhammad is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Strange
vs
Muhammad

170 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
21
245 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Peter Strange!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Atif Muhammad!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Andrew Berry and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Muhammad fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Strange, pushing him back against the cage.

Strange lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Strange could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Strange throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Strange drops an elbow to the side of Muhammad's head.
Strange looks to land a strike but Muhammad avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Muhammad looking for a sweep. Not yet Muhammad, not yet.
Strange throwing strikes but missing.
Strange throwing strikes but missing.
Strange throwing strikes from guard but Muhammad blocks nicely.
Strange throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strange trying to control the position from guard on top but Muhammad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Muhammad looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Strange content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

It looks like Atif Muhammad has been cut.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Strange trying to control but Muhammad is working from the bottom.
Strange throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Muhammad works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strange postures up in Muhammad's guard and throws a big left but Muhammad blocks it.
Strange throwing strikes from guard but Muhammad blocks nicely.
Strange throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Strange prevents Muhammad from getting back to his feet.
Muhammad working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Strange.
Strange throws a big elbow that misses.
Strange is looking to work some ground and pound but Muhammad has wrist control.
Strange is looking to work some ground and pound but Muhammad has wrist control.
Strange working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Strange accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Muhammad pushes Strange off and scrambles back to his feet.
A slow jab from Muhammad misses its intended target.

Muhammad closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strange wants a takedown but no success here.
Muhammad is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Strange is defending well for now.

Muhammad has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Strange uses from the top position.
Strange missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Strange slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Strange throws a big right hand that misses.
Strange working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Muhammad avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Strange has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Muhammad keeping moving, preventing Strange from controlling successfully.

Strange thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Strange trying to control but Muhammad is working from the bottom.
Strange loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muhammad wants to stand but Strange is controlling the position.

Muhammad has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Strange is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Muhammad prevents a takedown attempt there.
Strange is breathing heavily.

Muhammad breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Strange avoids the head kick by Muhammad.
Atif Muhammad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Muhammad moves into the clinch.
Strange wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Peter Strange. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Muhammad breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Strange takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Peter Strange has been cut.

Muhammad moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strange drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Muhammad gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Muhammad breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Muhammad has Strange up against the cage in a clinch.

Muhammad breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Muhammad scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Muhammad lands with a punch from half guard.
Muhammad working the head and body with strikes.
Muhammad is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Muhammad lands a nice short elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Atif Muhammad dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Strange defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Muhammad.
Muhammad scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Muhammad breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Muhammad fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Muhammad closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Muhammad rushes Strange and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Muhammad manages to break the clinch.

Muhammad clinches with his opponent.
Muhammad has had enough of the clinch but Strange keeps him there for the moment.
Muhammad is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Strange has clasped his hands together around Muhammad's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Muhammad defending against the ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Muhammad can do anything to dispel that myth.
The ground and pound from Strange seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strange landing a few strikes.
Muhammad wants to control but Strange postures up.
Strange misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Muhammad bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Muhammad misses with a body kick.
Strange tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Muhammad manages to circle out of the way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muhammad looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Strange is fending him off so far but Muhammad persists. Nope, Strange circles away and we're back to standing.
Peter Strange has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Atif Muhammad.
Muhammad is breathing heavily.
Muhammad changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Strange tries to avoid it but Muhammad manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Strange to the ground. Strange escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Muhammad closes the distance and clinches up with Strange, looking for a takedown. Muhammad pushes Strange against the cage but Strange circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Muhammad fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Strange, pushing him back against the cage.
Strange is trying to drag Muhammad to the mat but Muhammad just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Muhammad is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Muhammad has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A shot in the inside from Muhammad.
Muhammad is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strange drops down looking for an ankle pick but Muhammad pulls his leg out and moves away.
Muhammad throws a series of punches but Strange avoids them all with ease.

Muhammad fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Strange, pushing him back against the cage.

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

A momentary lapse in concentration from Strange enables Muhammad to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Strange manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Muhammad postures up.
Muhammad stopping the sweep attempt from Strange.
Strange is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muhammad wants to stand but Strange is controlling his posture from full guard.
Muhammad slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Muhammad wants to stand but Strange is controlling his posture from full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Muhammad landing some decent shots from guard.
Muhammad sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Atif Muhammad showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Muhammad closes the distance and pushes Strange back into the cage.

Muhammad breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Muhammad misses with a double jab.
Strange appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Muhammad shoots and misses

and Strange decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Muhammad's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strange content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Muhammad wants to sweep here but Strange controlling him for the moment.
Strange working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Strange thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strange stands up over Muhammad, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Atif Muhammad has got the better of the ground game so far.
Strange controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Muhammad managing to control the position.
Strange content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Muhammad takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Strange loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Strange missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Strange postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Muhammad being controlled here, momentarily.
Strange trying to control the position from guard on top but Muhammad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Muhammad throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Strange accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Strange chips away with some ground and pound.
Strange looking to sit in guard and control but Muhammad gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Strange bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Muhammad's guard.

Muhammad kicks Strange off and gets to his feet.

Muhammad has closed the distance and engaged Strange in a clinch.
Atif Muhammad seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Muhammad breaks the clinch.

Muhammad moves into the clinch successfully.
Strange is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Strange drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Muhammad gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strange drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Peter Strange. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Muhammad is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Strange can't fight it off and eventually Muhammad manages to take the fight to the floor. Strange looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Muhammad is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Muhammad cracks Strange with a solid left hand.
Strange keeping moving, preventing Muhammad from controlling successfully.

Muhammad drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Strange dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strange trying to control but Muhammad is working from the bottom.
Muhammad wants to stand up but Strange is controlling him.
Strange might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Muhammad is trying to control the position but Strange postures up.
Strange is looking to work some ground and pound but Muhammad has wrist control.
Muhammad really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Strange. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Muhammad is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Strange defends well.
Strange trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Strange wants to control from the top but Muhammad keeps moving.
Peter Strange has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Atif Muhammad is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Muhammad avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Atif Muhammad comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Muhammad 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Atif Muhammad!