PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jim Duggan (ranked 1361 p4p, 158 weight class) and Haider Ali (ranked 1786 p4p, 214 weight class). Duggan comes into the arena with Five Finger Death Punch- Bad Company blaring out of the sound system. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Duggan
vs
Ali

200 cm
23
250 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

195 cm
23
257 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Sportivité

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jim Duggan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Haider Ali!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ali moves in looking to clinch but Duggan pushes him off.
Haider Ali seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ali closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ali lands a right hand that snaps the head of Duggan backwards.
Duggan goes for a takedown attempt but Ali pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ali tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Duggan lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Ali tries to clinch up.
A little feinted left hand from Duggan on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ali is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Duggan definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Duggan lands with a nice body punch.
Ali tries to close the distance and clinch up but Duggan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Duggan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like Haider Ali has been cut.
Duggan keeps the fight on the outside.
Ali fails with an attempt to clinch.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Ali.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duggan pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ali is out of range and Duggan settles back down.
Haider Ali is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ali tries to clinch but Duggan is having none of it.
Duggan tried to counter with a leg kick but Ali avoided it.
Duggan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ali tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Duggan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ali closes the distance looking to clinch
and Duggan counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ali thinking.
A slapping body kick lands there for Duggan.
Duggan lands with a right hand.
Duggan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ali loads up on a big right hand but Duggan slips the punch.
Duggan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ali tries to clinch up.

Ali rushes Duggan and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ali misses with some punches.
Ali working aggressively here.
Ali misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Duggan creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Duggan blocks an uppercut.
Ali misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Ali fails to land.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Duggan misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Duggan tries for a takedown but Ali manages to get underhooks.
Duggan misses with a short punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Ali.
Nice body punch from Ali - that landed with a thud.
Ali throws a punch but it's blocked by Duggan.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Duggan.
Duggan lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Ali fails to land.
Duggan has a couple of punches blocked by Ali.
Duggan lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ali backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Duggan.
Ali blocking some punches.
Ali is pressed up against the cage. Duggan has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ali down to the mat. Ali avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jim Duggan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ali tries to close the distance and clinch but Duggan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Duggan shoots in for a takedown but Ali shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duggan is looking to slow Ali down with leg kicks.
Duggan lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Ali closes the distance looking to clinch
and Duggan counters with a good low kick that Ali was not able to check.
Ali tries to clinch up.
A little feinted left hand from Duggan on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Duggan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ali checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Ali let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Ali closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Duggan counter with a right hand.
Duggan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ali is looking to clinch but Duggan is avoiding it.
A quick step to the side and Duggan tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

Ali gets caught napping as Duggan dives in and scores a takedown. Ali manages to retain guard.
Duggan with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duggan throwing strikes from guard but Ali blocks nicely.
Ali is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Duggan throwing strikes but missing.
Ali pulls Duggan in to control the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Duggan's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Duggan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Haider Ali's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Duggan connects with a right hand. Ali shakes it off.
Ali uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Duggan.

Ali gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ali throws a punch but it's blocked by Duggan.
Duggan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Duggan lands a left hand.
A head punch on the inside from Ali fails to land.
Ali misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ali throws a punch but it's blocked by Duggan.
Duggan lands with a right to the head.
Ali tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Ali fails to land.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ali.
Ali throws a punch but it's blocked by Duggan.
Duggan tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ali's elbow.
Duggan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ali can do to turn this around?
Duggan working aggressively here.
A right handed body shot lands from Ali.
A right handed body shot lands from Ali.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Duggan is looking to break free of the clinch but Ali has double underhooks.
Duggan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali throws a punch but it's blocked by Duggan.
Still in the clinch, Duggan scores with a nice short uppercut.
Duggan has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ali is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ali lands a body punch in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ali lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Duggan.
Ali lands a right hand that snaps the head of Duggan backwards.
Ali throws a punch but it's blocked by Duggan.
Duggan throws a head punch that misses.
Ali working aggressively here.
Duggan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ali misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ali swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ali lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ali lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Duggan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ali rushes Duggan and presses him up against the cage.
Ali gets through Duggan's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ali lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ali swings wildly with an uppercut but Duggan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Still in the clinch, Duggan scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ali has Duggan pressed against the cage, preventing Duggan from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ali lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Duggan misses with some punches.
Haider Ali seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ali has a couple of punches blocked by Duggan.
Duggan blocks an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ali.
Ali blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ali.

Duggan gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Ali regains guard.
Ali pulls Duggan in close to prevent any damage.
Duggan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ali works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ali looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duggan throws a strike but Ali rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ali must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Duggan looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ali passes into half guard.
Ali is looking to advance position but Duggan won't allow it.
Ali with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Duggan preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Ali is thwarting Duggan's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali content to control rather than advance.
Duggan is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haider Ali showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Haider Ali's cut.
That's time! Duggan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Duggan walks into a straight right hand from Ali.

It looks like Jim Duggan has been cut.
Ali has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Duggan swings for the body but Ali moves out of range.
Duggan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ali looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ali cracks Duggan with a right hand to the side of the head.
Ali tries to clinch
letting Duggan counter with a right hand.
Duggan jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Ali tries to clinch but Duggan is having none of it.
Ali fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali scores with a hook to the body. Duggan takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Ali closes the distance and clinches.
Duggan lands a right hand.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ali.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Duggan lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duggan tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ali's elbow.
Ali lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Duggan backwards.
Ali throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Duggans head.
Ali throws a head punch that misses.
Ali fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ali tries to throw a body punch but Duggan avoids it by throwing Ali back against the cage.
Duggan is struggling to control the position.
Duggan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Duggan blocking some punches.
Duggan leaning against his opponent.
Ali blocks an uppercut.
Duggan blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Duggan breaks from the clinch.
Ali thows a left - swing and a miss!
Duggan half committed to a counter leg kick.
Ali tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Duggan counters with a nice uppercut.
Ali fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ali wants to clinch
and Duggan counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ali has Duggan up against the cage in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Duggan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ali struggles to land a body shot inside as Duggan controls his hands.
Ali swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ali throws a punch but it's blocked by Duggan.
Duggan tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ali's elbow.
A right handed body shot lands from Duggan.
Ali misses with a punch on the inside.
Duggan lands an uppercut.
Duggan misses with a body punch.
Ali misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ali tries to work over Duggan's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Duggan lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ali backwards.

Duggan breaks the clinch.
Ali tries to clinch there but Duggan circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duggan lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Duggan keeps the fight on the outside.
Duggan feinted with a counter takedown.
Duggan keeps the fight on the outside.
Duggan tried to counter with a leg kick but Ali avoided it.
Duggan misses with a low kick.
Ali moves in looking to clinch but Duggan pushes him off.

Ali gets a clinch.
Duggan blocking some punches.
Ali misses with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ali.
Duggan struggles to land a body shot inside as Ali controls his hands.
Ali misses with a punch on the inside.
Ali misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Ali fails to land.
Duggan lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ali backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Duggan.
Duggan blocking some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Duggan lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ali misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Duggan misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Duggan fails to land.
Ali gets underhooks to prevent Duggan's takedown attempt.
Ali misses with a punch on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Duggan misses with the head strike.
Duggan lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ali backwards.
Still in the clinch, Duggan scores with a nice short uppercut.
Duggan lands a nice shot to the body.
Ali takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Duggan.
Duggan softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Duggan working aggressively here.
Duggan blocking some punches.
Ali takes a shot to the head.
Ali swings wildly with an uppercut but Duggan uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short left from Duggan.

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 Jim Duggan.
I think Duggan has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jim Duggan!
After winning the bout, Jim Duggan thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.