PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Freddie Mercury (ranked 2438 p4p, 124 weight class) and Kassim Suluhu (ranked 2305 p4p, 117 weight class). Mercury comes to the cage accompanied by Imperial March (L.O.D. Rage Mix). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mercury
vs
Suluhu

170 cm
21
135 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

165 cm
23
145 lbs
5 - 7 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Freddie Mercury!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kassim Suluhu!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Atkins and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Suluhu avoids the head kick by Mercury.
Suluhu shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mercury as he jumps to the side.
Mercury uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Suluhu.
Suluhu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mercury.
Suluhu will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mercury lets loose with a powerful body kick. Suluhu will feel that in the morning.

Suluhu scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Suluhu decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Mercury throws a nice head kick!
Suluhu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mercury avoids it really well and circles away.
Mercury is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Freddie Mercury has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kassim Suluhu.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A combination from Mercury does no damage.

Suluhu dives in and scores a takedown into Mercury's guard.
Suluhu is standing up over Mercury. Mercury looks to escape but Suluhu dives into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mercury wants to get back to his feet but Suluhu drags him back down.

Suluhu decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Suluhu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mercury was well out of range. Poor timing from Suluhu.
Mercury lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Mercury.
Suluhu throws a wild body kick that Mercury sees coming a mile off.
Mercury throws a combination that misses
and Suluhu counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Suluhu avoids the head kick by Mercury.
Mercury connects with a leg kick. Suluhu looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A head kick misses from Mercury.
Suluhu shoots in and drives through. Mercury sprawls well.
Mercury tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Suluhu avoids a punch combination nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Suluhu looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Suluhu closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mercury to the mat! Mercury manages to get full guard.
Suluhu stays in close to Mercury's body and controls the position.
Suluhu loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Suluhu working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mercury's head.
Suluhu 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.
Suluhu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercury utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mercury utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mercury wants to stand up but Suluhu is controlling him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Suluhu shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mercury pinned against the cage. Mercury gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mercury avoids the body shot from Suluhu.
Mercury fails to land with a series of punches.
Suluhu misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mercury closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Mercury tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Suluhu was well out of range. Poor timing from Mercury.
Mercury tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Mercury.

Suluhu is rocked!
Mercury misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Suluhu is still on wobbly legs! Can Mercury finish him?
Mercury throws a low kick but Suluhu avoids it.
Suluhu doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Suluhu seems to have recovered his senses.
Suluhu darts in looking for a takedown but Mercury gets double underhooks and turns Suluhu into the cage.

Suluhu gets the takedown into side control.
Mercury bucks up and tries to throw Suluhu off but instead Suluhu has got his back!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Suluhu is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Suluhu missing with punches from the back.
Mercury has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Suluhu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Freddie Mercury dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Suluhu shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A low kick from Suluhu is predictable there
and Mercury counters with a left and a right that stings Suluhu.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Mercury throws a combination. Suluhu tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Mercury uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Suluhu.
Suluhu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mercury manages to avoid it.
Mercury scores with a kick to the body.
Suluhu misses with a takedown attempt - Mercury sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Suluhu wants to land a leg kick but Mercury is out of range.
Suluhu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mercury.
Mercury fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Suluhu misses with an attempted mid kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mercury on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Mercury throws a head kick that misses

so Suluhu counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suluhu controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Mercury wants to get back to his feet but Suluhu is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Suluhu has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mercury avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Suluhu tries to free his leg and advance position but Mercury is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Suluhu is looking to work some ground and pound but Mercury has wrist control.
Mercury is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Suluhu can do to turn this around?
Suluhu is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Suluhu trying to control the position from guard on top but Mercury is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Suluhu throws a lazy right hand but Mercury sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mercury tried to counter with a leg kick but Suluhu avoided it.
Suluhu throws a leg kick but Mercury checks it.
A head kick misses from Mercury.

Mercury gets caught flat footed, as Suluhu shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Suluhu wants to pass the guard but Mercury is keeping the position.
Suluhu throwing strikes from guard but Mercury blocks nicely.
Mercury avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Suluhu sitting in guard here, content to control.
Suluhu trying to control but Mercury is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suluhu throws a big elbow that misses.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Kassim Suluhu has got the better of the ground game so far.
Suluhu throwing strikes but missing.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Suluhu shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mercury's guard.
Mercury is wriggling around but Suluhu manages to pass to half guard.

Mercury avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Suluhu.
Suluhu is trying to control. Mercury wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Suluhu working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Suluhu missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Suluhu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Suluhu stands up and beckons Mercury to join him on the feet.
Freddie Mercury seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Suluhu fails to land the takedown.
Freddie Mercury has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kassim Suluhu.
Mercury takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A head kick misses from Mercury.
Mercury throws a push kick but Suluhu slaps the foot to one side.
Suluhu misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mercury appears to be looking for a big counter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kassim Suluhu will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Mercury thuds his shin into the meat of Suluhu's side.
Freddie Mercury is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Suluhu tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Mercury is able to avoid easily.
Mercury tests Suluhu's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Suluhu misses with an attempted mid kick.
Suluhu tries to land a front kick but Mercury steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Suluhu looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mercury moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Oooooh!!! Mercury has knocked Suluhu down with a huge combo! Mercury steps away and waves a wobbly Suluhu back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mercury throws a body kick that misses.
Suluhu looks for a takedown but Mercury sprawls well.
Mercury swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Mercury misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suluhu misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Freddie Mercury has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kassim Suluhu.
Mercury throws a sloppy head kick and Suluhu moves out of range easily.
Mercury misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Good shot there by Mercury.
Mercury will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mercury lands a head kick. Suluhu smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Suluhu blocks a leg kick.
Mercury throws a right hand that Suluhu ducks under and follows up with a left that Suluhu also avoids with ease.
Suluhu is trying to counter with his kicks.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Suluhu lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Mercury has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Mercury and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Mercury tries to bum rush Suluhu with a series of wild strikes but Suluhu uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Suluhu is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Mercury lands with a hook. Suluhu tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Suluhu looks for the body kick but Mercury saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercury keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Suluhu lands a nice shot to the body.
Suluhu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mercury.
Suluhu changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Suluhu throws a wild body kick that Mercury sees coming a mile off.
Mercury misses with a body kick.

Suluhu drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

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

Mercury breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mercury fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Suluhu misses with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suluhu shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mercury looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Suluhu is trying to counter with his kicks.
Mercury swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Suluhu tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mercury swivels and escapes.
Mercury tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Freddie Mercury is winning the standup battle so far.
Mercury plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Suluhu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mercury.
Suluhu with the counter takedown but Mercury avoids it easily.
Suluhu scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Mercury takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Mercury throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Suluhu throws the kick towards the body but Mercury avoids it.
Mercury falls off balance throwing a combination
and Suluhu counters with a nice body shot.
Suluhu lands a nice looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Suluhu feints and then cracks Mercury's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Mercury down.
Suluhu throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Mercury on the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice takedown defense from Mercury. No joy for Suluhu on that attempt.
Mercury throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Suluhu.
Mercury scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Suluhu doesn't seem bothered though.
Suluhu takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
No luck for Suluhu with that takedown attempt.

Suluhu closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Mercury did well to prevent Suluhu getting side control.
Suluhu throwing shots but Mercury is blocking nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mercury is trying to stand up here but Suluhu is controlling him well.
Suluhu wants to control but Mercury is keeping him busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Freddie Mercury showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mercury 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Freddie Mercury!
Freddie Mercury was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.