PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lucas Armstrong (ranked 7640 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mohamed Walal (ranked 4617 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Armstrong
vs
Walal

180 cm
18
209 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

182 cm
25
215 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lucas Armstrong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mohamed Walal!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Daniel Franklin and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Armstrong throws a sloppy head kick and Walal moves out of range easily.

Walal forces Armstrong back against the cage and clinches.
Armstrong lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Walal is trying to pull guard but Armstrong turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Walal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Armstrong is defending well for now.
A short uppercut from Walal.

It looks like Lucas Armstrong has been cut.
Armstrong misses with a hook from the clinch.
Armstrong landing knees to the head.

Walal lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Walal keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Walal decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Armstrong slips under a jab from Walal.
And Armstrong counters with a quick kick to the body but Walal blocks it.
Walal misses with a lunging right hand
and Armstrong counters with a nice uppercut.
Armstrong tries to clinch up but Walal circles away and keeps his distance.

Walal gets a double leg takedown into Armstrong's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walal is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Walal decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Walal clinches.
Armstrong gets through Walal's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Walal drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Armstrong cracks Walal with a nice body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Armstrong.
Armstrong with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Walal content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Walal is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Armstrong can't fight it off and eventually Walal manages to take the fight to the floor. Armstrong looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Walal is standing up over Armstrong. Armstrong looks to escape but Walal dives into side control.

Walal taking a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Walal decides to stand back up. Walal steps back and let's Armstrong get back to his feet.
Mohamed Walal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Armstrong wants to clinch up but Walal keeps it at a distance.
Walal changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Armstrong tries to avoid it but Walal manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Armstrong to the ground. Armstrong escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
As Walal tries to get set, Armstrong tries to push him back and clinch up but Walal manages to avoid the attempt.
Lucas Armstrong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mohamed Walal.
Walal shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Armstrong but Armstrong pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Armstrong looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Armstrong wants to clinch up but Walal keeps it at a distance.
Walal shoots in but no luck this time.
Walal closes the distance and clinches up with Armstrong, looking for a takedown. Walal pushes Armstrong against the cage but Armstrong circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Walal shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Armstrong's guard.
Walal looks winded!
Walal sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Armstrong knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Walal on the ground.
Walal prevents Armstrong from getting back to his feet.
Walal content to stall in guard here.
Armstrong wants to get back to his feet but Walal is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mohamed Walal will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lucas Armstrong's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Walal tries to keep at a distance but Armstrong has taken the fight into the clinch.
Armstrong prevents Walal from breaking the clinch.
Walal avoiding damage as Armstrong throws knees to the body.
Armstrong could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Armstrong misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Armstrong lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Armstrong misses with a knee strike.
Walal blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lucas Armstrong has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Nice body punch from Armstrong.
Walal changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Armstrong fights it off and pushes away nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Walal rushes Armstrong and presses him up against the cage.
Walal tries to land knees in the clinch but Armstrong avoids the damage to the body.
Walal blocks the elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Walal is defending well for now.
Armstrong lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Armstrong tries a body shot but Walal blocks it.
Walal can't break the clinch.
Walal is working for takedown but Armstrong is calmly controlling the position for now.
Walal is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Armstrong to keep the fight standing.
Lucas Armstrong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mohamed Walal.
Walal avoiding damage as Armstrong throws knees to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Armstrong.
Armstrong doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Walal tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Armstrong's elbow.
Walal avoids the elbow strike from Armstrong, against the cage.
Armstrong tries to throw a body punch but Walal avoids it by throwing Armstrong back against the cage.
Armstrong misses with a punch to the body.
Armstrong tries to throw a body punch but Walal avoids it by throwing Armstrong back against the cage.
Walal doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Armstrong tries to throw a body punch but Walal avoids it by throwing Armstrong back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Walal wants the takedown. Armstrong is fighting it off but Walal persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Armstrong's guard against the cage.
Walal is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Walal throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Armstrong works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Walal trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Walal engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Walal pushes down on Armstrong's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Walal perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Armstrong looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Walal rushes Armstrong and presses him up against the cage.

That's four 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.

Walal gets control of Armstrong's arms and successfully pulls guard. Walal will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Walal has his hands on Armstrong's head, controlling the position.
Walal is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Armstrong has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Armstrong slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Walal.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Walal wants to get back to full guard.
Walal works his way to full guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lucas Armstrong will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lucas Armstrong's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Walal gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Armstrong lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short right from Armstrong.
Armstrong misses with a knee to the head.

Walal gets control of Armstrong's arms and successfully pulls guard. Walal will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Walal managing to control the position.
Armstrong would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walal is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Walal lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walal controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Walal wants to pass the guard but Armstrong is keeping the position.
Mohamed Walal has got the better of the ground game so far.
Walal is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Armstrong is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Walal stands and throws Armstrong's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Walal controlling the position from side mount.
Walal is continuing to stall.
Armstrong is pushing Walal's head away, looking to escape. Walal manages to hold on to the position though.
Armstrong taking a bit of punishment here - Walal scoring with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walal in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Armstrong is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

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

Armstrong gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Walal content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong is wriggling around but Walal manages to pass to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Walal looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mohamed Walal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Walal has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mohamed Walal!