PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rex Sven (ranked 6106 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ahed Tamimi (ranked 3772 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sven
vs
Tamimi

165 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
25
134 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rex Sven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ahed Tamimi!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sven gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tamimi is trying to pull guard but Sven turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Sven content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Sven breaks from the clinch.
Sven catches Tamimi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Sven closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sven lands in his opponent's guard.
Tamimi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tamimi is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

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

Tamimi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sven works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sven avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Sven looking for a guillotine here but Tamimi defends easily.
Sven keeping moving, preventing Tamimi from controlling successfully.
Tamimi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Sven has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tamimi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Tamimi wants to control from the top but Sven keeps moving.
Tamimi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sven works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

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.
Sven is trying to keep Tamimi in close.
Sven wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sven keeping moving, preventing Tamimi from controlling successfully.
Tamimi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tamimi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sven working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tamimi.
Tamimi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Sven has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tamimi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sven misses with the combination.
Tamimi scores with a jab to the body.
Tamimi throws a body punch but Sven moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tamimi moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tamimi. Sven does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tamimi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tamimi cracks Sven with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

It looks like Rex Sven has been cut.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sven.
Sven uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tamimi.
Tamimi misses with the combination.

Sven looking to score a takedown here. Tamimi is defending well but Sven drives through and ends up in Tamimi's guard.
Tamimi trying to control the position.
Tamimi keeping moving, preventing Sven from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sven avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Tamimi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sven defends well.
Tamimi wants to sweep here but Sven controlling him for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sven accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Tamimi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sven doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sven manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ahed Tamimi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rex Sven's cut.
That's time! Sven's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sven fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tamimi, pushing him back against the cage.
Sven dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Tamimi tries to pull guard but Sven holds him up against the cage and eventually Tamimi drops back down to his feet.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sven turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Tamimi is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Sven off and has taken his back!
Sven wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tamimi somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Tamimi throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Sven covering up well under a series of strikes from Tamimi.
Tamimi thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Sven trying to control the hands but Tamimi won't let him.
I really don't envy Sven right now.
Sven is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tamimi tightening his grip on Sven, looking for the choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sven tries to break free.
Even with his hooks in, Tamimi manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Tamimi. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Tamimi landing with strikes.
Tamimi struggling to land strikes to the head as Sven covers up.
Sven avoids the strikes from Tamimi.
Tamimi lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Tamimi is hanging on to Sven's back as he tries to escape.
Sven wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tamimi throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Sven prevents Tamimi from getting a body triangle.

Tamimi looking to break Sven's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Sven remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Tamimi will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Sven knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tamimi on the ground.

Tamimi is persistently looking for the submission but Sven is defending it well.
Tamimi tries to get the hooks in deep but Sven pushed the leg off.
Sven tries to roll but Tamimi sticks to his back.

Tamimi has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Sven showing good submission defense here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sven is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Tamimi missing with strikes.
Ahed Tamimi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tamimi throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
A lull in the action here.
Sven is trying to stand back up.
Tamimi throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sven is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Sven avoids the strikes from Tamimi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahed Tamimi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rex Sven's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Sven throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tamimi appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Tamimi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tamimi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sven momentarily.
Tamimi lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Sven has managed to clinch.
Sven tries to pull guard but Tamimi won't allow it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sven.

Sven pulls guard effortlessly.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tamimi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Sven had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tamimi defends it easily.

Tamimi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sven has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tamimi has managed to get both his arms back between Sven's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tamimi trying to control but Sven is working from the bottom.
Sven controls Tamimi momentarily but Tamimi frees himself.
Tamimi is looking to work some ground and pound but Sven has wrist control.
Tamimi landing some decent shots from guard.
Tamimi throws a big right hand that misses.
Tamimi is looking to work some ground and pound but Sven has wrist control.
Sven keeping moving, preventing Tamimi from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tamimi is looking to work some ground and pound but Sven has wrist control.
Sven wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Tamimi is now in half guard.
Sven is not content to let Tamimi control the position.
Sven wants to improve his position but Tamimi is controlling well.
Tamimi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sven does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tamimi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sven ducks under a wild hook from Tamimi.
Sven misses with a head kick.
Tamimi throws a lazy right hand but Sven sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sven ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Tamimi tries to keep at a distance but Sven has taken the fight into the clinch.

Sven pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ahed Tamimi seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Sven shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sven showed some decent athleticism there.
Sven is pressing down on Tamimi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Tamimi is holding on for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tamimi manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sven drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Tamimi manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Sven has Tamimi in his guard.

Sven looking to control.
Tamimi wants to control from the top but Sven keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rex Sven has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ahed Tamimi.
I've got Tamimi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ahed Tamimi!
During a confident post fight interview, Ahed Tamimi thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.