PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zok Garto (ranked 4556 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ahmed Al Balawi (ranked 3157 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Garto
vs
Al Balawi

180 cm
25
160 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
156 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zok Garto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ahmed Al Balawi!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Santiago Holmes and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Al Balawi.
A little feinted left hand from Garto on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ahmed Al Balawi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Al Balawi lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

It looks like Zok Garto has been cut.
Al Balawi throws a push kick but Garto slaps the foot to one side.
Al Balawi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Garto sprawls well. Garto wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Al Balawi gets slowly back to his feet.
Al Balawi misses with a takedown

and Garto moves into the clinch.
Garto is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Al Balawi is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Balawi stops a takedown attempt from Garto.
Garto is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Garto jumps into guard, dragging Al Balawi to the mat.
Garto keeping moving, preventing Al Balawi from controlling successfully.
Garto trying to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Balawi tries to stand but Garto is controlling from the bottom.
Garto seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Garto is pulling down on Al Balawi's head. It's preventing any offense from Al Balawi, at least for the moment.

Garto looking for a guillotine here but Al Balawi defends easily.
Al Balawi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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.
Al Balawi would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Garto pulls Al Balawi in to control the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Garto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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

Garto takes the fight into the clinch.
Al Balawi tries for a takedown but Garto manages to get underhooks.
Zok Garto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ahmed Al Balawi.
Al Balawi is pressed up against the cage. Garto has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Al Balawi down to the mat. Al Balawi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Al Balawi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Garto avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Al Balawi or perhaps it was just good defense by Garto, which made it look bad.
Al Balawi fails with the takedown.

Garto is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Al Balawi's half guard.
Al Balawi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Garto.

Garto looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Garto is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garto trying to control from half guard but Al Balawi is working away.
Garto seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Al Balawi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Garto.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zok Garto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zok Garto'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.

Al Balawi fails with a takedown attempt.
Al Balawi fails to land the takedown.
Garto is looking for a counter combo.
Al Balawi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Al Balawi tries to clinch there but Garto circles away.
Garto thinks about countering with a head kick.
Garto goes for a double leg but Al Balawi avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Al Balawi continues to drive forward.
Al Balawi is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Garto with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Garto.
Al Balawi is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zok Garto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Garto displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Al Balawi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garto leaves Al Balawi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Garto was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Garto has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Garto.
Al Balawi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Garto shoots in for a takedown but Al Balawi shows good takedown defense.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Al Balawi.
Al Balawi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Garto sprawls well. Garto wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Al Balawi gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garto fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Garto rushes Al Balawi and presses him up against the cage.
Garto prevents a takedown attempt there.
Garto tries to pull guard but Al Balawi holds him up against the cage and eventually Garto drops back down to his feet.
Al Balawi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Al Balawi has Garto pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Garto manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Garto is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Al Balawi is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Balawi swings wildly with an uppercut but Garto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Garto goes for a takedown in the clinch but Al Balawi prevents it.
Garto on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Al Balawi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Garto.
Garto missing with knees to the body.
Garto jumps guard but Al Balawi turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Al Balawi tries to pull guard but Garto holds him up against the cage and eventually Al Balawi drops back down to his feet.
Al Balawi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Garto is trying to drag Al Balawi to the mat but Al Balawi just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Garto is looking for a takedown.
Garto is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Al Balawi to keep the fight standing.
Al Balawi goes for a takedown attempt but Garto pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Al Balawi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Garto moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Garto blocks the body kick.
Garto shoots in looking for a takedown but Al Balawi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Garto's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Garto tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Al Balawi swivels and escapes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Al Balawi.
Al Balawi doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Garto counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Garto.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmed Al Balawi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Zok Garto's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Al Balawi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Garto throwing a counter right hand but Al Balawi manages to avoid it.
Al Balawi misses with a few strikes there.
Al Balawi is looking to clinch.
Garto attempts a counter takedown but Al Balawi avoids it well and moves away.

Garto instigates a clinch.
Garto tries for a takedown. No joy.
Al Balawi prevents the takedown attempt.
Garto is trying to pull guard but Al Balawi has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zok Garto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Garto tries to land a knee to the head but Al Balawi blocks with his arms.
Garto jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Al Balawi walks away with a smile on his face. Garto gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Balawi misses with a takedown attempt - Garto sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Garto went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Garto has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garto tries to pull guard but Al Balawi won't allow it.
Al Balawi gets underhooks to prevent Garto's takedown attempt.

Garto tightens his grip and picks Al Balawi up, before dumping him to the ground. Al Balawi manages to land in guard.
Garto not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Garto stopping the sweep attempt from Al Balawi.
Garto with a flurry of punches that miss.
Garto is stalling in the full guard.
Al Balawi 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.

Garto drops back, looking for a kneebar! Al Balawi looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Al Balawi looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Al Balawi!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garto is not content to let Al Balawi control the position.
Al Balawi tries to stand but Garto is controlling his head.
Garto tries to escape but Al Balawi is in control.
The ground and pound from Al Balawi seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Al Balawi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Garto is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Al Balawi's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Garto desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Al Balawi prevents Garto from standing back up.

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.
Garto moves into full guard.
Al Balawi won't allow Garto to get back to his feet.

Garto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Al Balawi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Al Balawi throwing strikes from guard but Garto blocks nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Al Balawi postures up.

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 Zok Garto.
I think Garto 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Zok Garto!