PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Adrian Meneghetti (ranked 4121 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khaled Al Khuzeem (ranked 4636 p4p, 0 weight class). Adrian Meneghetti could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Khaled Al Khuzeem's chin.

Meneghetti
vs
Al Khuzeem

182 cm
25
156 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

178 cm
25
157 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Adrian Meneghetti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Khaled Al Khuzeem!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Sandra Marshall and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Meneghetti tries to close the distance and clinch but Al Khuzeem swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A left and a right from Meneghetti both land. Nice combination.
Al Khuzeem keeps the fight on the outside.
Meneghetti's jab looks to have found its range, popping Al Khuzeem under the eye.
Meneghetti swinging wildly here.
Al Khuzeem steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Meneghetti.
Al Khuzeem fails to land with a series of punches.
Meneghetti has his takedown stuffed

and Al Khuzeem counters by clinching up.
Meneghetti is trying to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Meneghetti working hard to break the clinch.

Al Khuzeem turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Al Khuzeem manages to end up in side control.
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!
Al Khuzeem is working Meneghetti over with some ground and pound from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Meneghetti is trying to control Al Khuzeem's posture but Al Khuzeem avoids it.
Al Khuzeem really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Meneghetti. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meneghetti is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Meneghetti has hold of Al Khuzeem's hands but Al Khuzeem slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Al Khuzeem decides to stand and escape the position.
Al Khuzeem lands a leg kick that knocks Meneghetti off balance momentarily.

Al Khuzeem closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Meneghetti to the mat! Meneghetti manages to get full guard.
Al Khuzeem is standing up over Meneghetti. Meneghetti looks to escape but Al Khuzeem dives into side control.

Meneghetti manages to work his way to half guard, despite Al Khuzeem's best efforts.
Meneghetti avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Al Khuzeem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meneghetti is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Al Khuzeem scores with a couple of nice shots.
Al Khuzeem lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Al Khuzeem sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Meneghetti defending well though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Meneghetti is defending against the submission attempts here by Al Khuzeem.
Meneghetti is looking to control Al Khuzeem's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Meneghetti avoid being mounted?
Meneghetti wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Al Khuzeem seems to be working for a kimura but Meneghetti defends the submission attempt.
Al Khuzeem tries to pass the half guard into mount. Meneghetti knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Al Khuzeem wants to take a breather but Meneghetti is having none of it.
Al Khuzeem landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ground and pound from Al Khuzeem.
Meneghetti is pressing down on Al Khuzeem's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Meneghetti is trying to hold Al Khuzeem in close to prevent damage but Al Khuzeem has managed to pass into half guard.
Meneghetti regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meneghetti trying to keep a closed guard but Al Khuzeem is proving a slippery customer.
Meneghetti keeping full guard, as Al Khuzeem tries to pass.
Meneghetti looking for a sweep. Not yet Meneghetti, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Al Khuzeem wants to stand but Meneghetti has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Al Khuzeem tries to free his leg and advance position but Meneghetti is retaining full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khaled Al Khuzeem dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Al Khuzeem looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Al Khuzeem blocks the strikes from Meneghetti.
Al Khuzeem lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Meneghetti is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Al Khuzeem scores with a couple of nice shots.
Meneghetti is trying to control but can't.
Al Khuzeem lands with a punch from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Meneghetti has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Al Khuzeem is on him like a limpet, forcing Meneghetti back against the cage.
Meneghetti is pressed up against the cage. Al Khuzeem has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Meneghetti down to the mat. Meneghetti avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Al Khuzeem moves into the clinch.
Meneghetti tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Al Khuzeem avoids it.
Meneghetti is trying to stall.
Meneghetti is looking to break free of the clinch but Al Khuzeem has double underhooks.
Al Khuzeem working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Meneghetti's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Meneghetti fails to pull guard.

Al Khuzeem works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Meneghetti throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Meneghetti is looking to stand up but Al Khuzeem isn't so interested in that idea.
Al Khuzeem makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Al Khuzeem has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meneghetti working a defensive guard here.
Al Khuzeem working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Al Khuzeem with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Al Khuzeem connects with a couple of short punches.
Meneghetti tries to strike from the bottom.
Al Khuzeem wanted to stand there but Meneghetti had control of the position.
Al Khuzeem stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Meneghetti swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Al Khuzeem trying to control the position from guard on top but Meneghetti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meneghetti is trying to control the position but Al Khuzeem postures up.
Al Khuzeem postures up and lands a big shot to Meneghetti's brow.
Meneghetti lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Al Khuzeem wants to stand up but Meneghetti is controlling him.
Meneghetti trying to control but Al Khuzeem is working from the bottom.
Al Khuzeem managing to control the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Al Khuzeem can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meneghetti passes Al Khuzeem's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Meneghetti is working for a submission of some sort.
Meneghetti prevents Al Khuzeem from standing back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Al Khuzeem is pressing down on Meneghetti's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khaled Al Khuzeem showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Meneghetti is looking to clinch but Al Khuzeem is avoiding it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Meneghetti is defended easily by Al Khuzeem.
Al Khuzeem shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Meneghetti as he avoids it easily.
Meneghetti is looking to clinch.
A head kick by Meneghetti misses

and Al Khuzeem counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Al Khuzeem.
Al Khuzeem stalls.
Al Khuzeem can't get the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Meneghetti looking to stall.

Al Khuzeem gets a trip takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Al Khuzeem connects with a nice short shot to Meneghetti's temple.
Meneghetti tries to get to full guard but Al Khuzeem has control of the leg.
Al Khuzeem is nestled in close to Meneghetti, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Meneghetti is looking for a sweep. Al Khuzeem is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Al Khuzeem scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Meneghetti tries to get to full guard but Al Khuzeem has control of the leg.
Meneghetti has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Al Khuzeem is working away from the top position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Al Khuzeem trying to mount his opponent but Meneghetti defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meneghetti is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Al Khuzeem scores with a couple of nice shots.
Al Khuzeem lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Al Khuzeem is nestled in close to Meneghetti, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Al Khuzeem is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Meneghetti has hold of Al Khuzeem's hands but Al Khuzeem slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Khuzeem lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Meneghetti is looking for a sweep. Al Khuzeem is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Meneghetti tries to kick Al Khuzeem off but Al Khuzeem keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Al Khuzeem seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Al Khuzeem lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Al Khuzeem scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nice strikes from Al Khuzeem there.
Al Khuzeem takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Meneghetti is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Khuzeem trying to pass the guard but Meneghetti defending well.
Meneghetti wants to control but Al Khuzeem is keeping busy.

Al Khuzeem is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Meneghetti on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Oh Meneghetti is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Al Khuzeem works his foot free and advances to mount.
Meneghetti seems to have got his legs back now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Meneghetti wants to hold on but Al Khuzeem pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khaled Al Khuzeem comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Al Khuzeem 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khaled Al Khuzeem!