PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Abdulmalek Al Saadoun (ranked 4726 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mehdi Boukhidous (ranked 6027 p4p, 0 weight class). Mehdi Boukhidous has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Abdulmalek Al Saadoun's chin.

Al Saadoun
vs
Boukhidous

176 cm
25
156 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 1

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Abdulmalek Al Saadoun!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Mehdi Boukhidous!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Michael Johnstone and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Al Saadoun throws a body shot but no joy.
Al Saadoun misses with the combination.
And Boukhidous tries to counter it with a takedown but Al Saadoun pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Al Saadoun looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Boukhidous isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Al Saadoun stacks Boukhidous on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Al Saadoun!
Al Saadoun taking a breather here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Saadoun working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boukhidous wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Al Saadoun wants to stand but Boukhidous has his arm trapped.
Boukhidous being controlled for a moment.
Al Saadoun seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Boukhidous for as long as he can get away with.
Boukhidous is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Al Saadoun's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Boukhidous is trying to control but can't.

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.
Still in half guard, Al Saadoun seems content to control.
Boukhidous is looking to escape.
Al Saadoun is controlling the pace.
Al Saadoun throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Al Saadoun looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Al Saadoun is taking a breather. Boukhidous says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boukhidous manages to get to full guard.
Al Saadoun scoring with some ground and pound.

Al Saadoun drops back looking for a leg! Boukhidous is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Boukhidous manages to kick Al Saadoun off! Al Saadoun jumps back into Boukhidous's guard.
Al Saadoun is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

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.
Al Saadoun tries to free his leg and advance position but Boukhidous is retaining full guard.
Al Saadoun connects with a couple of short punches.

Al Saadoun avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Boukhidous trying to keep a closed guard but Al Saadoun is proving a slippery customer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Al Saadoun has gone for a leg lock! Boukhidous slips out almost immediately though and dives into Al Saadoun's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdulmalek Al Saadoun dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Al Saadoun stuffs the takedown.

Boukhidous drives through and clinches with Al Saadoun against the cage.
Boukhidous gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Al Saadoun.
Al Saadoun tries to break the clinch but Boukhidous is controlling the position.
Al Saadoun has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Boukhidous avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Al Saadoun working hard to break the clinch.
Boukhidous goes for a takedown in the clinch but Al Saadoun prevents it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boukhidous jumps guard but Al Saadoun stands there with Boukhidous around his waist. Boukhidous gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Abdulmalek Al Saadoun has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mehdi Boukhidous.
Al Saadoun lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boukhidous is trying to pull guard but Al Saadoun has him pressed against the cage.

Boukhidous successfully pulls guard.
Al Saadoun would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Al Saadoun gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Horrible takedown attempt by Boukhidous or perhaps it was just good defense by Al Saadoun, which made it look bad.

Al Saadoun closes the distance and pushes Boukhidous back into the cage.
Boukhidous wants to break free but Al Saadoun has control.

Al Saadoun breaks from the clinch.
Al Saadoun is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Boukhidous can do to turn this around?

Al Saadoun gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Saadoun is trying to push Boukhidous away but Boukhidous has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Boukhidous is trying to pull guard but Al Saadoun has him pressed against the cage.
Al Saadoun jumps guard but Boukhidous stands there with Al Saadoun around his waist. Al Saadoun gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Al Saadoun is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Boukhidous is trying to pull guard but Al Saadoun turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Boukhidous is trying to drag Al Saadoun to the mat but Al Saadoun just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Al Saadoun manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Al Saadoun is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Boukhidous wants to control from the top but Al Saadoun keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boukhidous has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Al Saadoun is proving hard to escape from.

Al Saadoun escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Boukhidous gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Al Saadoun wants to sweep but no luck.
Al Saadoun avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Boukhidous trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Al Saadoun manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Al Saadoun pushes down on Boukhidous's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Al Saadoun sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Boukhidous looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdulmalek Al Saadoun dominated that second round.
That's time! Al Saadoun's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Boukhidous shoots in for a takedown but Al Saadoun shows good takedown defense.

Al Saadoun shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Boukhidous is trying to defend but Al Saadoun finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Boukhidous is pressing down on Al Saadoun's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Al Saadoun stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Boukhidous swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Boukhidous keeping moving, preventing Al Saadoun from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boukhidous lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Al Saadoun throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boukhidous missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Boukhidous passes into half guard.
Al Saadoun wants to improve his position but Boukhidous is controlling well.

Boukhidous is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Al Saadoun doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Boukhidous.
Boukhidous wants to free his trapped foot but Al Saadoun is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Al Saadoun trying to control but Boukhidous postures up.
Al Saadoun makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Al Saadoun.
Boukhidous looking to pass the guard.
Boukhidous trying to control the position from guard on top but Al Saadoun is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Al Saadoun working for a triangle but Boukhidous defends it easily.

Al Saadoun working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Boukhidous doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Boukhidous manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Boukhidous won't allow Al Saadoun to sweep him here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Abdulmalek Al Saadoun overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four 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 Saadoun keeping moving, preventing Boukhidous from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Al Saadoun throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Boukhidous makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Al Saadoun really felt that one!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Al Saadoun drives through with a takedown into guard.
Al Saadoun pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Boukhidous is keeping the position for now.
Al Saadoun won't allow Boukhidous to sweep him here.

Boukhidous working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Al Saadoun doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Al Saadoun manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Boukhidous controls Al Saadoun momentarily but Al Saadoun frees himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mehdi Boukhidous.
Well Al Saadoun has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abdulmalek Al Saadoun!