PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cheikh Am (ranked 5947 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cheikh Ali (ranked 5949 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.

Am
vs
Ali

169 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

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 Hilo, Cheikh Am!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Cheikh Ali!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Jeff Smith and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Am shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Am is trying to control the action in half guard but Ali is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ali throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Ali has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ali manages to get to full guard.
Am postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ali pulls Am in to control the position.
Ali preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali controls Am momentarily but Am frees himself.
Ali working a defensive guard but Am manages to pass into side control anyway.
Ali is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Am working away.
Am working the ground and pound.
You can see the frustration on Ali's face as Am controls the position.
Am postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Am working away.
Ali wants to get back to his feet but Am drags him back down.
Ali is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Ali regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Am.
Ali wants to control but Am passes easily into half guard.
Am wants to pass the guard but Ali is defending well.
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.
Am sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ali defending well though.
Am takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Ali on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Am there.

Am is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Am thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ali's head.
Am thows a huge punch but Ali dodges it nicely.

Ali looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Am drops an elbow to the side of Ali's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Am is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ali sees it coming and defends easily.

Ali actively working from the bottom here.
Ali trying to hold on to Am's head to control him but Am postures up.
Am throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Am not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Am thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ali's head.
Am tries to pass to full mount but Ali defends it.

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.
Am thows a huge punch but Ali dodges it nicely.
Ali is trying to stand back up but Am is controlling him
Am is trying to control the action in half guard but Ali is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Am is taking a breather. Ali 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.

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

Ali gets the takedown into side control.
Ali is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Am's shoulder. That is not cool.
Am is looking to regain half guard here but Ali keeps moving and retains side control.
Am gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Am wants to improve his position but Ali is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cheikh Am dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ali drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Am is trying to control Ali's posture but Ali avoids it.
Ali is looking to take a break and control but Am is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ali wants to stand but Am has his arm trapped.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali working away.
Am tries to buck Ali off but Ali is having none of it.
Am on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Am tries to get out of the position.
Ali wants to stand but Am has his arm trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Am!
Ali can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Am is looking to escape.
Ali thowing shots but they're missing.
Am is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ali lands with some strikes.
Am wants to hold on but Ali pushes him away.
Am knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ali on the ground.
Ali tries to control but Am wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Am tries to lock up and control but Ali gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ali wants to control the pace but Am is squirming around nicely.
Ali is looking to stand but Am has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.

Ali wants to finish this one by submission but Am is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Ali.
Am is desperately trying to improve his position but Ali has a good base and remains in mount.
Am tries to hold on but Ali postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Am tries to lock up and control but Ali gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ali content just to control the position here.
Ali putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Am keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Am tries to lock up and control but Ali gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ali wants to control the pace but Am is squirming around nicely.
Ali lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Ali has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali looking to control but Am is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Am is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ali tries to control but Am wriggling away.
Ali avoids the attempt from Am to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cheikh Ali showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Ali tries to sprawl but Am drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Ali trying to control here.
Ali wants to improve his position but Am is controlling well.
Ali is trying to stand back up but Am is controlling him
Am is stalling here. Ali is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Am seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Ali has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Ali is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Am is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Ali off and has taken his back!
Am punches the canvas rather than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali tries to break free.
Am thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Ali looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Am throwing damaging strikes from the back! Ali could be in trouble here!
Am controlling well, preventing Ali from escaping the position.
Ali prevents Am from getting a body triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Am punches the canvas rather than the man.
Am loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Ali hold on?
Ali trying to control the hands but Am breaks the grip.
Am has Ali flattened out and is raining down punches.
Ali tries to escape but Am has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Cheikh Ali has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ali is still trying to improve position.
Ali takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Am softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Am lands strikes to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Am is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Ali knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Ali for a finish.
Am struggling to keep hold of the position.
Ali trying to control the action but Am just sinks the hooks in.

Am is persistently looking for the submission but Ali is defending it well.
Am keeps control of the position as Ali tries to break free.
Ali is taking damage to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Am.

Ali is trying to shake Am off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Am won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.

Am darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Am looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ali with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Am not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Am controlling the action here.
Ali taking some punishment here, with Am in his half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cheikh Am showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Am 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight for Cheikh Am!
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight for Cheikh Am!
Judge Josh West scores the fight for Cheikh Am!

Cheikh Am wins by unanimous decision!