PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tshilomba Mwekassa (ranked 4482 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdulmalek Al Saadoun (ranked 6556 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Mwekassa
vs
Al Saadoun

183 cm
25
157 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

176 cm
25
156 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tshilomba Mwekassa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Abdulmalek Al Saadoun!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Bart Greer and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mwekassa scores with a kick to the body.
Al Saadoun looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Al Saadoun gets caught flat footed, as Mwekassa shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Mwekassa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Al Saadoun swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Al Saadoun keeping moving, preventing Mwekassa from controlling successfully.
Mwekassa showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Mwekassa has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mwekassa wants to control from the top but Al Saadoun keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mwekassa would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Al Saadoun keeping moving, preventing Mwekassa from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mwekassa throws a big elbow that misses.
Al Saadoun tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Mwekassa shoots in for a takedown but Al Saadoun shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Mwekassa looking to score a takedown here. Al Saadoun is defending well but Mwekassa drives through and ends up in Al Saadoun's guard.
Al Saadoun keeping full guard, as Mwekassa tries to pass.
Mwekassa throwing strikes from guard but Al Saadoun blocks nicely.
Mwekassa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Our spies down at at Cozad The Island inform us that Al Saadoun has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mwekassa content to stall in guard here.
Mwekassa tries to free his leg and advance position but Al Saadoun is retaining full guard.
Mwekassa is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Mwekassa is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Mwekassa trying to control the position from guard on top but Al Saadoun is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mwekassa bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Al Saadoun managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Mwekassa.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mwekassa is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Al Saadoun knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Mwekassa tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Mwekassa has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Mwekassa tries to score with some ground and pound. Al Saadoun controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mwekassa is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Al Saadoun has escaped the position, nice work there.
Mwekassa controls the position from side control.
Al Saadoun is not content to let Mwekassa control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Mwekassa tries for a kimura but Al Saadoun is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Al Saadoun with a lazy takedown attempt
and Mwekassa counters with a two punch combo.

Mwekassa closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mwekassa lands in his opponent's guard.
Mwekassa wants to pass the guard but Al Saadoun is keeping the position.
Al Saadoun keeping moving, preventing Mwekassa from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mwekassa is stalling in the full guard.
Al Saadoun is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mwekassa throws a big elbow that misses.
Al Saadoun is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mwekassa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mwekassa keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Al Saadoun's head.

Mwekassa drops back looking for a leg! Al Saadoun is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Al Saadoun manages to kick Mwekassa off! Mwekassa jumps back into Al Saadoun's guard.
Tshilomba Mwekassa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mwekassa wanted to stand there but Al Saadoun had control of the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mwekassa throws a quick inside leg kick.

Mwekassa scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Mwekassa thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Mwekassa is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Al Saadoun has managed to free his arm - good work.
Mwekassa is looking to take a break and control but Al Saadoun is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mwekassa thows a huge punch but Al Saadoun dodges it nicely.
Al Saadoun avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mwekassa.
Mwekassa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Mwekassa is trying to work for a kimura but Al Saadoun is defending well.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Mwekassa not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mwekassa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Al Saadoun can do to turn this around?
Mwekassa throwing shots but Al Saadoun is blocking nicely.
Mwekassa is pressing down on Al Saadoun's thigh, looking to free his foot. Al Saadoun is holding on for now.

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

That's four 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.

Mwekassa closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Al Saadoun is not content to let Mwekassa control the position.
You can see the frustration on Al Saadoun's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Mwekassa fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mwekassa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Al Saadoun keeps working.

Mwekassa tries for a kimura but Al Saadoun is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tshilomba Mwekassa dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Mwekassa.

Mwekassa closes the distance and clinches.
Mwekassa effectively controlling the action here.
Al Saadoun is looking to take this one to the mat.
Al Saadoun stops a takedown attempt from Mwekassa.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Saadoun goes for a takedown in the clinch but Mwekassa prevents it.

Mwekassa breaks from the clinch.
Al Saadoun takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Al Saadoun tries to keep at a distance but Mwekassa has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mwekassa wants the takedown. Al Saadoun is fighting it off but Mwekassa persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Al Saadoun's guard against the cage.
Mwekassa with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mwekassa engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Mwekassa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mwekassa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mwekassa wants to control from the top but Al Saadoun keeps moving.
Mwekassa wants to pass the guard but Al Saadoun is keeping the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Al Saadoun takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mwekassa.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tshilomba Mwekassa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mwekassa takes the fight into the clinch.
Al Saadoun drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mwekassa gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mwekassa lands a takedown into guard.
Mwekassa content to stall in guard here.

Al Saadoun escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mwekassa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mwekassa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mwekassa showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Mwekassa trying to control but Al Saadoun is working from the bottom.
Al Saadoun trying to control the position.
Mwekassa wanted to stand there but Al Saadoun had control of the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Abdulmalek Al Saadoun has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tshilomba Mwekassa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Al Saadoun stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Al Saadoun wants it to stay on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tshilomba Mwekassa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mwekassa 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tshilomba Mwekassa!