PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Khalid Al Saadoun (ranked 4624 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael De Souza (ranked 5576 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Al Saadoun
vs
De Souza

181 cm
25
156 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Khalid Al Saadoun!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rafael De Souza!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Santiago Holmes and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Souza shoots in looking for a takedown. Al Saadoun tries to sprawl out of it but De Souza keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Al Saadoun manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
De Souza tries to score a power double leg takedown but Al Saadoun sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten De Souza somewhat.
De Souza tries to clinch up but Al Saadoun circles away and keeps his distance.
Al Saadoun displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from De Souza.
Khalid Al Saadoun has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael De Souza.
De Souza tries for a takedown but Al Saadoun circles away easily
and De Souza takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Souza has his takedown stuffed

and Al Saadoun counters by moving into the clinch.
De Souza is struggling to control the position.
Al Saadoun looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Saadoun gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from De Souza.

Al Saadoun gets control of De Souza's arms and successfully pulls guard. Al Saadoun will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
De Souza tries to stand but Al Saadoun is controlling from the bottom.

De Souza got a little sloppy there for a moment and Al Saadoun has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, De Souza has managed to get both his arms back between Al Saadoun's legs - danger averted.
Al Saadoun is controlling De Souza's posture.
De Souza showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Al Saadoun throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Al Saadoun tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Al Saadoun escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. De Souza gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
De Souza looking to sit in guard and control but Al Saadoun gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Al Saadoun slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Saadoun wants to pass the guard but De Souza is keeping the position.

Al Saadoun got a little sloppy there for a moment and De Souza has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Al Saadoun has managed to get both his arms back between De Souza's legs - danger averted.
Al Saadoun is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
De Souza wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Al Saadoun is looking to stand up but De Souza won't let him.
De Souza preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
De Souza bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Al Saadoun's guard.

Al Saadoun keeping moving, preventing De Souza from controlling successfully.
De Souza has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Al Saadoun is proving hard to escape from.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Al Saadoun keeping moving, preventing De Souza from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khalid Al Saadoun dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

De Souza throws a lazy head kick

and Al Saadoun counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Al Saadoun postures up and lands a big shot to De Souza's brow.
Al Saadoun looking to pass the guard.
De Souza wants to sweep here but Al Saadoun controlling him for the moment.
Al Saadoun working some strikes from top position.
De Souza is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

De Souza is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Al Saadoun defends well.
De Souza wants to control the position but Al Saadoun says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Al Saadoun there.
Al Saadoun trying to pass the guard but De Souza defending well.
De Souza is looking to escape.
Al Saadoun sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Al Saadoun is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that De Souza can do to turn this around?
De Souza is trying to control but can't.
Al Saadoun controlling the action here.

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 is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
De Souza is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Al Saadoun scores with a couple of nice shots.

Al Saadoun is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Al Saadoun takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Al Saadoun shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. De Souza eats them both and turns towards Al Saadoun to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Al Saadoun gets a double leg takedown into De Souza's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Saadoun wants to stand but De Souza is controlling his posture from full guard.
Al Saadoun working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Al Saadoun engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Al Saadoun trying to control the position from guard on top but De Souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Al Saadoun content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
De Souza is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
De Souza looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
De Souza is trying to keep Al Saadoun in close.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
De Souza fails with the takedown

and Al Saadoun counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Al Saadoun.
De Souza is breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
De Souza is trying to push Al Saadoun away but Al Saadoun has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
De Souza wants to break the clinch but can't.

Al Saadoun tightens his grip and picks De Souza up, before dumping him to the ground. De Souza manages to land in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khalid Al Saadoun dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Al Saadoun pulls out of a head kick attempt.
De Souza misses with a head kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Al Saadoun.
De Souza tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Khalid Al Saadoun overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Souza can't do much from the bottom here.

Al Saadoun decides to stand back up.
De Souza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Souza fails with a takedown attempt.

Al Saadoun clinches with his opponent.
Al Saadoun is defending well against a takedown attempt.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
De Souza avoiding damage.
De Souza works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Al Saadoun tries to pull guard but De Souza forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Al Saadoun struggles to land a body shot inside as De Souza controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Souza has had enough of the clinch but Al Saadoun keeps him there for the moment.
De Souza tries to pull guard but Al Saadoun forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Khalid Al Saadoun has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael De Souza.

Al Saadoun turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Al Saadoun controls the position from side control.
Al Saadoun wants to stand but De Souza is controlling his arm.
De Souza seems a little lost for a moment, as Al Saadoun dominates the positioning.
You can see the frustration on De Souza's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Al Saadoun lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Saadoun lands an elbow.
De Souza is looking for a sweep.
Al Saadoun happy to just control the position for now.
De Souza is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Al Saadoun content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
De Souza taking a bit of punishment here - Al Saadoun scoring with strikes.

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.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Al Saadoun trying to control the position but De Souza is working away.
De Souza is looking to regain half guard here but Al Saadoun keeps moving and retains side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if De Souza can do anything to dispel that myth.
You can see the frustration on De Souza's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
De Souza wants to get back to his feet but Al Saadoun drags him back down.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rafael De Souza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Khalid Al Saadoun is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Al Saadoun bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khalid Al Saadoun showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27

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