PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tsyuoshi Taranaki (ranked 3588 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdulmalek Al Saadoun (ranked 4018 p4p, 0 weight class). Tsyuoshi Taranaki could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Abdulmalek Al Saadoun's chin.

Taranaki
vs
Al Saadoun

175 cm
25
155 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

176 cm
25
156 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tsyuoshi Taranaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Abdulmalek Al Saadoun!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Sandra Marshall and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Taranaki gets caught napping as Al Saadoun dives in and scores a takedown. Taranaki manages to retain guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Al Saadoun looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Taranaki is trying to keep Al Saadoun in close.
Taranaki is looking to stand up but Al Saadoun isn't so interested in that idea.
Taranaki working a defensive guard here.
Al Saadoun tries to free his leg and advance position but Taranaki is retaining full guard.
Al Saadoun trying to control the position from guard on top but Taranaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taranaki wants to sweep but no luck.

Taranaki looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Al Saadoun has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Taranaki is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Saadoun won't allow Taranaki to sweep him here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Taranaki pushes Al Saadoun up against the cage in a clinch.
Al Saadoun is looking to break free of the clinch but Taranaki has double underhooks.

Al Saadoun pulls guard.
Taranaki wants to get up but he can't break Al Saadoun's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Al Saadoun looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Taranaki wants to get up but he can't break Al Saadoun's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Taranaki with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taranaki wants to control from the top but Al Saadoun keeps moving.
Al Saadoun trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Taranaki passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sloppy strikes there by Taranaki.
Al Saadoun is trying to get back to half guard.
Taranaki wants to stand but Al Saadoun is controlling his arm.
Taranaki working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taranaki wants to control but Al Saadoun is keeping him busy.
Al Saadoun struggling a bit here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Al Saadoun is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Taranaki asserts his dominance and retains side control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Taranaki.

Taranaki takes the fight into the clinch.
Taranaki lands with a light punch inside.
Taranaki connects with a nasty looking knee right to Al Saadoun's face.
Al Saadoun's coach down at Cozad The Island was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Al Saadoun's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taranaki prevents Al Saadoun from breaking the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Taranaki.
Taranaki is trying to force a seperation but Al Saadoun has the dominant position.
Taranaki has Al Saadoun pressed against the cage, preventing Al Saadoun from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Al Saadoun is trying to break the clinch but Taranaki is controlling him.
Taranaki goes for a takedown attempt but Al Saadoun pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Taranaki moves into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taranaki 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.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tsyuoshi Taranaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taranaki jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Al Saadoun walks away with a smile on his face. Taranaki gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tsyuoshi Taranaki dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Al Saadoun is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Taranaki tries to score a power double leg takedown but Al Saadoun sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Taranaki somewhat.

Al Saadoun is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Taranaki's half guard.
Al Saadoun perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taranaki trying to control here.
Al Saadoun is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taranaki works his way to full guard. Good work.
Taranaki keeping full guard, as Al Saadoun tries to pass.
Al Saadoun wants to control from the top but Taranaki keeps moving.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Taranaki throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Tsyuoshi Taranaki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taranaki shoots in but Al Saadoun avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Al Saadoun slaps away a takedown attempt from Taranaki, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tsyuoshi Taranaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Taranaki instigates a clinch.
Taranaki is trying to break the clinch but Al Saadoun is controlling him.
Al Saadoun misses with a hook to the ribs.

Al Saadoun jumps guard and drags Taranaki to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Taranaki wants to control from the top but Al Saadoun keeps moving.
Al Saadoun is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Taranaki trying to control but Al Saadoun is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Al Saadoun is looking for a triangle but Taranaki pushes his legs off easily.
Taranaki passes Al Saadoun's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Taranaki is pressing down on Al Saadoun's thigh, looking to free his foot. Al Saadoun is holding on for now.
Taranaki prevents Al Saadoun from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Taranaki is trying to control. Al Saadoun wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Taranaki is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Al Saadoun wants to control but Taranaki is having none of it.
Taranaki wants to control the pace but Al Saadoun is squirming around nicely.
Al Saadoun blocking the ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taranaki looking to finish with strikes here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tsyuoshi Taranaki will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Taranaki shoots in but Al Saadoun avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Taranaki fakes the leg kick and cracks Al Saadoun in the body.
Taranaki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Al Saadoun but Al Saadoun pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Taranaki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Al Saadoun but Al Saadoun pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tsyuoshi Taranaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Taranaki closes the distance and pushes Al Saadoun back into the cage.
Al Saadoun takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taranaki tries for a takedown but Al Saadoun manages to get underhooks.
Taranaki is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Al Saadoun is defending well.
Al Saadoun prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taranaki tries to pull guard but Al Saadoun won't allow it.
Al Saadoun fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Taranaki is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Al Saadoun is keeping busy.
Taranaki unloads a knee to the mid-section. Al Saadoun lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Taranaki is looking for a takedown.
Taranaki trying to control the position but instead, Al Saadoun has worked for underhooks and has pushed Taranaki into the cage.
Taranaki goes for a takedown attempt but Al Saadoun pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Al Saadoun misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Taranaki half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Taranaki is defended easily by Al Saadoun.
Taranaki looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Al Saadoun will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Taranaki is looking to counter punch.
Taranaki shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Al Saadoun as he jumps to the side.
Al Saadoun takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Taranaki moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taranaki gets control of Al Saadoun's arms and successfully pulls guard. Taranaki will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Al Saadoun is looking to stand up but Taranaki won't let him.

Taranaki looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Al Saadoun preventing the sweep.
Al Saadoun looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Taranaki lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taranaki postures up.
Al Saadoun wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Taranaki manages to pass to side control.
Al Saadoun wants to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taranaki wants to pass the guard but Al Saadoun is defending well.
Al Saadoun is staying active underneath Taranaki, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tsyuoshi Taranaki showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Taranaki, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tsyuoshi Taranaki!