PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Leonardo Nandez (ranked 3841 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdulmalek Al Saadoun (ranked 25156 p4p, 0 weight class). Al Saadoun has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Nandez
vs
Al Saadoun

178 cm
25
155 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

176 cm
25
156 lbs
5 - 15 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Leonardo Nandez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 15 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Abdulmalek Al Saadoun!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Santiago Holmes and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nandez shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Al Saadoun eats them both and turns towards Nandez to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Al Saadoun looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Nandez uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Al Saadoun has time to react.
Nandez looks for a takedown but Al Saadoun sprawls well.
Nandez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nandez throws a combination. Al Saadoun tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Nandez moves into the clinch successfully.
Nandez 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 Leonardo Nandez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nandez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nandez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Al Saadoun tries for a takedown but Nandez manages to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nandez is looking to break free of the clinch but Al Saadoun has double underhooks.
Nandez is looking to take this one to the mat.
Nandez stops a takedown attempt from Al Saadoun.
Nandez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Nandez 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. Nandez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nandez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
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.
Nandez tries for a takedown but Al Saadoun sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nandez darts in looking for a takedown but Al Saadoun gets double underhooks and turns Nandez into the cage.
Nandez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Al Saadoun wants to counter with a clinch but Nandez pushes him away.
Nice body punch from Nandez.
Nandez throws a wild body kick that Al Saadoun sees coming a mile off.
Nandez sets himself, and Al Saadoun steps forward looking for the clinch! Nandez avoids it this time.

Nandez has Al Saadoun up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nandez 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. Nandez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Nandez.
Nandez misses with a takedown attempt - Al Saadoun sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Al Saadoun throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Nandez gets a clinch.
Al Saadoun tries for a takedown but Nandez manages to get underhooks.
Nandez throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Al Saadouns head.
Nandez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nandez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Nandez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nandez misses with a knee strike.
Nandez lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Nandez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Nandez rushes Al Saadoun and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nandez is looking to take this one to the mat.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Nandez gets control of Al Saadoun's arms and successfully pulls guard. Nandez will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Al Saadoun looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nandez is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Nandez trying to keep a closed guard but Al Saadoun is proving a slippery customer.
Nandez will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Nandez is pulling down on Al Saadoun's head. It's preventing any offense from Al Saadoun, at least for the moment.
Nandez is trying to keep Al Saadoun in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo Nandez dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nandez closes the distance and pushes Al Saadoun back into the cage.
Nandez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Al Saadoun has Nandez pressed against the cage, preventing Nandez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nandez is trying to pull guard but Al Saadoun has him pressed against the cage.
Al Saadoun wants a takedown.
Al Saadoun jumps guard but Nandez stands there with Al Saadoun around his waist. Al Saadoun gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nandez tries to pull guard but Al Saadoun holds him up against the cage and eventually Nandez drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leonardo Nandez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nandez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Al Saadoun pulls his leg out and moves away.
Al Saadoun is breathing heavily.

Nandez has Al Saadoun up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nandez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Al Saadoun goes for a takedown attempt but Nandez pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
No luck for Nandez with that takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nandez.

Nandez closes the distance and clinches.
Al Saadoun taking a breather.
Nandez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nandez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Al Saadoun to keep the fight standing.
Nandez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nandez goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nandez jumps guard but Al Saadoun stands there with Nandez around his waist. Nandez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nandez is looking to control Al Saadoun's arms but Al Saadoun gets an underhook and turns him. Now Nandez has his back to the cage.

Nandez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Nandez has managed to clinch.
Nandez is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Al Saadoun is keeping busy.
Nandez wants to stall.
Al Saadoun prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nandez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Nandez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Al Saadoun bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Nandez can't do much from the bottom here.
Nandez tries to improve position but can't.
Al Saadoun wants to control but Nandez is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Al Saadoun swings around for an armbar but Nandez sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Al Saadoun's guard.
Al Saadoun is trying to control the position but Nandez postures up.
Al Saadoun keeping moving, preventing Nandez from controlling successfully.

Nandez stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Nandez feints a jab promting Al Saadoun to slip. Nandez then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Al Saadoun slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nandez has a takedown stuffed.
Nandez feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Al Saadouns jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo Nandez dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Al Saadoun blocks the body kick.
And Al Saadoun tries to counter it with a takedown but Nandez pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Leonardo Nandez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nandez throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Al Saadoun gets tackled into the cage by Nandez. Nandez maintains the clinch.
Nandez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nandez looking to stall.

Nandez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nandez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Al Saadoun sprawls well. Al Saadoun wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nandez gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nandez drives through and clinches with Al Saadoun against the cage.
Al Saadoun takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nandez fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leonardo Nandez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Al Saadoun is struggling to control the position.
Nandez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Al Saadoun gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nandez lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Al Saadoun.
Nandez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Nandez is working for takedown but Al Saadoun is calmly controlling the position for now.
Al Saadoun drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nandez pulls his leg out and moves away.
Al Saadoun stuffs the takedown.

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.
Nandez misses with a low kick.
Nandez shoots in but Al Saadoun avoids the takedown attempt easily.
As Nandez backs off Al Saadoun throws a huge counter combo but Nandez manages to avoid it all.
Nandez shoots for a takedown but Al Saadoun saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Nandez has taken the fight to the clinch.

Nandez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Nandez moves into the clinch.
Nandez is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Nandez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nandez shoots for a double leg takedown but Al Saadoun sprawls well. He's pushed Nandez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nandez dodges the punch combination from Al Saadoun.
Al Saadoun slaps away a takedown attempt from Nandez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nandez lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Nandez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Al Saadoun sprawls well. Al Saadoun wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nandez gets slowly back to his feet.
Al Saadoun shoots for a takedown but Nandez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nandez.

Nandez has Al Saadoun up against the cage in a clinch.
Al Saadoun prevents a takedown attempt there.
Nandez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Al Saadoun fails to land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leonardo Nandez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nandez 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonardo Nandez!