PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Khatir Afridi (ranked 1853 p4p, 182 weight class) and Tanner Pounds (ranked 1362 p4p, 133 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Afridi
vs
Pounds

167 cm
34
150 lbs
11 - 6 - 1

168 cm
35
150 lbs
21 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite 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 11 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Khatir Afridi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tanner Pounds!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Tiny Johnson and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pounds lands with a hook. Afridi tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Nice body kick from Afridi.
Pounds changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Afridi scores with a jab to the jaw.
Pounds looks to score with a jab to the body but Afridi is just out of range.
Afridi looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Afridi moves out of range as Pounds throws a body kick.
Pounds thows a left - swing and a miss!
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Pounds has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Pounds ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Pounds takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Afridi throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Pounds.
Afridi has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Extreme Training Facility in the buildup to the fight.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Afridi.
Pounds misses with a hook to the body
and Afridi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Afridi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Afridi throws a poor cross that misses

and Pounds decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Afridi's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Afridi is on top in guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pounds controls Afridi momentarily but Afridi frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Afridi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pounds is keeping the position for now.
Pounds trying to control the position here.
Afridi trying to control the position from guard on top but Pounds is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pounds looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Afridi stands and throws Pounds's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Afridi tries for a kimura but Pounds is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Afridi is trying to get an arm triangle but Pounds is defending well.

Afridi goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Pounds rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Afridi's guard! Nice work there by Pounds!
Pounds trying to control the position from guard on top but Afridi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pounds scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Afridi has his foot on Pounds's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pounds works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Afridi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Pounds distracts Afridi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Pounds stands up over Afridi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Pounds cracks Afridi with a solid left hand.

Pounds avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Pounds postures up.
Pounds landing with the ground and pound.
Afridi trying to control the position.
Pounds distracts Afridi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Afridi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pounds can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Pounds works over Afridi with some ground and pound from guard.
Afridi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Pounds cracks Afridi with a solid left hand.
Pounds postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pounds cracks Afridi with a solid left hand.
Pounds wants to control from the top but Afridi keeps moving.
Pounds content to stall in guard here.
Afridi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tanner Pounds will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Some bone on bone action there as Afridi checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Pounds throws a leg kick but Afridi checks it.
Afridi looks to land a body kick but Pounds moved away.
Afridi misses with a body kick.
Afridi throws a leg kick
and Pounds counters with a nice uppercut.
Afridi moves out of range of the leg kick from Pounds.
Pounds misses with a hook to the body
and Afridi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Pounds throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Afridi throws a quick counter kick to the body but Pounds avoids it.
Pounds looks to land a combination but Afridi avoids it well.
Afridi dodges the punch combination from Pounds.
Pounds tried to score with a low kick but Afridi checks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slapping leg kick lands for Afridi.
Afridi throws the kick towards the body but Pounds avoids it.
Pounds takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Afridi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Afridi avoids the body shot from Pounds.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pounds ducks under a wild hook from Afridi.
Afridi swings for the body but Pounds moves out of range.
Pounds misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pounds chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Afridi can pounce on him.
Pounds swings for the body but Afridi moves out of range.
Pounds jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Pounds staying out of range there.
Afridi scores with a crisp jab that stopped Pounds in his tracks.
Pounds takes a jab right on the kisser.
Pounds connects with a jab.
Pounds has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Afridi.
Afridi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Pounds fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Afridi.
Afridi lands a lovely overhand right.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Pounds shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Pounds is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Afridi defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Afridi is refusing to be controlled, as Pounds sits in half guard.
Pounds working Afridi over with strikes.
Afridi regains full guard. Nicely done.
Pounds connects with a couple of short punches.
Pounds trying to control but Afridi is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pounds postures up and lands a big shot to Afridi's brow.
Pounds won't allow Afridi to sweep him here.

Pounds avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Afridi working a defensive guard here.

Afridi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pounds doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pounds manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Afridi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Pounds slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pounds not doing much here.
Afridi is pressing down on Pounds's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Pounds loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pounds wants to control from the top but Afridi keeps moving.

Afridi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pounds can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Pounds landing some decent shots from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tanner Pounds will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Pounds avoids the head kick by Afridi.
Pounds looks to land a left hand but Afridi moved out of range nicely.
Afridi tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Afridi defending well as Pounds loads up on a big left hand.
Khatir Afridi is winning the standup battle so far.
Pounds with a nice cross.
Afridi slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Pounds displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Afridi throws out the jab.
Afridi throws a low kick but Pounds avoids it.
Afridi misses the jab.
Khatir Afridi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Afridi misses with a looping left.
Pounds lands with an overhand left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pounds fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Pounds throws a wild body kick that Afridi sees coming a mile off.
Pounds takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Pounds pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Afridi throws a leg kick
and Pounds cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pounds throws a lazy head kick
and Afridi counters with a nice body shot.
Afridi moves out of range of the body kick.
Decent striking displayed by Afridi there.
A swing and a miss from Afridi.
Pounds throws a jab but it's blocked by Afridi.
Pounds takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Pounds shoots in but no luck this time.
Afridi half committed to a counter leg kick.
Afridi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pounds moves away.
Afridi takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Pounds thuds his shin into the meat of Afridi's side.
Pounds with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Pounds throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Afridi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pounds closes this distance looking for a takedown but Afridi circles away.
Khatir Afridi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tanner Pounds.
Pounds misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Afridi.
A little feinted left hand from Afridi on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Khatir Afridi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tanner Pounds is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Afridi feints and then cracks Pounds's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Pounds down.
Afridi takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Afridi misses with a wild body shot.
Pounds changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Pounds misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Afridi.
Nice shot by Afridi.
Afridi looks to land a left hand but Pounds moved out of range nicely.
Afridi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Pounds counter with a right hand.
A punch lands to the side of Pounds 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Afridi wants to slow Pounds down by chopping away at his legs.
Pounds gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Afridi.
Pounds throws a quick inside leg kick.
Pounds throws a front kick that sends Afridi stumbling back into the cage.
Pounds scores with a decent looking hook.
Pounds tries to land a front kick but Afridi steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Afridi comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Afridi.
Afridi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pounds keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Afridi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Afridi throws a predictable looking body shot

so Pounds counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Afridi looking for a guillotine here but Pounds defends easily.
Pounds lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Pounds trying to control but Afridi is working from the bottom.

Afridi looking for a guillotine here but Pounds defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pounds avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Pounds trying to control the position from guard on top but Afridi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pounds postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Khatir Afridi.
I think Pounds has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!