PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Perrin Aibarra (ranked 6877 p4p, 537 weight class) and Yosuf Khalib (ranked 3670 p4p, 373 weight class). Khalib comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Drop the world kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Aibarra
vs
Khalib

180 cm
22
179 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

177 cm
24
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Perrin Aibarra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yosuf Khalib!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Aibarra rushes Khalib and presses him up against the cage.

Aibarra manages to pull guard.
Khalib wants to control from the top but Aibarra keeps moving.
Khalib trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Khalib working some strikes from top position.
Khalib is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Khalib stops Aibarra from standing up.
Khalib is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Khalib landing with the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aibarra is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aibarra is pulling down on Khalib's head. It's preventing any offense from Khalib, at least for the moment.
Khalib throws a big right hand that misses.
Khalib slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Aibarra is looking to stand up but Khalib isn't so interested in that idea.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Khalib postures up in Aibarra's guard and throws a big left but Aibarra blocks it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Aibarra closes the distance and clinches.
Khalib wants to stall.
Aibarra misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Aibarra misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Khalib.
Aibarra lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Aibarra is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Aibarra is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Khalib to keep the fight standing.
Aibarra looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Aibarra lands a body shot.
Aibarra wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Khalib's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Aibarra lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Khalib backs up against the cage.

Aibarra pushes Khalib up against the cage in a clinch.
Aibarra fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Perrin Aibarra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aibarra is trying to pull guard but Khalib has him pressed against the cage.
Aibarra tries to pull guard but Khalib forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Khalib throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Aibarras head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalib is trying to pull guard but Aibarra turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Khalib breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Aibarra closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Aibarra drops down looking for an ankle pick but Khalib pulls his leg out and moves away.
Khalib dives in for a single leg takedown but Aibarra sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Aibarra tries to clinch there but Khalib circles away.
Khalib appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Khalib lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Aibarra backs up against the cage.

It looks like Perrin Aibarra has been cut.
Aibarra is looking to clinch.

Aibarra moves into range and clinches up with Khalib.
Aibarra tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Khalib's elbow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Khalib.
Khalib is trying to pull guard but Aibarra turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Khalib is trying to stall.

Aibarra pulls guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aibarra utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Aibarra is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Aibarra looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Khalib working some strikes from top position.
Khalib wants to control from the top but Aibarra keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Aibarra has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Khalib has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Perrin Aibarra dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Perrin Aibarra's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Khalib tries to clinch but Aibarra moves out of range.
Khalib lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Khalib tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Perrin Aibarra is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Aibarra tries to close the distance and clinch but Khalib swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Aibarra has his takedown stuffed
and Khalib counters with a two punch combo.
Yosuf Khalib seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Khalib is looking to clinch.

Khalib lands a left and a right that send Aibarra crashing to the mat, dazed. Khalib thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Aibarra is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Khalib darts in and clinches Aibarra up against the cage.

Aibarra successfully pulls guard.
Khalib trying to control but Aibarra is working from the bottom.
Khalib throwing strikes but missing.
Aibarra avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalib loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Khalib drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Aibarra manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Khalib has Aibarra in his guard.

Perrin Aibarra overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Khalib has his feet on Aibarra's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Aibarra has taken the fight to the clinch.
Khalib tries to pull guard but Aibarra holds him up against the cage and eventually Khalib drops back down to his feet.

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

Aibarra closes the distance and clinches.
Aibarra lands with a left to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aibarra gets a trip takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Khalib is looking to escape.
Khalib works his way to full guard. Good work.
Aibarra preventing the sweep.
Aibarra stops Khalib from standing up.

Aibarra stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Khalib has managed to clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Aibarra.

Khalib gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Aibarra regains guard.

Aibarra wriggles free and stands up.
Khalib is breathing heavily.

Khalib clinches with his opponent.
Aibarra is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Khalib to keep the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Aibarra takes the fight into the clinch.
Aibarra stalls.

Aibarra pulls guard.
Khalib stops Aibarra from standing up.

Khalib gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Khalib tries to land a front kick but Aibarra steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Aibarra seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Aibarra drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Khalib is trying to control the position but Aibarra postures up.
Khalib has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Khalib wants to sweep but no luck.
Aibarra not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aibarra cracks Khalib with a solid left hand.
Aibarra showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Aibarra stands and steps away. Khalib gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Aibarra gets a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Yosuf Khalib will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Perrin Aibarra's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Khalib moves into the clinch successfully.

Aibarra escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Khalib circles away from the clinch attempt.
Khalib moves in looking to clinch but Aibarra pushes him off.

Khalib tries to keep at a distance but Aibarra has taken the fight into the clinch.
Aibarra lands a body punch.
Aibarra blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Khalib is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Aibarra to keep the fight standing.
Aibarra digs a right hand underneath Khalib's ribcage. Khalib let out a lung full of air as it connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aibarra stalling against the cage.
Aibarra misses with a punch to the body.

Aibarra breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Khalib works over Aibarra's head and body with a nice combination.
Khalib takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalib gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Aibarra counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nice uppercut lands for Aibarra. That snapped Khalib's head back.
No luck for Khalib with that takedown attempt.
Perrin Aibarra has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yosuf Khalib.

Aibarra feints and as Khalib raises his hands in defense, Aibarra changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Khalib is looking to stand back up but Aibarra counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Khalib.

Aibarra perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Aibarra stands up and beckons Khalib to join him on the feet.
Khalib defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Aibarra.

Aibarra looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Khalib!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Khalib tries to improve position but can't.
Aibarra is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Khalib will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Khalib tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Aibarra wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aibarra decides to stand back up. Aibarra steps back and let's Khalib get back to his feet.
Khalib shoots and misses
and Aibarra counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Khalib shoots and misses
enabling Aibarra to counter with a crisp jab.

Aibarra forces Khalib back against the cage and clinches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Aibarra.
Aibarra digs a right hand into Khalib's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Khalib's gas tank.
A short right from Aibarra.

Aibarra is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Khalib can't fight it off and eventually Aibarra manages to take the fight to the floor. Khalib looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Aibarra stands and steps away. Khalib gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khalib swats away the attempt to clinch by Aibarra.
Khalib fails with an attempt to clinch.

Aibarra gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Aibarra manages to break the clinch.
Aibarra tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Khalib swivels and escapes.
Khalib swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Aibarra shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Khalib pinned against the cage. Khalib gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Khalib wants to clinch up but Aibarra keeps it at a distance.

Aibarra pushes Khalib up against the cage in a clinch.
Khalib misses with a short punch on the inside.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Perrin Aibarra showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Aibarra has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Perrin Aibarra!