PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Danish Ali (ranked 24806 p4p, 422 weight class) and Moses Makwame (ranked 6597 p4p, 376 weight class). Makwame has chosen House of Pain - Jump Around as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ali
vs
Makwame

180 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 3 - 1

163 cm
20
143 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
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 0 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Danish Ali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Moses Makwame!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksandr Martynov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Makwame drives through with a takedown into Ali's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Ali uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Makwame dives in and scores a takedown into Ali's guard.
Makwame wants to control from the top but Ali keeps moving.
Ali not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ali 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Makwame is in close to Ali's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Makwame trying to control but Ali is working from the bottom.
Makwame has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Makwame controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Ali wants to stand and escape but Makwame is having none of it.

Makwame is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makwame stopping the sweep attempt from Ali.
Makwame wants to pass the guard but Ali is keeping the position.
Makwame scoring with punches to the head and body.
Makwame looking to pass the guard.
Makwame passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Ali keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Makwame tries to pass to full mount but Ali defends it.

Makwame seems to be working for a kimura but Ali defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Makwame is looking for a kimura but Ali is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Makwame to get the leverage.
Makwame seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ali does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ali is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Makwame jumps into side control!
Makwame has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Holding Cell. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Makwame passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Ali!
Makwame can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ali is looking to escape.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Makwame is trying to take his opponent's back.
Makwame pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makwame punishing his opponent with strikes.

Makwame working for a guillotine from mount but Ali is in no mood to give up.
Ali is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Makwame has hold of Ali's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Ali manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Makwame is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Ali is surviving well by controlling Makwame's body position as best he can.

Ali defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Makwame.
Makwame content just to control the position here.
Makwame putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makwame takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ali has given up his back.
Ali is covering up but some of the strikes from Makwame are getting through and doing damage.

Ali fending off the submission attempt from Makwame.
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!
Makwame trying to control.
Ali is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Moses Makwame dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ali tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Makwame swivels and escapes.
Ali with a poor takedown

and Makwame counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Makwame.
Ali is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Makwame dives into side control.

Makwame tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Makwame has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Makwame wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ali keeps working.
Ali tries to buck Makwame off but Makwame is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Makwame is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Ali looks calm but he's in trouble here. Makwame gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Ali is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Makwame lets go of the hold and Ali can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Moses Makwame!
A relieved looking Moses Makwame thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.