PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cengiz Toprak (ranked 3304 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hafid Lumihi (ranked 3516 p4p, 377 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Toprak
vs
Lumihi

177 cm
25
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

171 cm
26
156 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Self confident

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cengiz Toprak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hafid Lumihi!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lumihi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Toprak but Toprak pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Lumihi has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lumihi trying to control the position but instead, Toprak has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lumihi into the cage.
Toprak managing to block the knees to the body from Lumihi.
Lumihi tries to circle away but Toprak has him pinned against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Toprak decides to pull guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Toprak wants to sweep but no luck.
Toprak has his hands on Lumihi's head, controlling the position.
Lumihi is looking to stand up but Toprak won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toprak has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Toprak has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Lumihi has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Toprak is proving hard to escape from.
Lumihi trying to control the position from guard on top but Toprak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Toprak 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 referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Toprak shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lumihi as he avoids it easily.
Lumihi misses with a body kick.
Lumihi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Toprak moves into the clinch.
Lumihi is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Toprak goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lumihi prevents it.

Lumihi breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lumihi instigates a clinch.

Toprak's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lumihi leaves Toprak with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cengiz Toprak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Toprak avoids the head kick by Lumihi.
As Lumihi looks to move away, Toprak throws a big counter combo but Lumihi just gets out of the way.

Lumihi moves into the clinch successfully.
Toprak is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Lumihi gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Lumihi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lumihi shoots in but Toprak avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Lumihi shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Toprak is trying to defend but Lumihi finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toprak tries to roll over but Lumihi keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Toprak wants to control but Lumihi is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Lumihi wants to stand up but Toprak is controlling the position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Lumihi lands a nice short elbow.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lumihi trying to control the action but Toprak is working from the bottom.
Toprak makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Toprak.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hafid Lumihi 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.

Toprak shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Toprak showed some decent athleticism there.
Toprak trying to control the action but Lumihi is working from the bottom.
Toprak stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Toprak not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lumihi can do anything to dispel that myth.
Toprak stops Lumihi from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toprak slows the pace down in half guard.
Lumihi trying to control from the bottom.
Toprak content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lumihi has a takedown stuffed.
Lumihi has a takedown stuffed.
Toprak throws the kick towards the body but Lumihi avoids it.
Lumihi fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Lumihi closes the distance and pushes Toprak back into the cage.
Toprak is looking for a takedown.
Lumihi has had enough of the clinch but Toprak keeps him there for the moment.
Toprak lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Lumihi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lumihi takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Toprak fails with a takedown attempt.
Lumihi throws a sloppy head kick and Toprak moves out of range easily.

Lumihi gets tackled into the cage by Toprak. Toprak maintains the clinch.
Lumihi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toprak has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lumihi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cengiz Toprak. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Toprak breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lumihi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Toprak defends it nicely.
Lumihi is breathing heavily.
Lumihi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Toprak manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lumihi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lumihi is looking to clinch.
Lumihi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Toprak swivels and escapes.
Lumihi shoots for a double leg takedown but Toprak sprawls well. He's pushed Lumihi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Toprak is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Lumihi.
Toprak shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lumihi sprawls well. Lumihi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Toprak gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lumihi has his takedown stuffed
and Toprak counters with a one-two to the body.
Toprak fails to land with a series of punches.
Lumihi comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Toprak throws a head kick that misses
and Lumihi counters with a series of strikes. Toprak will be more careful next time no doubt.
Cengiz Toprak is winning the standup battle so far.

Toprak shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Toprak was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Toprak taking a breather here.
Lumihi can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cengiz Toprak dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Lumihi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lumihi wants it to stay on the feet.
A head kick misses from Lumihi.
Lumihi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lumihi wants it to stay on the feet.
A little jabbing left from Lumihi on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Lumihi clinches up with Toprak and pushes him back against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Lumihi stalls.
Lumihi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Toprak manages to break the clinch.
Toprak gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Lumihi to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cengiz Toprak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toprak fails with a takedown attempt.

Toprak manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Lumihi on his heels. He'll look to pass Lumihi's guard now, I'm sure.
Lumihi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Toprak trying to stand up but can't free himself from Lumihi's guard.
Lumihi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lumihi throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Lumihi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Lumihi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Toprak looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Toprak shoots in and gets a takedown into Lumihi's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toprak looking to pass the guard.
Lumihi tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Lumihi pushes a forearm under Toprak's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Toprak is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Hafid Lumihi!