PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Al Ghouti (ranked 5223 p4p, 522 weight class) and Shen Po (ranked 5212 p4p, 521 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ghouti
vs
Po

177 cm
18
166 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
16
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Al Ghouti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shen Po!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Aafke Stam and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Po is looking to clinch but Ghouti is avoiding it.
Po changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ghouti tries to avoid it but Po manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ghouti to the ground. Ghouti escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
No luck for Po with that takedown attempt.
Po throws a lazy body kick

and Ghouti counters with a takedown into side control.

Ghouti tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ghouti has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Po looks to move to half guard but instead Ghouti has passed into mount! Damn!
Ghouti sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ghouti unloading with bombs!
Ghouti controlling the pace for now.
Po working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ghouti scoring with strikes but Po is staying in there.
Po tries to reverse the position but Ghouti maintains control.
Ghouti looking to finish Po with some ground and pound. This is bad for Po!
Ghouti controlling from mount.
Po tries to hold on but Ghouti postures up.
Ghouti content just to control the position here.

Ghouti looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
The referee warns Po that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ghouti content just to control the position here.
Ghouti raining down hammerfists from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ghouti takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ghouti is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Po can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Ghouti avoids the attempt from Po to control.
Po is bucking up trying to escape but Ghouti cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Po reaches up to try and control the position but Ghouti seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Po rolls and tries to escape and now Ghouti has his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Po is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Ghouti has the hooks in. Po is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Ghouti working for a choke but Po is defending well.
Ghouti biding his time, controlling Po.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Al Ghouti 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.

Po throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Po jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Po tries to score with a low kick but Ghouti moves his leg out of the way.
Po gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ghouti moves into the clinch.
Ghouti has Po pressed against the cage.
Po has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Po wants to break free but Ghouti has control.

Ghouti gets control of Po's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ghouti will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ghouti preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ghouti looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Ghouti 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ghouti is controlling Po's posture.

Ghouti scrambles and gets back to his feet.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Ghouti checks a leg kick.
Po throws a nice looking combination but Ghouti bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ghouti half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Po looks for a takedown but Ghouti sprawls well.
Ghouti attempts a counter takedown but Po avoids it well and moves away.
Po shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ghouti pinned against the cage. Ghouti gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Al Ghouti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shen Po.
Sloppy strikes from Po. Those never looked like landing.

Ghouti fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Po, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ghouti breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Po wants to clinch up but Ghouti keeps it at a distance.
Po throws a one two combo.

Ghouti moves into the clinch successfully.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Po can't get the takedown.
Po is looking to control Ghouti's arms but Ghouti gets an underhook and turns him. Now Po has his back to the cage.

Ghouti decides to pull guard.
Po wants to stand but Ghouti has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Po preventing the sweep.
Ghouti seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ghouti is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ghouti showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Ghouti scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ghouti passes Po's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ghouti works his foot free and advances to mount.

Ghouti working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Po looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Ghouti! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Al Ghouti!