PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sarfraz Ali (ranked 236 p4p, 32 weight class) and Evgeni Elkemenchi (ranked 575 p4p, 80 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ali
vs
Elkemenchi

165 cm
28
155 lbs
15 - 6 - 1

172 cm
33
168 lbs
17 - 15 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

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 15 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sarfraz Ali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 15 - 1, fighting out of London, Evgeni Elkemenchi!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Aafke Stam and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good shot there by Elkemenchi.
Elkemenchi throws a leg kick but Ali sees it coming and checks it nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Ali misses the target.
Sarfraz Ali seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Elkemenchi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ali connects with a single shot there.
An inside leg kick lands from Ali.
Ali misses with a looping right.
Elkemenchi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ali as he avoids it easily.
Ali lands a jab to Elkemenchi's midsection.
Ali cracks a nice hook into Elkemenchi's ribs.
We've been told by Ali's head coaches at Gym Boiks that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Elkemenchi misses with a hook. Ali ducked under it nicely.
Ali tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ali uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Ali is looking to clinch.
A jab from Ali misses.
Elkemenchi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ali as he avoids it easily.
Elkemenchi darts in looking for a takedown but Ali gets double underhooks and turns Elkemenchi into the cage.
Sarfraz Ali has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evgeni Elkemenchi.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ali tries to clinch up but Elkemenchi circles away and keeps his distance.
A jab from Ali does it's job there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali misses with a hook
and Elkemenchi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ali scores with a hook.
Ali lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Elkemenchi fails with a takedown attempt.
Ali looks to score with a jab to the body but Elkemenchi is just out of range.
Ali throws a looping overhand right but Elkemenchi ducks down to avoid it.
Jab by Elkemenchi.
Ali scores with a leg kick.
Elkemenchi misses with a head kick.
Ali fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Ali fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Elkemenchi on the side of the head.
Elkemenchi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Elkemenchi there as he acknowledges the shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Elkemenchi shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ali wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Elkemenchi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ali is trying to stand back up but Elkemenchi is controlling him
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Elkemenchi is looking to take a break and control but Ali is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Elkemenchi is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ali defends it well.
Elkemenchi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Elkemenchi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Elkemenchi looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ali pushes Elkemenchi off looking to stand but Elkemenchi dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ali takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Ali fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Elkemenchi has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Elkemenchi blocks the body kick.
A cross from Ali lands.
Elkemenchi scores with a jab. Ali acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Elkemenchi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ali.
Ali lands a jab.

Ali clinches with his opponent.
Ali tries a body shot but Elkemenchi blocks it.
Elkemenchi working hard to break the clinch.
Ali misses with a punch on the inside.
Elkemenchi has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elkemenchi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ali has him pressed against the cage.

Elkemenchi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ali turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Elkemenchi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Elkemenchi scores with a nice right hand.
Elkemenchi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ali.
Elkemenchi misses with a takedown attempt - Ali sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A big left from Ali misses.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ali is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Ali clobbers Elkemenchi with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Ali scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ali connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Elkemenchi blocks a jab.
Elkemenchi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ali throws a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sarfraz Ali dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ali throws the kick towards the body but Elkemenchi avoids it.
Elkemenchi on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Elkemenchi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ali. Ali obviously looking to wear him down.
Elkemenchi shoots in for a takedown but Ali shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ali throws a hook to the side of Elkemenchi's head but Elkemenchi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sarfraz Ali is winning the standup battle so far.
Elkemenchi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ali is fending him off so far but Elkemenchi persists. Nope, Ali circles away and we're back to standing.
Ali is looking to counter punch.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Ali.

Ali clinches with his opponent.
Elkemenchi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ali has him pressed against the cage.
Elkemenchi's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Ali tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A nice left hand lands by Ali.
Ali is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Elkemenchi can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ali lands with a light punch inside.
A frustrated look appears on Elkemenchi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Good body shot from Ali.
Elkemenchi wants to get back to striking at distance but Ali won't allow it.
Elkemenchi trying to control the position but instead, Ali has worked for underhooks and has pushed Elkemenchi into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Elkemenchi's elbow.
Elkemenchi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A right hand to the body from Ali.
Ali goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Elkemenchi prevents a body shot from Ali.
Ali working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Elkemenchi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Still in the clinch, Ali scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ali tries to work over Elkemenchi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ali doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ali lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Elkemenchi or not.

Elkemenchi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ali scoring well with a low kick there.
Elkemenchi misses with a left hand
and Ali counters with a stiff right hand.
Elkemenchi throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elkemenchi takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A jab from Ali finds it's way through Elkemenchi's defenses.
Elkemenchi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ali.
Ali connects with a good right hand that stumbles Elkemenchi. Elkemenchi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Elkemenchi avoids a kick to the body.
Elkemenchi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Ali.
Ali throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Elkemenchi.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ali.
Elkemenchi throws out a loose jab but Ali uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ali misses with an uppercut.
Elkemenchi looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Elkemenchi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sarfraz Ali has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evgeni Elkemenchi.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ali darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
An inside leg kick lands from Ali.
Ali dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Elkemenchi. That did some damage!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Elkemenchi. That did some damage!
Ali scores with a nice body kick.
Elkemenchi tries to move into range but Ali moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Elkemenchi on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Nice shot by Ali.
Ali throws a front kick aimed at Elkemenchi's knee but Elkemenchi avoids it well.
A jab lands there for Ali.
Ali throws a head kick that Elkemenchi semi-blocks.
Elkemenchi moves into range and connects with a jab.
Elkemenchi with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Ali to counter with a crisp jab.
Ali throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
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!
A slapping leg kick lands for Ali.
Ali scores with a sloppy right hand. Elkemenchi should have avoided that one.
Good leg kick by Ali there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ali throws a right hand that Elkemenchi ducks under and follows up with a left that Elkemenchi also avoids with ease.
Elkemenchi with the counter takedown but Ali avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elkemenchi takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Elkemenchi might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Ali is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ali.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ali.
Ali throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Ali connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Elkemenchi drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Ali lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Elkemenchi throws a shot from downtown. Ali moves away and avoids it.
Ali jabs Elkemenchi to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Elkemenchi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Elkemenchi tries to keep at a distance but Ali has taken the fight into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ali lands a right hand that snaps the head of Elkemenchi backwards.
Ali throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Elkemenchis head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sarfraz Ali dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Elkemenchi takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Ali misses with an uppercut. Elkemenchi saw that one coming.
Ali misses with an uppercut.
A jab from Elkemenchi does it's job there.
Elkemenchi ducks under a wild hook from Ali.
Ali throws a nice inside leg kick.
Elkemenchi lands the left hand.
Ali throws a low kick but it's checked well by Elkemenchi.
Good work by Elkemenchi as he checks the leg kick.
Elkemenchi shoots in and drives through. Ali sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali stuns Elkemenchi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Ali lands with a thumping leg kick.
Elkemenchi bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ali's head.
Ali looks to land a right hand but Elkemenchi moved out of range.
Ali with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elkemenchi fails with a takedown attempt.
Ali bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Elkemenchi's head backwards.
Elkemenchi tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ali slips a straight right by Elkemenchi.
Ali lands a nice leg kick that just misses Elkemenchi's sensitive parts.
Ali tests Elkemenchi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ali throws a nice looking combination but Elkemenchi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ali scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Ali misses with a low kick.
Elkemenchi moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Elkemenchi throws a hook to the side of Ali's head but Ali sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elkemenchi throws a chopping leg kick but Ali manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Ali feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Elkemenchi's calf.
Ali fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Elkemenchi checks a low kick from Ali.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Elkemenchi throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Ali misses with a looping right.
Elkemenchi closes the distance and clinches up with Ali, looking for a takedown. Elkemenchi pushes Ali against the cage but Ali circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sarfraz Ali has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evgeni Elkemenchi.
Ali scores with a jab.
A punch lands to the side of Elkemenchi 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Elkemenchi drops his hands momentarily and Ali takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Elkemenchi has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Elkemenchi tries for a takedown but Ali circles away easily
and Ali counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Elkemenchi shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Ali has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Elkemenchi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Elkemenchi takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali thuds his right hand into Elkemenchi's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Elkemenchi throws a sloppy head kick and Ali moves out of range easily.
Ali tries to land a front kick but Elkemenchi steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Elkemenchi throws a big counter head kick but Ali avoids it with no problem.

Elkemenchi closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ali's guard.

Ali manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Elkemenchi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ali.
Ali connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Elkemenchi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Ali ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ali scores with a nice right hand.
The fighters circling - Ali throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Elkemenchi swings widly with a right hand
and Ali counters with a straight right hand.
Ali throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali lands a nice looking body kick.
Ali connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ali tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Elkemenchi throws out a counter right but Ali avoids it with no problem.
Ali connects with a looping right hand.

Elkemenchi looking to score a takedown here. Ali is defending well but Elkemenchi drives through and ends up in Ali's guard.

Ali has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Elkemenchi is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Ali cracks Elkemenchi with a nice body shot.
A short right from Ali.
Evgeni Elkemenchi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Elkemenchi prevents a body shot from Ali.
Ali lands a nice uppercut.
Elkemenchi has had enough of the clinch but Ali keeps him there for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ali working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ali working aggressively here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ali.
Sarfraz Ali has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Ali lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Elkemenchi is rocked!

And that's the end of the fight!
Sarfraz Ali showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ali, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 30:26
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:26
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sarfraz Ali!
During a confident post fight interview, Sarfraz Ali thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.