PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Abul Khayr Belabed (ranked 2449 p4p, 272 weight class) and Demetrious Waters (ranked 3162 p4p, 339 weight class). Demetrious Waters told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Khayr Belabed
vs
Waters

180 cm
27
155 lbs
8 - 9 - 1

187 cm
26
158 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 8 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abul Khayr Belabed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Demetrious Waters!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Waters throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Belabed was covering up waiting for the punch and Waters finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Belabed wants to sweep here but Waters controlling him for the moment.
Waters throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Belabed works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Waters throws an elbow that misses. Belabed uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Waters's guard. Nice move by Belabed!

Waters is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Waters is looking for a triangle here but Belabed uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Waters gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Waters looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Waters looking for submissions off his back.
Waters makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Waters.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Waters looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Waters looking for a guillotine here but Belabed defends easily.

Waters has his foot on Belabed's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Belabed works his way back into a safe position though.

Waters escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Belabed gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Belabed is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at The Coffee Shop that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belabed passes Waters's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Waters actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Waters moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Waters looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Belabed passes into half guard.

Waters looking for submissions off his back.

Waters looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Belabed is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Waters defends it well.
Waters is looking for a sweep. Belabed is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Waters manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Waters is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Belabed wants to pass the guard but Waters is keeping the position.

Waters is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Belabed has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Belabed is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Belabed trying to control but Waters is working from the bottom.

Waters looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Belabed avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Waters throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Belabed escapes and throws Waters's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Belabed trying to control the action but Waters is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Waters looks to move to half guard but instead Belabed has passed into mount! Damn!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demetrious Waters dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Waters shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Belabed napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Waters working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Waters lands a nice forearm strike.

Waters is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Belabed knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Waters working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Belabed is working to avoid the ground and pound but Waters connects with a decent elbow.

Waters thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Waters swings around for an armbar but Belabed sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Waters's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Waters has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Belabed can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Waters is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Belabed defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Waters throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Belabed trying to control but Waters is working from the bottom.

Waters working for a triangle but Belabed defends it easily.
Belabed slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

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.
Waters is looking to sweep but instead, Belabed has passed into half guard.

Waters looking for submissions off his back.

Waters looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Belabed wants to lay and pray for a moment but Waters keeps working.

Waters actively working from the bottom here.

Waters looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Waters looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Waters looking for submissions off his back.

Waters with the active half guard here but Belabed passes nicely into side control.
Belabed trying to control the action but Waters is working from the bottom.
Waters manages to work his way to half guard, despite Belabed's best efforts.

Waters looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Waters looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Waters actively working from the bottom here.
Belabed wants to take a breather but Waters is having none of it.
Demetrious Waters has got the better of the ground game so far.
Belabed prevents Waters from improving his position.

Waters looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Waters actively working from the bottom here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Waters looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Waters is breathing heavily.
Waters makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Waters.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demetrious Waters showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Waters fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Belabed to the ground. Waters is now in Belabed's guard.
Waters throws an elbow that misses. Belabed uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Waters's guard. Nice move by Belabed!

Waters keeping moving, preventing Belabed from controlling successfully.
Waters can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Belabed controls the pace.
Belabed knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Waters on the ground.

Waters working for submissions but it's allowed Belabed to get to half guard.

Waters looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Belabed pushes past his half guard into mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Waters keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belabed trying to control but Waters is having none of it.
Belabed controlling his opponent.
Waters is trying to escape the mount.
Belabed wants to control the pace but Waters is squirming around nicely.
Waters sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Waters looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Belabed is trying to control. Waters wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Waters actively working from the bottom here.

Waters looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Waters looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Waters takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Waters has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Belabed escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Belabed!
Waters is looking to reverse the position.
Waters is not content to let Belabed control the position.
Waters is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Belabed off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waters missing with strikes from the back.
Waters softening up his opponent with strikes here.

Belabed showing good submission defense here.
Waters is not going to allow Belabed to sit and survive in this position.
Waters throwing sloppy strikes.
Waters lands strikes to the head.
Waters has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Waters is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Waters keeps control of the position as Belabed tries to break free.
Belabed trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Waters tightening his grip on Belabed, looking for the choke.
Abul Khayr Belabed has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Waters is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Belabed knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Belabed for a finish.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Can Belabed hold on?! Waters is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.

Belabed is rocked!

And that's the end of the fight!
Demetrious Waters comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Waters has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Demetrious Waters!