PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Norman Young (ranked 2672 p4p, 288 weight class) and Omar Al Boleahi (ranked 3646 p4p, 360 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Young
vs
Al Boleahi

173 cm
25
158 lbs
4 - 12 - 0

179 cm
25
157 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Norman Young!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Omar Al Boleahi!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Jorge Garcia and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Al Boleahi closes the distance and clinches up with Young, looking for a takedown. Al Boleahi pushes Young against the cage but Young circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Al Boleahi misses with a takedown attempt - Young sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Young throwing a counter right hand but Al Boleahi manages to avoid it.
Young shoots in but Al Boleahi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
No luck for Al Boleahi with that takedown attempt.
Norman Young has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Omar Al Boleahi.
Young misses with a head kick.
Al Boleahi drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Young defends it well.
Al Boleahi dives in for a single leg takedown but Young sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Young shoots in for a takedown but Al Boleahi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Young is defended easily by Al Boleahi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Young throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Al Boleahi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Al Boleahi lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Young looking for a sweep. Not yet Young, not yet.
Young lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Al Boleahi keeping moving, preventing Young from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Boleahi wants to stand and escape but Young is having none of it.
Young showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Al Boleahi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Al Boleahi keeping moving, preventing Young from controlling successfully.
Al Boleahi wants to stand and escape but Young is having none of it.
Young controlling from the top position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Al Boleahi can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Young trying to control but Al Boleahi is working from the bottom.
Al Boleahi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Young. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Al Boleahi tries to score a power double leg takedown but Young sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Al Boleahi somewhat.
Al Boleahi shoots in for a double leg but Young sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Al Boleahi is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Young's half guard.
Al Boleahi lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Young gets full guard.
Al Boleahi throws an elbow that misses. Young uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Al Boleahi's guard. Nice move by Young!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Young stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Al Boleahi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Al Boleahi wants to stand but Young is controlling the position.

Young stands up and waves to Al Boleahi to follow him.
Young shoots for a takedown but Al Boleahi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Young closes the distance and clinches up with Al Boleahi, looking for a takedown. Young pushes Al Boleahi against the cage but Al Boleahi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Al Boleahi dives in and scores a takedown into Young's guard.
Al Boleahi chips away with some ground and pound.
Al Boleahi stands up over Young, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Young is breathing heavily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Al Boleahi's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Boleahi working some strikes from top position.
Al Boleahi with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Young is rocked!
Al Boleahi chips away with some ground and pound.
Oh Young is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Al Boleahi is looking to work some ground and pound but Young has wrist control.
Young seems to have got his legs back now.
Al Boleahi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Al Boleahi cracks Young with a solid left hand.
Al Boleahi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Al Boleahi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Al Boleahi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Al Boleahi with a nice head shot there.
Al Boleahi scoring with some ground and pound.
Young manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Al Boleahi manages to get himself to full guard.

Young won't allow Al Boleahi to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Omar Al Boleahi dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Young stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Young wants it to stay on the feet.

Al Boleahi scores with a takedown into Young's guard.
Al Boleahi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Young looking to control.
Al Boleahi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Al Boleahi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Young working a defensive guard here.
Al Boleahi is looking to work some ground and pound but Young has wrist control.
Al Boleahi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Al Boleahi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Boleahi throws an elbow that misses. Young uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Al Boleahi's guard. Nice move by Young!

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Al Boleahi keeping moving, preventing Young from controlling successfully.
Young prevents Al Boleahi from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Boleahi keeping moving, preventing Young from controlling successfully.
Young slips nicely into half guard.
Al Boleahi wants to get back to his feet.
Young is looking to advance position but Al Boleahi won't allow it.
Young prevents Al Boleahi from standing back up.
Young wants to take a breather but Al Boleahi is having none of it.
Al Boleahi is trying to stand.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Al Boleahi looks for a takedown but Young sprawls well.
Young looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Young shoots in looking for a takedown but Al Boleahi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Young's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Al Boleahi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Norman Young has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Omar Al Boleahi.
Al Boleahi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Young pinned against the cage. Young gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Young is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Al Boleahi has his takedown stuffed
and Al Boleahi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Young tries to clinch up but Al Boleahi circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Boleahi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Young is fending him off so far but Al Boleahi persists. Nope, Young circles away and we're back to standing.
Young is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Al Boleahi.
Some bone on bone action there as Al Boleahi checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Al Boleahi feints the counter takedown.
Omar Al Boleahi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Al Boleahi dives in and grabs Young's left leg, looking for a takedown. Young pushes down on Al Boleahi's head and hops out.
Al Boleahi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Al Boleahi wants it to stay on the feet.
Al Boleahi shoots in for a takedown but Young shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Young closes this distance looking for a takedown but Al Boleahi circles away.
Young looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Norman Young is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Young fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Al Boleahi shoots in but Young avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Young throws a big counter combination but Al Boleahi scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Young scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Young shoots in and drives through. Al Boleahi sprawls well.
Norman Young is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Al Boleahi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Young looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Young throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Al Boleahi lands a decent elbow from side control.
Al Boleahi tries to advance to mount but Young denies him.
Al Boleahi landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Al Boleahi in side control lands a decent elbow.
Al Boleahi is working Young over with some ground and pound from side control.
Young wants to control but Al Boleahi postures up.
Al Boleahi scoring with punches from side control.
Al Boleahi cracks Young with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Al Boleahi scoring with punches and elbows.
Al Boleahi grinds an elbow into Young's temple.
Young is looking for a sweep.
Al Boleahi lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Young down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Omar Al Boleahi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Al Boleahi looking to score a takedown here. Young is defending well but Al Boleahi drives through and ends up in Young's guard.
Young has momentary wrist control but Al Boleahi slips an elbow through the middle.

Young manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Young gets a clinch.
Young tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Al Boleahi avoids it.

Al Boleahi has hold of one of Young's legs. Young is fighting the takedown attempt but Al Boleahi gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Young pushes Al Boleahi off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Al Boleahi looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Young!
Al Boleahi working the body and head with strikes.
Al Boleahi is putting a hurting on Young here, landing some big shots from side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Young takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Al Boleahi cracks Young with a big right hand but Young just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Al Boleahi connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Young some visible discomfort.
Al Boleahi lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Young takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
A big shot lands for Al Boleahi! That's hurt Young! Will he recover? Al Boleahi fires away with more strikes and the referee has to step in to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Omar Al Boleahi!