PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Malek Mohammed (ranked 2704 p4p, 341 weight class) and Bina Raga (ranked 3494 p4p, 415 weight class). Malek Mohammed has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Mohammed
vs
Raga

189 cm
24
180 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

171 cm
22
182 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Malek Mohammed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Bina Raga!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Richard Clark and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Mohammed misses.
Mohammed tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Raga paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Raga is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Mohammed will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mohammed getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Raga showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mohammed.
Mohammed tries to clinch there but Raga circles away.
Raga is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mohammed tries to clinch up.
Mohammed misses with a series of wild punches.
Raga feints the counter takedown.
Mohammed moves in looking to clinch but Raga pushes him off.
Raga drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mohammed defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mohammed throws a right hand that Raga ducks under and follows up with a left that Raga also avoids with ease.
Mohammed lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Mohammed.
Mohammed tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Raga counters with a takedown into side control.
Mohammed being controlled for a moment.
Raga misses with the ground and pound.

Raga goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Mohammed has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Raga but great work by Mohammed.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Mohammed decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Raga circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mohammed is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raga takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Malek Mohammed seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mohammed is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mohammed throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Raga counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Raga sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mohammed defending well though.
Raga is looking to take a break and control but Mohammed is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mohammed blocking the ground and pound attempt from Raga.
Raga sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Raga working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Mohammed's thigh. Mohammed counters though and makes it back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raga trying to control the position from guard on top but Mohammed is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mohammed will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mohammed keeping full guard, as Raga tries to pass.
Raga wants to control from the top but Mohammed keeps moving.
Mohammed has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

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.
Raga engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Raga throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Mohammed tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Raga is in Mohammed's guard.
Raga trying to control but Mohammed is working from the bottom.
Raga is fighting to break Mohammed's control of his arms but Mohammed is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malek Mohammed dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mohammed tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Raga changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Raga has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Raga there as he acknowledges the shot.
Mohammed misses with a double jab.
Malek Mohammed is winning the standup battle so far.
Mohammed scores with a hook.
Mohammed misses with a two punch combination.
Raga showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mohammed.
Raga with the counter takedown but Mohammed avoids it easily.
Mohammed tries to clinch up but Raga circles away and keeps his distance.
Mohammed backing away here, and Raga unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Mohammed tries to bum rush Raga with a series of wild strikes but Raga uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
And Raga tries to counter it with a takedown but Mohammed pushes his down on his head and steps out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mohammed tries to clinch but Raga moves out of range.
Mohammed misses with a combination

and Raga counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Mohammed is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Raga can do to turn this around?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Raga wants to pass the guard but Mohammed is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mohammed looking to control.
Mohammed has his hands on Raga's head, controlling the position.
Raga throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mohammed works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Raga loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Raga looking to sit in guard and control but Mohammed gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Raga trying to keep a closed guard but Mohammed is proving a slippery customer.

Mohammed stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mohammed tries to clinch but Raga moves out of range.
Raga slips a jab and a cross from Mohammed.
Raga tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
A head kick by Mohammed misses

and Raga counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mohammed won't be happy with that.

Mohammed bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Mohammed moves into range and clinches up with Raga.
Mohammed tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Raga avoids it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Mohammed creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Mohammed's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mohammed darts in trying to clinch

and Raga counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Mohammed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raga wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mohammed keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raga in side control, throwing shots but Mohammed defends.
Mohammed avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Raga.
Mohammed is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Touch Of Death Combat Academy, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Raga taking a break here but Mohammed is having none of it and regains half guard.
Mohammed regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Raga.
Raga pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mohammed is keeping the position for now.

That's four 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.
Mohammed avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Raga stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mohammed swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mohammed working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Raga.
Raga throws an elbow that misses. Mohammed uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Raga's guard. Nice move by Mohammed!

Raga looking for a sweep. Not yet Raga, not yet.
Mohammed postures up.
Mohammed stopping the sweep attempt from Raga.
Raga wants to stand but Mohammed is controlling the position.

Raga is working an open guard so Mohammed takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malek Mohammed dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mohammed misses with a double jab.
Raga changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Mohammed throws a nice looking combination but Raga bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And Raga tries to counter it with a takedown but Mohammed pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Mohammed wants to clinch up but Raga keeps it at a distance.
And Raga tries to counter it with a takedown but Mohammed pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Raga takes one on the button.
Raga bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Raga is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Mohammed throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Raga feints the counter takedown.
Raga circles away from the clinch attempt.
Raga drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mohammed defends it well.
Mohammed misses with a two punch combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mohammed is looking to clinch but Raga is avoiding it.
Raga throws a counter combo.
A combination from Mohammed does no damage.
And Raga tries to counter it with a takedown but Mohammed pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Mohammed is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Mohammed swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Raga counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Raga.
Raga throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raga throws an elbow that misses. Mohammed uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Raga's guard. Nice move by Mohammed!

Mohammed won't allow Raga to sweep him here.

Mohammed stands and steps away. Raga gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Mohammed fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Raga is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Mohammed misses with a double jab

and Raga counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Mohammed is looking to stand back up but Raga counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Mohammed.

Raga prevents Mohammed from standing back up.
Raga missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raga is looking to take a break and control but Mohammed is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Raga is looking to stall here but Mohammed recovers full guard.
Raga postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Raga showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Raga trying to control the position from guard on top but Mohammed is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mohammed avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Raga postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Raga trying to control but Mohammed is working from the bottom.
Raga trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Mohammed has closed the distance and engaged Raga in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Raga has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mohammed avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Mohammed pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Raga gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Mohammed throws a leg kick but Raga moved away.
Mohammed tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Raga manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mohammed darts in trying to clinch

and Raga counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Raga postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Raga postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Raga is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Bina Raga has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Malek Mohammed is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mohammed is pulling down on Raga's head to control his posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malek Mohammed showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mohammed, 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malek Mohammed!
After winning the bout, Malek Mohammed thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.