PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Javed Iqbal (ranked 6585 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benthr Dontht (ranked 5702 p4p, 0 weight class). Javed Iqbal has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Iqbal
vs
Dontht

180 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

164 cm
25
144 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Javed Iqbal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Benthr Dontht!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dontht shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Iqbal is trying to defend but Dontht finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Iqbal is trying to control but can't.

Dontht is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Iqbal looking for submissions off his back.
Iqbal has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dontht is working away from the top position though.

Iqbal looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dontht scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dontht keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Iqbal actively working from the bottom here.
Iqbal trying to hold on to Dontht's head to control him but Dontht postures up.

Iqbal looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Dontht moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Iqbal.
Iqbal is trying to control Dontht's posture but Dontht avoids it.
Dontht lands some shots froms side control.

Dontht is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Iqbal is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iqbal tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Dontht wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Dontht moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Iqbal is trying to control Dontht's posture but Dontht avoids it.
Iqbal seems a little lost for a moment, as Dontht dominates the positioning.

Dontht has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Dontht gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dontht is trying to push Iqbal away but Iqbal has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Iqbal throws a head punch that misses.
Iqbal cracks Dontht with a nice body shot.
Iqbal misses with a body punch.
Dontht is trying to break the clinch but Iqbal is controlling him.
Dontht blocks a body shot from Iqbal.

Dontht ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Dontht no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Iqbal looking to pass the guard.
Iqbal is fighting to break Dontht's control of his arms but Dontht is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Dontht keeping moving, preventing Iqbal from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iqbal is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Dontht is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Dontht working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Iqbal doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Iqbal manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Dontht working for a triangle but Iqbal defends it easily.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Iqbal wants to control from the top but Dontht keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benthr Dontht dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Iqbal swings for the body but Dontht moves out of range.

Iqbal gets caught flat footed, as Dontht shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Dontht is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Dontht stands up from Iqbal's guard - Dontht perhaps looking for a knockout.
Dontht misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Iqbal tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Dontht manages to circle out of the way.
Dontht has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Dontht instigates a clinch.
Dontht manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Dontht is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Iqbal is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dontht effectively controlling the action here.
Iqbal misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Iqbal.

Dontht tightens his grip and picks Iqbal up, before dumping him to the ground. Iqbal manages to land in guard.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Iqbal looking for a guillotine here but Dontht defends easily.

Iqbal working for submissions but it's allowed Dontht to get to half guard.

Iqbal looking for submissions off his back.
Dontht works his way into side control.
Iqbal tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iqbal is letting Dontht control him for a moment.
Let's hope that Dontht has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Iqbal is looking to reverse the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Iqbal manages to work his way to half guard, despite Dontht's best efforts.

Dontht moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Iqbal.
Dontht moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Iqbal is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dontht is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Iqbal is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Dontht tries to move into full mount but can't pass Iqbal's legs.
You can see the frustration on Iqbal's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Dontht stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Javed Iqbal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Iqbal throws a left and a right that both miss

and Dontht counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Iqbal definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Iqbal looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Iqbal will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Iqbal trying to control the position.

Dontht stands up and waves to Iqbal to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iqbal takes one on the button.

Dontht closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Iqbal pulls guard.
Iqbal really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Dontht wants to get up but he can't break Iqbal's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Iqbal looking for a guillotine here but Dontht defends easily.

Iqbal looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Iqbal is looking to cinch up a triangle. Dontht throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Iqbal's body to avoid the submission. Iqbal has instead reached around Dontht's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Iqbal arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Javed Iqbal!