PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Riley Ferguson (ranked 1660 p4p, 201 weight class) and Al Ghouti (ranked 2776 p4p, 297 weight class). Ghouti has chosen DAM - JASADIK-HOM as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ferguson
vs
Ghouti

179 cm
23
160 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

177 cm
21
157 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

UnderGround Clothing Co.

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Riley Ferguson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Al Ghouti!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Summer Carpenter and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ferguson misses with a hook. Ghouti ducked under it nicely.
Ghouti uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ferguson.
Ghouti keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Despite the aggression on Ghouti's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Ghouti takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Ghouti thuds his right hand into Ferguson's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Ferguson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jab by Ferguson.
Ghouti slips under a jab.
Ghouti is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ferguson lands with a nice combination. Ghouti backs away looking to recover.
Ferguson stalks Ghouti and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ghouti's face. Ghouti staggers backwards, shaken.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ferguson misses with a hook. Ghouti ducked under it nicely.
Ferguson scores with a punch to the head.
Ghouti throws a body punch but Ferguson moves out of range.
Ghouti moves out of range of the strikes.
It seemed like Ghouti was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Ferguson there.
Ferguson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ghouti sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ghouti uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ferguson.
Ghouti bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ferguson missing with a left hand there. Ghouti was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And Ghouti tries to counter it with a takedown but Ferguson pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A lazy left from Ferguson finds it's target.
Ghouti misses with a body shot
and Ferguson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ferguson looks to throw the jab but Ghouti is out of range.
Ferguson throws a lazy uppercut
and Ghouti counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ghouti with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Ghouti fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ferguson, pushing him back against the cage.
Ferguson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ghouti drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ferguson gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson has a couple of punches blocked by Ghouti.
Ferguson takes a shot to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ferguson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ghouti lands with a cross.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ghouti.
Ferguson misses with a looping right.
Ferguson missing with a left hand there. Ghouti was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Decent striking displayed by Ferguson there.
Ferguson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ferguson. Ghouti does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ferguson throws a shot from downtown. Ghouti moves away and avoids it.
Ferguson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson throws a hook but Ghouti avoids it easily.
Ghouti swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Ghouti showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ferguson.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Ghouti! But no joy.
Ghouti uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ferguson.
Ferguson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ghouti paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ghouti swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Ferguson scores with a jab to the jaw.
Ferguson misses with a double jab.
Ferguson tries to close the distance and clinch but Ghouti swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ferguson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ferguson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ghouti counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Ferguson is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Ghouti keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Ferguson misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ghouti ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ghouti slips under a jab.
It seemed like Ghouti was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Ghouti moves into the clinch.
Ferguson misses with some punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ghouti struggles to land a body shot inside as Ferguson controls his hands.
Ghouti misses with a punch on the inside.
Ferguson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ferguson is trying to break the clinch but Ghouti has him pressed against the cage.

Ferguson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've been told by Ferguson's head coaches at Panda Sprawl n Brawl that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Ghouti catches Ferguson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Ferguson throws a right and a left that Ghouti avoids nicely.
Ferguson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Ghouti misses with a shot to the body
and Ferguson counters with a nice body shot.
Ghouti avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riley Ferguson dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ghouti slips under a jab from Ferguson.
A nice side step and Ghouti releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Ghouti looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ghouti swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ferguson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Ferguson misses with a body shot.
Ghouti doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Ferguson misses with a looping left.
Ghouti closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Ferguson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ghouti throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Riley Ferguson is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ferguson misses with a combination
and Ghouti connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ferguson misses with an uppercut.
Ghouti uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ferguson.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ferguson clinches.
Ghouti doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ghouti can't find room to land a body shot as Ferguson controls the action.
Ferguson working aggressively here.
Ferguson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Ferguson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ferguson misses with an uppercut. Ghouti saw that one coming.
Good exchange - Ferguson coming out on top.
Ghouti avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ghouti with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ghouti steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ferguson.
Ghouti steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ferguson.
Ferguson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ghouti can do to turn this around?
Ferguson misses with a hook.
Ghouti wants to counter with a clinch but Ferguson pushes him away.
Ferguson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ferguson is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Ghouti throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ferguson sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ferguson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ghouti looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Ferguson misses with a lunging right hand
letting Ghouti counter with a right hand.
Ferguson looks to throw the jab but Ghouti is out of range.
Ghouti throws out a counter right but Ferguson avoids it with no problem.
Ghouti scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ferguson closes the distance and clinches.
Ghouti makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ferguson.

Ferguson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ferguson misses with a hook. Ghouti ducked under it nicely.
Ferguson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ghouti is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Ferguson with a body shot.
Ferguson misses with an uppercut. Ghouti saw that one coming.
A telegraphed right hand from Ferguson misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ghouti connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Ferguson momentarily.
Ferguson throws a hook but Ghouti avoids it easily.
Ferguson looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ferguson tries to clinch but Ghouti is having none of it.
Ghouti misses with a looping right.
Ferguson fails to land with a series of punches.
Ferguson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Ghouti's corner calls for a 1-2. Ghouti obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Ferguson misses with a right hand
and Ghouti counters with a one-two to the body.
Ferguson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ghouti.
Ferguson throwing a counter right hand but Ghouti manages to avoid it.
Ferguson throws a hook but Ghouti avoids it easily.
Ferguson scores with a body shot.
Al Ghouti has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Ferguson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ghouti.
Ghouti is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Ferguson throws a big shot that misses.
Ferguson lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Ferguson misses with a double jab
and Ghouti counters with a nice uppercut.
Ghouti takes a swing at Ferguson's ribcage but misses.
Ferguson slips under a jab from Ghouti.
Ghouti fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ghouti keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ferguson.
Ghouti is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Ghouti forces Ferguson back against the cage and clinches.

Ferguson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Riley Ferguson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice shot by Ferguson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Riley Ferguson will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Ghouti swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ghouti is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ferguson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ghouti looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Ferguson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ghouti swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ferguson throws a right hand that misses

and Ghouti counters by clinching up.
Ghouti misses with a body punch.
Ghouti lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ferguson backwards.
Ghouti pushes off an throws an elbow but Ferguson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Ghouti tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Al Ghouti seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short uppercut from Ghouti.
Ghouti throws a punch but it's blocked by Ferguson.
Ghouti lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ferguson working hard to break the clinch.
Ferguson is trying to break the clinch but Ghouti is controlling him.
Ferguson blocks a body shot from Ghouti.
Ghouti lands with a left to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ferguson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ghouti's elbow.
Ghouti pushes Ferguson back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Ghouti has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Ferguson seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Ghouti can turn it around.
Ferguson blocks a body shot from Ghouti.
A right hook to the body lands for Ghouti.
Ferguson tries to circle away but Ghouti has him pinned against the cage.
Ghouti tries to work over Ferguson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ferguson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ghouti lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ghouti misses with a body punch.
Ferguson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ghouti scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ghouti.
Ferguson prevents a body shot from Ghouti.
Ghouti tries to throw a body punch but Ferguson avoids it by throwing Ghouti back against the cage.
Ghouti struggles to land a body shot inside as Ferguson controls his hands.
Ghouti misses with a punch to the body.
Ghouti blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ferguson tries to circle away but Ghouti has him pinned against the cage.

Ferguson breaks from the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ghouti. Ferguson does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson misses with a body punch
and Ghouti counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ferguson misses with an uppercut.
Ferguson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ferguson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Ghouti moves out of range of the strikes.
Ghouti ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ferguson moves away.
Ferguson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ferguson sizes up Ghouti with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Ferguson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ghouti moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ghouti appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Ghouti throws a body punch but Ferguson moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson connects with a body shot.
Ferguson rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ghouti connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ferguson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Ferguson thuds a left hand into Ghouti's body.
Ghouti on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Ferguson on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Nice defenses there by Ghouti.
Good standup being displayed there by Ferguson as he connects with a hook.
A swing and a miss from Ferguson.
A combination from Ghouti does no damage.
Ferguson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ghouti misses with an uppercut
letting Ferguson counter with a right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ferguson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ghouti sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ghouti appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Ferguson throws a looping overhand right but Ghouti ducks down to avoid it.
Ferguson throws an overhand right that lands on Ghouti's shoulder, as Ghouti tries to avoid the shot.
Ghouti let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Ghouti keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ghouti ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ghouti fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ferguson throws a jab but it's blocked by Ghouti.
A little jabbing left from Ghouti on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Ghouti's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Ferguson connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Ghouti scrambles back to his feet.
Ghouti swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Ferguson counters with a straight right hand.
Ghouti stuns Ferguson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A jab lands there for Ghouti.

And that's the end of the fight!
Al Ghouti comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ferguson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Riley Ferguson!