PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chris Callahan (ranked 2866 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ahktar Rasul (ranked 5142 p4p, 500 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Callahan
vs
Rasul

180 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Callahan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ahktar Rasul!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Anthony Taglia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Callahan doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rasul counters by moving into the clinch.
Callahan using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Callahan blocks an uppercut.

Callahan pulls Rasul into guard.
Callahan on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Callahan tries to get out of the position.
Callahan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rasul manages to get himself to full guard.

Callahan prevents Rasul from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Callahan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Callahan gets to his feet - Rasul follows without any prompting.

Callahan scores with a takedown into Rasul's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasul wants to stand up but Callahan is controlling him.
Callahan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Callahan stands and throws Rasul's legs to the side, diving into side control.
An elbow from Callahan crashes against the mat.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Callahan is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rasul has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rasul is trying to escape the position but Callahan is controlling the position.
Rasul is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Callahan throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Callahan landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Callahan taking a breather here.
Rasul is trying to buck Callahan off.
Sloppy strikes there by Callahan.
You can see the frustration on Rasul's face as Callahan controls the position.

Callahan tries for a kimura but Rasul is defending well.
Callahan looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Rasul is avoiding damage well.
Callahan has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Callahan thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Callahan happy to just control the position for now.
Rasul takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Callahan dominated that round.
That's time! Callahan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Callahan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rasul swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rasul throws the left hand but Callahan avoids the punch easily.
Callahan looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rasul swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Callahan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rasul avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Callahan punishes Rasul's body with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Callahan shoots for a double leg takedown but Rasul sprawls well. He's pushed Callahan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Callahan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Callahan moves in looking to clinch but Rasul pushes him off.
Callahan fails with the takedown.
Rasul steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Callahan.
Callahan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rasul! But no joy.
Callahan shoots in for a takedown but Rasul shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Callahan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rasul swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Callahan throws a head kick that Rasul semi-blocks.
Callahan throws a combination that misses

and Rasul counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rasul.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rasul lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Callahan.
Rasul tries to work over Callahan's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rasul tries to work over Callahan's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rasul tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Callahan's elbow.
Callahan blocks a body shot from Rasul.
Rasul struggles to land a body shot inside as Callahan controls his hands.
Rasul misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rasul tries to work over Callahan's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rasul tries to work over Callahan's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Callahan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rasul can do to turn this around?
Callahan lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rasul backwards.
Callahan is looking to take this one to the mat.
Rasul throws a head punch that misses.
Rasul fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rasul prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rasul tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Callahan's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasul throws a head punch that misses.
Rasul misses with a punch on the inside.
Rasul misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rasul tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Callahan's elbow.
Callahan is working for takedown but Rasul is calmly controlling the position for now.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rasul.
Rasul tries to throw a body punch but Callahan avoids it by throwing Rasul back against the cage.
Rasul misses with a punch to the body.
Rasul tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rasul doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Callahan tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rasul struggles to land a body shot inside as Callahan controls his hands.
Callahan wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rasul tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Callahan's elbow.
Callahan blocks a body shot from Rasul.
Rasul prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Callahan wants to break free but Rasul has control.
Rasul has a couple of punches blocked by Callahan.
Rasul digs a right hand into Callahan's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Callahan's gas tank.
Rasul misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rasul goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Callahan taking a breather.
Rasul gets underhooks to prevent Callahan's takedown attempt.
Rasul tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Callahan is trying to maintain a safe position but Rasul gets an underhook and turns Callahan into the cage.
Ahktar Rasul seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rasul misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Callahan jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rasul walks away with a smile on his face. Callahan gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Callahan changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rasul tries to avoid it but Callahan manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rasul to the ground. Rasul escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Callahan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rasul avoids it really well and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahktar Rasul showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Callahan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Callahan shoots in for a double leg but Rasul sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Chris Callahan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rasul throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rasul avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rasul looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Callahan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Callahan scores with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Callahan moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Callahan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rasul manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Callahan.
Rasul bucks up and tries to throw Callahan off but instead Callahan has got his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rasul wants to get back to his feet. He's half way up but Callahan drags him back down with a jolt, managing to get his forearm deep under Rasul 's chin! Rasul is in real trouble! His face is turning bright red and he's forced to tap! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Chris Callahan!