PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sarfraz Ali (ranked 149 p4p, 112 weight class) and The Reverend Jim Ignatowski (ranked 16 p4p, 14 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ali
vs
Ignatowski

165 cm
36
155
32 - 14 - 1

174 cm
30
146
13 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

SynCity Fightwear
Voodoo Nutrition

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 32 - 14 - 1, fighting out of New York, Sarfraz Ali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, The Reverend Jim Ignatowski!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shigeki Sano and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ignatowski checks the leg kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ali has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ali there as he acknowledges the shot.
Ignatowski slips under a jab.
It seemed like Ignatowski was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Sarfraz Ali seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ignatowski lands an overhand right.
Ali throws a low kick but Ignatowski avoids it.
A jab from Ignatowski does it's job there.
Ignatowski throws a low kick, looking for Ali's leg but Ali calmly moves out of range.
Ali throws a body shot but no joy.
Ignatowski throws a big shot that misses.
Ali connects with a right hand. Ignatowski shakes it off.
Ali throws a leg kick but Ignatowski checks it.
Ali throws a leg kick which misses Ignatowski's front leg but catches the back leg as Ignatowski tries to avoid it.

Ignatowski instigates a clinch.
Ali tries a body shot but Ignatowski blocks it.
Ali tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ignatowski's elbow.
Ali misses with the head strike.
Ignatowski tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ignatowski taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head punch on the inside from Ali fails to land.
Ali digs a right hand into Ignatowski's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ignatowski's gas tank.
Ignatowski prevents a body shot from Ali.
Ali is trying to break free.
A short body shot lands from Ignatowski as the two fighters clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ali has a couple of punches blocked by Ignatowski.
Ignatowski prevents a body shot from Ali.
Ali throws a head punch that misses.
Ignatowski prevents a body shot from Ali.
Ali blocking some punches.
Ignatowski lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ignatowski lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ali backwards.
Ignatowski blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ali tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ignatowski's elbow.
Ali scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A left hand lands to the body for Ali.
Ali misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ali misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ali has a couple of punches blocked by Ignatowski.

Ali pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ali throws out a loose jab but Ignatowski uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ali misses with a looping right.
Ali thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ignatowski doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Ignatowski throws out a loose jab but Ali uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ali throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ignatowski fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ali is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ignatowski swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nice shot lands for Ali.
Ali looks to score with a jab to the body but Ignatowski is just out of range.
Ali with a nice calf kick.
Ali with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ali fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ignatowski manages to avoid it.
Ignatowski fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ali.
Ali throws a hook but Ignatowski blocks it.
Ali throws a shot from downtown. Ignatowski moves away and avoids it.
Ali swats away the attempt to clinch by Ignatowski.
Ali tried to score with a low kick but Ignatowski checks it.
Ali moves forwards but Ignatowski connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Ali is looking to slow Ignatowski down with leg kicks.
Ignatowski connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Ali ducks under a wild hook from Ignatowski.
Ali misses with a wild body shot.
Ali turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ali fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ignatowski.
Ignatowski has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Ali has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ignatowski.
Ali lands an overhand right.
Ali moves away from the strike by Ignatowski.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ali scores with a jab. Ignatowski acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Ignatowski is looking to score with low kicks.
Ignatowski throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Ignatowski does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Ali lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ali connects with an inside leg kick.
Ignatowski tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ali manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ignatowski staying out of range there.
Ignatowski attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A decent looking cross lands there for Ali.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Ignatowski.
That kick from Ignatowski tenderised Ali's leg. Ali is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ignatowski's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Ali keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A good leg kick by Ali.
Ignatowski swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ali swings for the body but Ignatowski moves out of range.
Ignatowski fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ali.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ali checks a leg kick.
Ali slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Ali throws a body punch but Ignatowski moves out of range.
Ignatowski steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Ali.
Ignatowski uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ali.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ignatowski lands with a shot to the body.
Ignatowski cracks Ali with a right hand to the side of the head.
Ignatowski looks for the body kick but Ali saw that one coming.
Ignatowski throws a looping overhand right but Ali ducks down to avoid it.
Ignatowski slips under a jab from Ali.
Ali thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ali throws a hook but Ignatowski avoids it easily.
Ignatowski tests Ali's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ignatowski walks into a left hand.
Ali connects with a right hand. Ignatowski shakes it off.
Ignatowski jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Ignatowski avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ignatowski misses with a low kick.
Ali throws a wild body kick that Ignatowski sees coming a mile off.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ignatowski takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Ali walks into a jab.
Ali lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ignatowski's sensitive parts.
Ali misses with a wild body shot.
Ali backing away here, and Ignatowski unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Ignatowski checks a leg kick nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sarfraz Ali will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ali lands with a cross.
The Reverend Jim Ignatowski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ignatowski has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ali.
Ali is looking to slow Ignatowski down with leg kicks.
Ali connects with a body shot that sends Ignatowski's belly button to the back.
Good leg kick by Ignatowski.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ali. Ignatowski does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ignatowski just misses with a punch to the body.
Ali fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ignatowski is out of range.
Ali throws a looping overhand right but Ignatowski ducks down to avoid it.
Ignatowski thumps Ali with a low kick.
Ignatowski connects with a nice looking jab.
Ignatowski scoring well with a low kick there.
Ali fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ignatowski manages to avoid it.
Ignatowski throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ali staying out of range there.
Ali misses with a wild body shot.
The crowd cheers as Ignatowski lands an impressive looking overhand right. Ali doesn't seem phased though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ignatowski fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Jab, jab by Ali - just one landing.
Ali connects with a solid leg kick.
Ali throws a jab but it's blocked by Ignatowski.
A big left from Ali misses.
Ignatowski was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ignatowski tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ali swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Some bone on bone action there as Ali checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Ali checks a leg kick nicely.
Ignatowski shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Good leg kick by Ali.
Ali throws a body shot but no joy.
Sarfraz Ali is winning the standup battle so far.
Ali takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A big left from Ali misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Ignatowski misses.
Ali tries to work over Ignatowski's front leg with a kick but Ignatowski checks it.
Ali throws a low kick but Ignatowski avoids it.
Ignatowski steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Ali.
Ignatowski with a nice calf kick.
Ignatowski walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Ali checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Ali appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Ali throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ali connects with a right hand. Ignatowski shakes it off.
Ignatowski on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ali. Ali obviously looking to wear him down.
Ali misses with an uppercut. Ignatowski saw that one coming.
Ignatowski fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Ali throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ali swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ignatowski scores with a leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ignatowski feints and then cracks Ali's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Ali down.
Ali misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ali wants to land a leg kick but Ignatowski is out of range.
Ali swings for the body but Ignatowski moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Ali misses the target.
Ali slips under a jab from Ignatowski.
Ignatowski missing with a left hand there. Ali was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ignatowski tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ali throwing a counter right hand but Ignatowski manages to avoid it.
A jab from Ali misses.
Ignatowski cracks Ali with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ali. Ignatowski does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ignatowski misses with a low kick as Ali jumps back.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ali. Ignatowski does a little dance to reset his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ali. Ignatowski does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ignatowski fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ali looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ali keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Ali looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
The fighters circling - Ignatowski throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ignatowski keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ignatowski swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Ali dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ali lands a glancing blow to the side of Ignatowski's head.
Ali blocks a jab.
Good exchange - Ignatowski coming out on top.
Ali's Muay Thai looks sharper than normal. He has obviously been working on it in the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ignatowski with a nice calf kick.
Ali blocks the body kick.
Ignatowski misses with a straight left.
Ali works the jab nicely.
Ali throws a jab but it's blocked by Ignatowski.
Ali lands a nice hook to Ignatowski's body. Ignatowski takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ali dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Ignatowski. That did some damage!
Ignatowski throws out a loose jab but Ali uses good head movement to avoid it.
A leg kick checked by Ignatowski.
Ignatowski moves out of range of the body kick from Ali.
Ali lands with a nice body punch.
Ignatowski tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ignatowski misses with a low kick.
Ignatowski throws a leg kick that misses.
Ali is looking to chop away at Ignatowski's legs.
Ignatowski moves out of range of the strikes.
Ignatowski shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Ali clobbers Ignatowski with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice cross by Ali.
Ali throws a jab when Ignatowski was well out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali misses with a wild body shot.
Ignatowski misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ignatowski scores with a nice head shot.
Ignatowski tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ignatowski keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ali walks into a left hand.
Ignatowski works the jab nicely.
Ignatowski bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ali blocks a low kick nicely.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Ignatowski lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Ali has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ali and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A leg kick checked by Ali.
Ali swats away the attempt to clinch by Ignatowski.
Ali misses with an uppercut.
Ali looks to score with a jab to the body but Ignatowski is just out of range.
Ali catches Ignatowski with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ali is looking to score with low kicks.
Ignatowski slips under a jab from Ali.
Ali misses with a hook.
Ali misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ignatowski.
Ignatowski appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Ignatowski ducks under a wild hook from Ali.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sarfraz Ali will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ali throws a body punch but Ignatowski moves out of range.
Ali throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ali throws a big shot that misses.
Ali throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ignatowski sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ali waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ignatowski.
Ali attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Ignatowski connects with a nice looking jab.
Ignatowski defending well as Ali loads up on a big left hand.
Ignatowski throws a hook to the side of Ali's head but Ali sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ali misses with a low kick.
Ali dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ignatowski throws a looping overhand right but Ali ducks down to avoid it.
Ali swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ignatowski flicks out a counter leg kick but Ali steps away.
Ignatowski walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Ali checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Ali has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Ignatowski.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ignatowski.
Ignatowski cracks Ali with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Decent striking displayed by Ali there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ali lands a nice shot that snaps Ignatowski's head back.

Ignatowski clinches up against the cage.

Ignatowski jumps guard.
Ignatowski trying to control the position.
Ali has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ignatowski has his foot on Ali's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ali works his way back into a safe position though.
Ignatowski is looking to sweep but instead, Ali has passed into half guard.
Ignatowski wants to control but Ali is keeping busy.
Ali trying to control the pace.
Ignatowski is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ali controlling the action here.

Ignatowski actively working from the bottom here.

Ignatowski looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ignatowski is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ali checks a leg kick.
Ali throwing a counter right hand but Ignatowski manages to avoid it.
Ignatowski connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Ali lands a nice looking body shot.
Ali checks the leg kick.
Ignatowski tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ignatowski misses with a hook. Ali ducked under it nicely.
Ali throws a hook but Ignatowski avoids it easily.
Ignatowski attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ali. That's going to slow Ignatowski down.
Ali lands a nice looking body shot.
Ignatowski tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Ali is able to avoid easily.
Ali misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ignatowski.
Ali scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali blocks a jab.
Ignatowski misses with a leg kick.
It looked like Ali wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ignatowski throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ali sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ignatowski tries to work over Ali's front leg with a kick but Ali checks it.
Ignatowski on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ali. Ali obviously looking to wear him down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice defenses there by Ignatowski.
Ali lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Ignatowski takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ali.
Ignatowski walks into a jab.
Ali checks a leg kick.
Ali throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Ignatowski, as that shot connected.
Ali thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ignatowski only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Ali lands a jab to the head.
Ignatowski misses with a body kick.
Ali scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Ignatowski chopping away at his opponent's legs.
An inside leg kick lands from Ali.
A jab lands there for Ali.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sarfraz Ali showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ali, 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sarfraz Ali!
An out of breath Sarfraz Ali thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.