PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between KT Panda (ranked 801 p4p, 1423 weight class) and Sheikh Mahmut (ranked 29 p4p, 55 weight class). Mahmut is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: For Heavy Metal we will die!. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Panda
vs
Mahmut

190 cm
26
288
12 - 9 - 0

207 cm
27
275
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️

Heavy Metal Drugs
Brooklyn Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, KT Panda!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sheikh Mahmut!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Colin Fotheringham and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mahmut closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

It looks like Sheikh Mahmut has been cut.

Panda closes the distance and clinches.
Panda misses with a punch to the body.
Panda misses with the head strike.
Mahmut lands with a left to the head.
Mahmut pushes Panda back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A right handed body shot lands from Mahmut.
Panda misses with a body punch.
Panda tries a body shot but Mahmut blocks it.
Panda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Panda tries a body shot but Mahmut blocks it.

Mahmut breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mahmut throws a lazy right hand but Panda sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mahmut misses with a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mahmut keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mahmut misses with a shot to the body
and Panda counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Mahmut swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Panda throws a sloppy head kick
letting Mahmut counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Panda. That snapped Mahmut's head back.
Mahmut throws a leg kick but Panda checks it.
Panda swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Panda closes the distance but Mahmut moves to the side
enabling Mahmut to counter with a crisp jab.
KT Panda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mahmut swings for the body but Panda moves out of range.
Panda tries to work over Mahmut's front leg with a kick but Mahmut checks it.
Good exchange - Panda coming out on top.
A slow jab from Mahmut misses its intended target.
Panda looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Panda throws a wild body kick that Mahmut sees coming a mile off.
Panda scores with a jab to the body.
Panda misses with an uppercut. Mahmut saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mahmut throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Panda fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mahmut, pushing him back against the cage.
Panda misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mahmut slowing the pace effectively.
Panda misses with a punch on the inside.
Panda throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Panda digs a right hand into Mahmut's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Mahmut's gas tank.
Mahmut looks winded!
Panda works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Panda pushes Mahmut back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A right handed body shot lands from Panda.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mahmut.
Panda makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Panda scores with a shoulder strike.
Mahmut prevents a body shot from Panda.
Mahmut's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Panda lands a body shot in the clinch.
Panda misses with a hook from the clinch.
Panda lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Mahmut or not.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Panda misses with a short punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Panda.
Panda has a couple of punches blocked by Mahmut.
Panda lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Mahmut backwards.
Mahmut prevents a body shot from Panda.
Panda pushes Mahmut back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Panda lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Mahmut swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Panda fails to land.
Panda tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right from Panda.
Mahmut wants to break the clinch but can't.

Mahmut's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Panda wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Panda scores with a kick to the midsection.

Panda moves into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Panda misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Panda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Panda misses with a short punch on the inside.
Panda scores with a shot to the side of Mahmut's head.
Panda works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Panda misses with some punches.
Panda misses with the head strike.
Panda lands a nice shot to the body.
Panda softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Mahmut blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Panda scores with a hook to the body.
Panda swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short left from Panda.
A short right from Panda on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Panda.
Mahmut wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Panda swings wildly with an uppercut but Mahmut uses good head movement to avoid it.
Panda can't find room to land a body shot as Mahmut controls the action.
Mahmut prevents a body shot from Panda.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

KT Panda dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sheikh Mahmut's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Both fighters circling a little - Mahmut finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Panda throws a lazy right hand but Mahmut sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Panda swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mahmut lands a body shot.
Panda is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mahmut.
Panda has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Panda misses the shot to the body.
Panda fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Mahmut is out of range.
Mahmut has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Panda avoids the body shot from Mahmut.
We've been told by Panda's head coaches at Crapollas Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mahmut blocks a jab.
Mahmut on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Panda. Panda obviously looking to wear him down.
Panda misses with a shot to the body
enabling Mahmut to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahmut buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Panda takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Panda tries to clinch up
and Mahmut counters with a two punch combo.
The crowd cheers as Panda lands an impressive looking overhand right. Mahmut doesn't seem phased though.
Panda swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Mahmut counters with a nice uppercut.
Mahmut has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Panda swings away with a body shot that misses
and Mahmut counters with a straight right hand.
Panda ducks under a wild hook from Mahmut.
Panda throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mahmut replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Panda blocks it well.
Panda scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mahmut walks into a jab.
Panda lands a nice shot that snaps Mahmut's head back.
Panda thows a leg kick but Mahmut checks it
and Mahmut counters with a nice uppercut.
Panda misses with a looping right.
Mahmut takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Good standup being displayed there by Panda as he connects with a hook.
Mahmut just misses with a punch to the body.
Panda misses with a body shot.
A low kick from Mahmut is predictable there
and Panda counters with a nice uppercut.
Panda dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Panda is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mahmut can do to turn this around?
Mahmut is breathing heavily.
Panda misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mahmut.
Mahmut throws out a counter right but Panda avoids it with no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Panda misses
and Mahmut counters with a thumping low kick.
Mahmut misses with a head kick.
Panda lands a nice looking body shot.
Panda throws a sloppy head kick
and Mahmut counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Panda throws a series of punches but Mahmut moves out of range.
Panda tries to work over Mahmut's front leg with a kick but Mahmut checks it.
A low kick from Panda is predictable there
and Mahmut counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mahmut is looking to land body kicks.
Panda looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Mahmut blocks a low kick nicely.
Mahmut looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Panda scores with a punch to the head.
A jab from Mahmut does it's job there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Panda scores with a body shot.
Mahmut displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Panda throws out the jab.
Panda connects with a good right hand that stumbles Mahmut. Mahmut circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Panda scores with a head kick.
Panda misses with an uppercut. Mahmut saw that one coming.
Mahmut dodges the punch combination from Panda.
Mahmut appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Panda throws the kick towards the body but Mahmut avoids it.
Panda swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mahmut is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Panda with a body shot.
Mahmut on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
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 KT Panda will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sheikh Mahmut's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Panda tries to clinch but Mahmut is having none of it.
KT Panda is winning the standup battle so far.
A jab from Panda misses.
Mahmut looks for the body kick but Panda saw that one coming.
Panda fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mahmut manages to avoid it.
Mahmut looks to land a left hand but Panda moved out of range nicely.
Panda turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Panda looks to land a left hand but Mahmut moved out of range nicely.
Some bone on bone action there as Mahmut checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mahmut doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Crunch! Mahmut slams his shin into Panda's torso.
Mahmut misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panda throws a quick inside leg kick.
Mahmut defending well as Panda loads up on a big left hand.
Mahmut uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Panda.
Panda moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromMahmut.
Panda throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mahmut unleashes a big counter combination but Panda bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Panda tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mahmut paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Panda misses the shot to the body.
Mahmut has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Panda misses with the combination.
Panda tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mahmut lets loose with a powerful body kick. Panda will feel that in the morning.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Panda is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mahmut.
Panda fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mahmut looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
A leg kick checked by Mahmut.
Mahmut swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Panda throws a leg kick which misses Mahmut's front leg but catches the back leg as Mahmut tries to avoid it.
Panda misses with a hook to the body
and Mahmut counters with a straight right hand.
Panda scores with a three punch combo!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A shot to the body from Panda misses
and Mahmut counters with a nice uppercut.
Panda keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mahmut.
Panda looks to score with a jab to the body but Mahmut is just out of range.
Panda throws a leg kick but Mahmut sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Panda tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mahmut was well out of range. Poor timing from Panda.
Panda misses with a wild body shot.
Panda fails in his attempt to clinch.
A little jabbing left from Mahmut on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Panda swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mahmut has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Panda.
A leg kick checked by Mahmut.
Panda getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Mahmut's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Panda connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Mahmut scrambles back to his feet.
Mahmut missing with a left hand there. Panda was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Panda swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Panda pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Mahmut looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Panda scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Mahmut. That's going to slow Panda down.
A telegraphed right hand from Panda misses the target.
Mahmut's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Panda throws a head kick that Mahmut semi-blocks.
Panda misses with a double jab.
Mahmut is trying to counter with his kicks.
Panda misses with a hook
and Mahmut counters with a body kick that stops Panda in his tracks momentarily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Panda is looking to clinch but Mahmut is avoiding it.
Panda throws a low kick but Mahmut moves out of range easily.
A shot to the body from Panda misses
and Mahmut counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

KT Panda clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Sheikh Mahmut's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Good work by Panda as he checks the leg kick.
Panda is looking to counter with a body kick.
Mahmut lands with a good body shot.
Panda jabs at Mahmut's body.
Mahmut uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Panda.
Mahmut cracks Panda with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Panda looks to score with a jab to the body but Mahmut is just out of range.
Panda looks to land a left hand but Mahmut moved out of range nicely.
Mahmut is looking for the big counter here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Panda swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Mahmut counters with a stiff right hand.
Panda throws a leg kick but Mahmut checks it.
Panda will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahmut lands a glancing blow to the side of Panda's head.
Panda keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mahmut tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Panda was well out of range. Poor timing from Mahmut.
Panda waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mahmut.
A good leg kick by Mahmut.
A big right from Panda misses.
Mahmut lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Panda at a distance.
Panda punishes Mahmut's body with a nice straight punch.
Panda fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mahmut avoids a kick to the body.
Mahmut checks a leg kick.
Panda throws a head kick that misses.
Panda fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Panda scores with a punch to the head.
Mahmut swats away the attempt to clinch by Panda.
Mahmut lands a front kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Panda scores with a jab to the body.
Panda cracks Mahmut with a good jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahmut lands a nice looking kick to the body. Panda takes a step back to recover.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Panda jabs Mahmut right on the nose. Mahmut blinks but takes it well.
Mahmut throws a push kick but Panda slaps the foot to one side.
Panda misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Panda moves out of range as Mahmut throws a body kick.
Panda lands with a slapping head kick.
Mahmut steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Panda.
Mahmut is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Panda misses with a body kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Mahmut! But no joy.
Panda fails in his attempt to clinch.
Panda moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromMahmut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Panda throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Panda rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Mahmut counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Panda wants to slow Mahmut down by chopping away at his legs.
Mahmut shapes to counter with a head kick.
Panda misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mahmut.
Mahmut lets loose with a powerful body kick. Panda will feel that in the morning.
Mahmut thows a body kick. Panda tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Mahmut tries to land a front kick but Panda steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mahmut uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Panda.
Mahmut unleashes a big counter combination but Panda bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Panda throws a jab when Mahmut was well out of range.
Panda swings away with a body shot that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Sheikh Mahmut will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Sheikh Mahmut's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Panda blocks a head kick by Mahmut.
Sheikh Mahmut has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Panda misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
It seemed like Mahmut was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Panda throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Mahmut thinks about the counter body kick.
Panda attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A nice side step and Mahmut releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Panda misses with the combination.
It seemed like Mahmut was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Panda fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Panda lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Panda.
A leg kick checked by Panda.
Panda tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mahmut was well out of range. Poor timing from Panda.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Mahmut! But no joy.
A good leg kick by Panda.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panda throws a low kick but it's checked well by Mahmut.
Mahmut shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Panda eats them both and turns towards Mahmut to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
The fighters circling - Panda throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mahmut moves out of range of the leg kick from Panda.
Mahmut is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Panda with a body shot.
Panda moves in looking to clinch but Mahmut pushes him off.
Panda tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mahmut manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Panda misses with a body shot.
Mahmut replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Panda blocks it well.
Panda lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Panda tries a head kick but it misses.
It seemed like Mahmut was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Panda ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Panda tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Mahmut counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Mahmut jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mahmut checks the leg kick nicely there.
Panda throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Mahmut on the side of the head.
Panda swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Panda takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mahmut keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Panda avoids the body shot from Mahmut.
Mahmut avoids the body shot from Panda.
A swing and a miss from Panda.
A little jabbing left from Mahmut on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Mahmut has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Panda.
Panda wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Panda lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Panda swinging wildly here.
Panda tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mahmut was well out of range. Poor timing from Panda.
Panda tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mahmut was well out of range. Poor timing from Panda.
Mahmut checks a low kick from Panda.
Panda misses with a left hand
enabling Mahmut to counter with a crisp jab.
Mahmut lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mahmut misses with a body kick.
Panda appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Panda throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mahmut staying out of range there.
KT Panda is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
An inside leg kick lands from Panda.
Panda lands with an uppercut that bounces Mahmut off the cage and back into range.
A low kick from Panda misses
and Mahmut counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Panda scores with a jab to the head.
Mahmut on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Panda lands a nice hook to Mahmut's body. Mahmut takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Mahmut throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

And that's the end of the fight!
KT Panda showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Panda has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge William Gold scores the fight 50:45
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 50:46
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 50:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... KT Panda!
KT Panda retains his super heavyweight title!