PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Fochi (ranked 1522 p4p, 1790 weight class) and Abdul Rahman (ranked 208 p4p, 245 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Fochi
vs
Rahman

168 cm
28
182
16 - 12 - 1

182 cm
36
184
26 - 23 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Brooklyn Apothecary
Fantasy Threads (Laundry 15%)

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 16 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Fochi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 23 - 0, fighting out of New York, Abdul Rahman!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rahman throws a lazy right hand but Fochi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rahman misses with an uppercut.

Fochi drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rahman is not content to let Fochi control the position.

Fochi looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rahman felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fochi trying to control the action but Rahman is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rahman tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rahman keeps trying to improve his position.
Fochi trying to control the position but Rahman is working away.

Fochi goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Rahman has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Fochi but great work by Rahman.

Rahman decides to stand back up.
Fochi jabs Rahman to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Rahman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Fochi was well out of range. Poor timing from Rahman.
Fochi is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Rahman wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rahman lands a nice hook to Fochi's body. Fochi takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Rahman, as that shot connected.
Fochi jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

It looks like Abdul Rahman has been cut.
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!
Fochi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Fochi misses with a hook. Rahman ducked under it nicely.
Rahman scores with a hook.
Rahman's jab looks to have found its range, popping Fochi under the eye.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Fochi, as that shot connected.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rahman. Fochi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Fochi appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Rahman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rahman connects with the punch.
Fochi swings away with a body shot that misses
and Rahman counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Jab, jab by Rahman - just one landing.
Rahman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fochi.
Rahman misses with a double jab.
Fochi pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Rahman back to the cage. Fochi follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Rahman misses with a body shot.
Fochi half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Fochi throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rahman counters with a nice body shot.
A swing and a miss from Fochi.
Fochi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rahman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rahman defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fochi.
Rahman looks like he wants to counter punch here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rahman looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Fochi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rahman.
Rahman scores with a nice head shot.
Rahman fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rahman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Fochi circles away quickly and effectively.
Fochi ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Rahman scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Fochi doesn't seem bothered though.
Rahman throws a lazy uppercut
and Fochi counters with a series of strikes. Rahman will be more careful next time no doubt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul Rahman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Abdul Rahman's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Fochi shoots in but Rahman avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Fochi misses with a body shot.
Rahman appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Fochi darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A shot to the liver by Fochi. Beautiful body shot.
Rahman missing with a left hand there. Fochi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nice body punch from Fochi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fochi avoids the body shot from Rahman.
Fochi lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rahman at a distance.
A decent looking cross lands there for Fochi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rahman throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rahman blocks a leg kick.
Rahman missing with a left hand there. Fochi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rahman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rahman wants it to stay on the feet.
A punch lands to the side of Fochi 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Fochi throws a body punch but Rahman moves out of range.
Fochi throws a jab but it's blocked by Rahman.
Rahman throws a poor cross that misses
and Rahman takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That has opened up Abdul Rahman's cut even more.
Rahman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Fochi moves away.
Fochi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rahman.
Fochi changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Abdul Rahman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rahman just misses with a punch to the body.
A quick step to the side and Fochi tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rahman misses the shot to the body.
Rahman rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fochi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rahman looks to land a right hand but Fochi moved out of range.
Fochi is looking to wear down Rahman with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Fochi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Fochi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fochi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Fochi takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fochi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rahman manages to avoid it.
Fochi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Fochi lands the left hand.
Rahman connects with a single shot there.
Rahman lands a nice hook to Fochi's body. Fochi takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rahman connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rahman lands with a good body shot.
Fochi throws an overhand right that lands on Rahman's shoulder, as Rahman tries to avoid the shot.
Fochi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rahman was well out of range. Poor timing from Fochi.
Rahman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fochi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fochi misses with a shot to the body
and Rahman counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Fochi scores with a nice strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rahman throws a left and a right that both miss
and Fochi counters with a left to the body.
Fochi scores with a sloppy right hand. Rahman should have avoided that one.
Rahman takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rahman lands a nice looking body shot.
Abdul Rahman seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fochi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rahman.
Fochi loads up on a big right hand but Rahman slips the punch.
Rahman now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
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 Michael Fochi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Abdul Rahman'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. This is the final round!

Rahman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fochi.
Rahman gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Fochi.
Fochi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rahman uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fochi.
Fochi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rahman missing with a left hand there. Fochi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rahman misses with a hook

and Fochi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rahman keeping full guard, as Fochi tries to pass.
Fochi postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fochi trying to control but Rahman is working from the bottom.
Fochi preventing the sweep.
Rahman keeping full guard, as Fochi tries to pass.
Michael Fochi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fochi wants to control from the top but Rahman keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rahman scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Fochi misses with a body shot
and Rahman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rahman swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rahman takes a jab right on the kisser.
Rahman fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fochi manages to avoid it.
Fochi goes for a double leg but Rahman avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rahman continues to drive forward.
Fochi lands a hook to the side of the head.
Fochi misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Rahman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fochi misses with a body shot.
Fochi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rahman.
Fochi dips to his left and cracks Rahman with an uppercut!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rahman catches Fochi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Rahman throws a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fochi takes a swing at Rahman's ribcage but misses.
Fochi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Fochi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fochi ducks under a wild hook from Rahman.
Rahman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fochi.
Fochi swings widly with a right hand
and Rahman counters with a nice uppercut.
Rahman scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Rahman, as that shot connected.
Fochi misses with a straight right.
Rahman looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fochi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rahman makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Fochi misses with a combination
and Rahman counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rahman is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rahman takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Rahman misses with a straight left.
Fochi gets cracked there but stands up to it.
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!
Fochi throws a lazy right hand but Rahman sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rahman connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Fochi's hands.
Rahman has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Rahman lands the left hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abdul Rahman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rahman has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abdul Rahman!