PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Abdi wali Mohammed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cornelius Mentalio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Abdi wali Mohammed has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

wali Mohammed
vs
Mentalio

220 cm
24
190 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

185 cm
24
193 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Abdi wali Mohammed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cornelius Mentalio!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Eliza Hachem and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mentalio lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Mohammed throws a head kick but Mentalio moves out of range.
Mohammed misses with a head kick.
Mohammed bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mentalio avoids the head kick by Mohammed.
Mentalio throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Mohammed lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Cornelius Mentalio has been cut.
Mohammed tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mentalio fails to land the takedown.
Mohammed really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mentalio lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mohammed goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Mentalio clinches.
Mohammed can't break the clinch.
Mohammed is trying to drag Mentalio to the mat but Mentalio just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Mohammed with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mohammed is working for takedown but Mentalio is calmly controlling the position for now.
Mentalio blocking some punches.
Mentalio using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mohammed has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A shot in the inside from Mentalio.
Mohammed wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mohammed breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mentalio scores with a leg kick.
Mohammed misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mentalio.
Mohammed throws a sloppy head kick and Mentalio moves out of range easily.
Mohammed throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mohammed misses with a straight left.

Mentalio takes the fight into the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Mentalio as the two fighters clinch.
Mohammed wants to break free but Mentalio has control.
Mentalio landing knees to the head.

It looks like Abdi wali Mohammed has been cut.
Mohammed is breathing heavily.
Nice body punch from Mentalio.
Nice body punch from Mentalio.
Mentalio tries a knee to the head but Mohammed blocks it.
Mentalio pushes Mohammed back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A right hook to the body lands for Mentalio.
Good body shot from Mentalio.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mentalio lands a body shot.
Mentalio lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Mohammed backwards.
A right hand to the body from Mentalio.
Mentalio lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Mentalio scores with a nice short uppercut.
Mentalio digs a right hand into Mohammed's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Mohammed's gas tank.
Nice body punch from Mentalio.
Mentalio presses Mohammed against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mentalio trying to land knees to the body.
Mentalio lands a knee to the body.
Mentalio scores with a hook to the body.
Mentalio lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Mentalio.
Mentalio tries to land knees in the clinch but Mohammed avoids the damage to the body.
Mentalio lands a body shot.
Mentalio working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Mentalio working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Mentalio stalling the fight.
A short body shot lands from Mentalio as the two fighters clinch.
Mentalio tries to land knees in the clinch but Mohammed avoids the damage to the body.
A hook to the body from Mentalio.
Mentalio with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mohammed managing to block the knees to the body from Mentalio.
Mohammed wants to break free but Mentalio has control.
Mentalio softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Mentalio tries to land a knee to the head but Mohammed blocks with his arms.
Mentalio lands a body shot in the clinch.
Mentalio working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Mentalio effectively controlling the action here.
Mentalio lands a shoulder strike.
Mentalio scores with a hook to the body.
Mentalio lands a nice shot to the body.
A short body shot lands from Mentalio as the two fighters clinch.
Mentalio throws a punch but it's blocked by Mohammed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Mentalio - that landed with a thud.
Mohammed wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mentalio has him pressed against the cage.
Mohammed drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mentalio gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdi wali Mohammed. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mentalio landing knees to the body.
Mohammed wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Mentalio softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Mentalio lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Mentalio scores with a hook to the body.
Mentalio lands a shot to the body.
Mohammed misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mentalio.
Mohammed with a knee to the head.
Mentalio lands an elbow inside.
Mentalio pushes Mohammed back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Mentalio - that landed with a thud.
Mohammed is trying to break free.
Mentalio holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Mentalio lands a nice knee to the body.
Mohammed misses with a knee strike.
Mohammed with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mentalio stalling in the clinch.
Mentalio keeps control of Mohammed as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Mentalio.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mentalio lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Mentalio scores with a nice hook to the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Mentalio.
Stalling in the clinch from Mentalio.
Mentalio trying to land knees to the body.
Mohammed is trying to break free.
Stalling in the clinch from Mentalio.
Mohammed is looking to break free of the clinch but Mentalio has double underhooks.
Mentalio gets underhooks to prevent Mohammed's takedown attempt.
Mentalio scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Mohammed can't get the takedown.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mohammed tries to break the clinch but Mentalio is controlling the position.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Mentalio.
Mentalio scores with a shoulder strike.
Mentalio is leaning against Mohammed and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Nice body punch from Mentalio.
Mohammed misses with a knee strike.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mentalio is struggling to control the position.
Mentalio lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Mohammed backwards.
Mentalio works on Mohammed's body with a couple of short punches.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Mohammed avoiding damage as Mentalio throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cornelius Mentalio dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mentalio lands a jab-cross combination.
Mohammed throws a lazy head kick

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

Mohammed escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mohammed tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mentalio throws a right and a left that Mohammed avoids nicely.
Mentalio avoids the head kick by Mohammed.
Mohammed throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Mohammed throws out a loose jab but Mentalio uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mohammed staying out of range there.
Mohammed throws a left and a right that both miss
and Mentalio counters with a one-two to the body.
Mentalio connects with a right hand. Mohammed shakes it off.
Mohammed looks to land a combination but Mentalio avoids it well.
Mohammed misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mentalio circles away from the clinch attempt

and Mentalio moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mentalio connects with a knee to the head.
Mentalio scores with a hook to the body.
Mentalio using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mentalio lands a shot to the body.
Mentalio looking to throw knees to the head but Mohammed is blocking nicely.
Mentalio throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Mohammed's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Mohammed avoiding damage as Mentalio throws knees to the body.
Mentalio gets through Mohammed's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A hook to the body from Mentalio.
Mentalio lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Mentalio scores with a shoulder strike.
Mentalio lands a left hand that snaps the head of Mohammed backwards.
Mohammed wants to break the clinch but can't.
Mentalio tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Cornelius Mentalio seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Mentalio misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mohammed.
Mentalio scores with a shoulder strike.
Mentalio lands a shoulder strike.
Mohammed managing to block the knees to the body from Mentalio.
Mohammed can't break the clinch.
Mohammed has had enough of the clinch but Mentalio keeps him there for the moment.
Mentalio misses with a punch to the body.
Mentalio is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Mohammed is keeping busy.
Mentalio trying to land knees to the body.

Mohammed escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mohammed misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mohammed moves out of range as Mentalio strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mohammed tries to clinch up
and Mentalio connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mentalio connects with a solid leg kick.
Mentalio avoids the head kick by Mohammed.
A swing and a miss from Mohammed.
A head kick from Mohammed lands but Mentalio takes it in his stride.
Abdi wali Mohammed is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A telegraphed right hand from Mentalio misses the target.
A slow jab from Mentalio misses its intended target.
Mohammed lands a head kick!
Mohammed tries a head kick but it misses.
Mentalio throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Mohammed counters with a slapping leg kick.
Nice body punch from Mentalio.
Mentalio scores with a decent looking hook.
Mohammed on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mohammed misses with a wild body shot.

Mentalio instigates a clinch.
Mentalio works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Mentalio lands a body punch.
Mentalio scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Mohammed has had enough of the clinch but Mentalio keeps him there for the moment.
Mohammed avoiding damage as Mentalio throws knees to the body.
Mentalio lands a nice shot to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Mentalio.
Mohammed wants to break the clinch but can't.
Mentalio tries to land knees in the clinch but Mohammed avoids the damage to the body.
Mohammed is trying to maintain a safe position but Mentalio gets an underhook and turns Mohammed into the cage.
Mentalio misses with a knee to the head.
Mentalio lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short body shot lands from Mohammed as the two fighters clinch.
Mentalio misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mohammed.
Mentalio looking to stall.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Mentalio.
Mohammed wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Mentalio using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mohammed has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mentalio trying to stall but Mohammed improves his position.
Mentalio has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mohammed wants to break free but Mentalio has control.

Mohammed breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mohammed throws a head kick that misses.
Mohammed misses with an uppercut.
Mohammed needs to keep his hands up - Mentalio had a free shot at his head there.
Abdi wali Mohammed is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mohammed throws a head kick but Mentalio moves out of range.
Mohammed tries a head kick but it misses.

Mentalio clinches with his opponent.
Mohammed can't break the clinch.
Mohammed tries to land a knee to the head but Mentalio blocks with his arms.
Mohammed stalling in the clinch but Mentalio improves position.
Mentalio landing knees to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Mentalio.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mohammed wants to break free but Mentalio has control.
Mohammed takes a shot to the head.
Mohammed fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mentalio lands with a right to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A short right from Mentalio on the inside.
Mentalio throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mohammed blocks it with crossed arms.
Mentalio misses with a knee strike.
A body shot lands from Mentalio.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Mentalio lands a left hand.
Mentalio throws a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cornelius Mentalio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Mohammed pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mentalio throws a series of punches but Mohammed avoids them all with ease.
Mohammed tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Mentalio counters with a nice leg kick.
A head kick misses from Mohammed.
Mohammed throws a hook but Mentalio avoids it easily.
Mohammed displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mentalio throws out the jab.
A head kick misses from Mohammed.
Abdi wali Mohammed seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mentalio stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Mentalio tries to clinch but Mohammed moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mohammed throws out a loose jab but Mentalio uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mohammed throws a head kick but Mentalio moves out of range.
A big right from Mentalio misses.
Mentalio circles away from the clinch attempt

and Mentalio counters by moving into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mohammed pressing his opponent against the cage.
A hook to the body from Mentalio.
Mentalio pushes Mohammed back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Mentalio misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mohammed.
Mentalio lands a body shot in the clinch.
Mentalio misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mohammed.
Mentalio on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Mentalio - that landed with a thud.
Mentalio lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Mentalio keeps control of Mohammed as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mentalio tries to land a knee to the head but Mohammed blocks with his arms.
Knees in the clinch landing for Mentalio.
Mentalio lands a nice knee to the body.
Mentalio lands a body shot in the clinch.
Mohammed on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mentalio lands a hook to the side of the head.
Come on Mentalio - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Mohammed tries to break the clinch but Mentalio is controlling the position.
A body shot lands from Mentalio.
Mohammed avoiding damage as Mentalio throws knees to the body.
Mohammed trying to land knees to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Mentalio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mohammed is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mohammed can't get the takedown.
Mentalio cracks Mohammed with a nice body shot.
A short uppercut from Mentalio.
A short right from Mentalio.
Mohammed is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mohammed on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mentalio is leaning against Mohammed and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Mohammed blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Mohammed breaks from the clinch.
Mentalio lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Mentalio.
Mentalio lands a lovely overhand right.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head kick by Mohammed misses
and Mentalio counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Mentalio has managed to clinch.
Mohammed using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mentalio has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mentalio lands a body shot.
Mohammed wants to break free but Mentalio has control.
Mentalio lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Mentalio misses with a knee strike.
Mentalio lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Mentalio lands a nice shot to the body.
Mohammed missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mohammed avoiding damage as Mentalio throws knees to the body.
Mentalio lands a body shot.
Mohammed wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Mentalio presses Mohammed against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Mohammed stalling in the clinch but Mentalio improves position.
Maybe Mohammed would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
Mentalio lands with a left to the head.
Mentalio trying to land knees to the body.
Mohammed wants to break free but Mentalio has control.
Mohammed wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mentalio has him pressed against the cage.
Mentalio works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A body shot lands from Mentalio.
Mentalio unloads a knee to the mid-section. Mohammed lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A body shot lands from Mentalio.
Mentalio lands a nice shot to the body.
Mentalio prevents the takedown attempt.
Mentalio pushes Mohammed back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Mentalio lands a body shot.
Mentalio lands a shoulder strike.
Mentalio scores with a nice hook to the head.
Mohammed being controlled against the cage.
Mentalio keeps control of Mohammed as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mohammed avoiding damage as Mentalio throws knees to the body.
Mohammed has Mentalio pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mentalio manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdi wali Mohammed. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A right hook to the body lands for Mentalio.
Mentalio crunches a lovely knee into Mohammed's ribcage.
Mentalio missing with knees to the body.
Mohammed lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Abdi wali Mohammed has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mentalio has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Mohammed escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mentalio circles away from the clinch attempt

and Mentalio holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Mentalio working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Mohammed breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mohammed looks to clinch

and Mentalio moves into the clinch.
Mentalio throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mohammeds head.
Mohammed wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Mohammed trying to land knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mohammed missing with knees to the body.
Mohammed is trying to break the clinch but Mentalio has him pressed against the cage.
Mentalio digs a right hand underneath Mohammed's ribcage. Mohammed let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Mentalio blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cornelius Mentalio is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mentalio digs a right hand into Mohammed's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Mohammed's gas tank.
A right handed body shot lands from Mentalio.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cornelius Mentalio comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mentalio has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cornelius Mentalio!