PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tahboule Alawi (ranked 2973 p4p, 2645 weight class) and Felix Jaroslav (ranked 223 p4p, 204 weight class). Alawi comes into the arena with The Ruler of Everything blaring out of the sound system. Jaroslav comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The Sound of Running Feet kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.

Alawi
vs
Jaroslav

170 cm
31
147
11 - 7 - 2

168 cm
46
148
37 - 30 - 2

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Solid chin

30th Century Beer Store

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 11 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tahboule Alawi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 30 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Felix Jaroslav!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Wagner Zegers and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jaroslav throws a hook but Alawi blocks it.
Jaroslav throws a body kick that misses

and Alawi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Alawi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jaroslav is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Alawi is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alawi is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Alawi has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jaroslav wants to get back to his feet but Alawi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alawi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Jaroslav swinging wildly here.

Alawi fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Jaroslav to the ground. Alawi is now in Jaroslav's guard.
Alawi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jaroslav is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Alawi is controlling him.
Alawi advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alawi keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Alawi wants to pass to mount but Jaroslav is defending the position.
Alawi controlling the action here.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Alawi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alawi continues to hold on tight.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Alawi stops Jaroslav from getting back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Alawi is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Jaroslav's half guard.
Jaroslav wants to get back to his feet.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Alawi in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alawi tries to pass to full mount but Jaroslav defends it.
Jaroslav wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Alawi is taking a breather. Jaroslav says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jaroslav misses with a body kick.
Alawi slips a jab and a cross from Jaroslav.

Alawi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Jaroslav's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tahboule Alawi dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Jaroslav pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jaroslav throws a hook to the side of Alawi's head but Alawi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Alawi feinted with a counter takedown.
Jaroslav throws a leg kick

so Alawi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Alawi controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Alawi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Alawi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Alawi's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jaroslav wants to stand but Alawi is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alawi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jaroslav lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Jaroslav throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Alawi counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Jaroslav!
Alawi looking to control but instead Jaroslav has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Alawi prevents Jaroslav from standing back up.
Alawi is controlling the pace.
Jaroslav wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alawi is taking a breather. Jaroslav says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Alawi is working for a submission of some sort.
Alawi is controlling the pace.

Alawi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Alawi controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaroslav looks like he's trying to stand up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Alawi trying to mount his opponent but Jaroslav defends it.
Jaroslav is looking to escape.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Jaroslav tries to land a body kick

and Alawi counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Alawi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Jaroslav doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Alawi.
Alawi frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaroslav is squirming around, avoiding Alawi's attempts to control the action.
Alawi moves to take his opponent's back.
What can Jaroslav do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Alawi seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alawi trying to control momentarily.
Alawi keeps control of the position easily here as Jaroslav tries to buck him off.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tahboule Alawi dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Jaroslav throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Alawi counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Alawi.
Alawi won't allow Jaroslav to get back to his feet.
Alawi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Alawi tries to free his leg and advance position but Jaroslav is retaining full guard.
Alawi pushes down on Jaroslav's leg and manages to get into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Well, if Alawi is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Alawi passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alawi moves to the back.
Jaroslav trying to get back to his feet but Alawi is in full control for now.
Alawi is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

Alawi has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Jaroslav has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Alawi tries to keep control of the position but Jaroslav is staying busy.
Jaroslav wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jaroslav prevents Alawi from getting a body triangle.
Alawi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jaroslav can do to turn this around?
Jaroslav trying to get back to his feet but Alawi is in full control for now.

Alawi is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Alawi trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Jaroslav doesn't escape.
Jaroslav wants to get back to his feet.
Tahboule Alawi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Alawi has good solid back control here.

Alawi is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Jaroslav knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Jaroslav for a finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alawi has good solid back control here.

Alawi is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Jaroslav is defending well though. Alawi let's go of the attempt for now.
Jaroslav wants to get back to his feet.
Tahboule Alawi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Alawi keeps control of the position easily here as Jaroslav tries to buck him off.
Jaroslav is trying to stand back up.
Alawi biding his time, controlling Jaroslav.
Felix Jaroslav has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Tahboule Alawi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Alawi, 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 30:26
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:26
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tahboule Alawi!
Tahboule Alawi seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.