PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tahboule Alawi (ranked 2610 p4p, 2082 weight class) and Rocco Damato (ranked 204 p4p, 173 weight class). Alawi's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, The Ruler of Everything. Damato has chosen Thunderstruck as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Alawi
vs
Damato

170 cm
32
147
12 - 8 - 2

170 cm
34
150
18 - 38 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Sakura Style

Conquest Nutritionâ„¢ (160Q) $48
Silverguard Outfitters ðŸ›¡

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 12 - 8 - 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 18 - 38 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rocco Damato!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Paul Aken and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alawi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Damato.
Alawi changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Damato scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
The fighters circling - Damato throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Alawi half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
A low kick from Damato misses

and Alawi counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Alawi moves into full mount! Damato won't be happy about that!
Alawi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Alawi wants to take his opponent's back but Damato doesn't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alawi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Alawi fails to move to back control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alawi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Damato is looking to improve his position but Alawi isn't that keen on the idea.
Damato tries to hold on but Alawi postures up.
Alawi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Alawi prevents Damato from getting the reversal.
Alawi controlling the position easily from mount.
Alawi is looking to work his way around to Damato's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.

That's two 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.
Damato is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Damato sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Alawi controlling the action here.
Alawi is looking to advance position but Damato won't allow it.
Alawi is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Damato!
Damato prevents Alawi from taking his back.
Alawi controlling the position easily from mount.
Damato prevents Alawi from taking his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Damato tries to hold on but Alawi pushes him away.
Damato really wants to buck Alawi off and get back to his feet.
Alawi controlling the position easily from mount.
Damato regains half guard.
Alawi slows the pace down in half guard.
Alawi seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Damato for as long as he can get away with.

Damato is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Alawi pulls his head out easily.
Still in half guard, Alawi seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
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.
Damato is looking for a sweep. Alawi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
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.
Damato is trying to maintain the position but Alawi is very close to passing his half guard.
Damato has his hands clasped together around Alawi's back. He's all about the action.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alawi with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Alawi takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tahboule Alawi dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Alawi ducks under a wild hook from Damato.
Alawi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Damato can do to turn this around?
Alawi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Damato pinned against the cage. Damato gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Damato fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Damato fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Alawi appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Damato misses with a hook.
A quick step to the side and Alawi tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Damato misses with a left hand

and Alawi decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Damato's guard.
Damato is trying to control the position but Alawi postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alawi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Damato wants to sweep here but Alawi controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alawi advances position into side control!
Tahboule Alawi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Damato is trying to control Alawi's posture but Alawi avoids it.
Alawi trying to control the action but Damato is working from the bottom.
Alawi working away.
Damato is looking to regain half guard here but Alawi keeps moving and retains side control.
Alawi working away.
Damato seems a little lost for a moment, as Alawi dominates the positioning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Damato gets back to half guard.
Alawi looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Alawi is taking a breather. Damato 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.
Damato is looking to escape.
Alawi performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Damato regains full guard. Nicely done.
Damato working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alawi controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Damato looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Alawi is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Alawi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Damato swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Damato being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Damato shoots in for a takedown but Alawi shows good takedown defense.
Damato misses with a leg kick

and Alawi counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Alawi.
Alawi controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Damato looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Damato throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Damato throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Alawi controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Damato looking for a guillotine here but Alawi defends easily.
Alawi passes Damato's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alawi is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tahboule Alawi dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Damato cracks Alawi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Damato thumps Alawi with a low kick.
Alawi blocks a jab.
Damato lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Alawi fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Damato to the ground. Alawi is now in Damato's guard.
Alawi is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Our spies down at at Roosters Coop inform us that Damato has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alawi wants to pass the guard but Damato is keeping the position.
Damato throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Alawi looking to pass the guard.
Alawi sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

Damato working for a triangle but Alawi defends it easily.
Alawi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Damato swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Alawi's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Damato wants to stand and escape but Alawi is having none of it.
Damato is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Damato pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A looping hook to the body misses from Damato. Alawi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Alawi attempts a counter takedown but Damato avoids it well and moves away.
Damato throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Alawi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Alawi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A low kick from Damato misses
enabling Alawi to counter with a crisp jab.
Damato scores with a nice strike.
Damato throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Alawi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Damato won't be happy with that.
Damato tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alawi working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Alawi staying calm.
Damato tries to buck Alawi off but Alawi is having none of it.
Damato stops Alawi from passing to mount.
Tahboule Alawi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Damato is trying to improve his position.
Alawi controlling the position.
Damato is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rocco Damato has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Damato is letting Alawi control him for a moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Damato is looking to regain half guard here but Alawi keeps moving and retains side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rocco Damato.
I think Alawi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tahboule Alawi!
During a confident post fight interview, Tahboule Alawi thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.