PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Newport (ranked 4424 p4p, 4119 weight class) and Hamza Alghool (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hamza Alghool has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Newport
vs
Alghool

180 cm
20
195
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
25
188
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Thomas Newport!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hamza Alghool!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Dillan Fox and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alghool closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Alghool.
Alghool has Newport pushed against the cage.
Alghool tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Newport just stands there and leans against the cage.
Alghool prevents Newport from breaking the clinch.
Alghool managing to block the knees to the body from Newport.
Alghool taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Alghool manages to break the clinch.
Newport shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Alghool closes the distance and pushes Newport back into the cage.

Alghool's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Alghool clinches up with Newport and pushes him back against the cage.

Alghool ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Alghool no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Alghool wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Newport manages to pass to side control.
Newport seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Alghool does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newport is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Alghool tries to kick Newport off but Newport keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Alghool keeps the fight on the outside.

Alghool has closed the distance and engaged Newport in a clinch.
Newport is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

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.
Alghool prevents Newport from breaking the clinch.
Alghool effectively controlling the action here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Alghool as Newport tries to tie him up.

Alghool pulls Newport into guard.
Alghool keeping moving, preventing Newport from controlling successfully.
Newport wants to stand but Alghool has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newport won't allow Alghool to get back to his feet.
Newport is looking to work some ground and pound but Alghool has wrist control.
Newport stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alghool swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Newport trying to control but Alghool is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Newport throws out a leg kick but Alghool moves out of range and Newport only half commits.

Alghool fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Newport, pushing him back against the cage.
Newport misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Alghool.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Alghool.
Alghool digs a right hand into Newport's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Newport's gas tank.
Alghool blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Newport.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alghool is pushing Newport up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Alghool manages to break the clinch.

Alghool gets a clinch.

Alghool breaks the clinch.
Newport throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Alghool rushes Newport and presses him up against the cage.
Alghool is leaning against Newport and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Newport is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Alghool just misses with a elbow thrown towards Newport's brow.
Newport misses with some punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Alghool jumps into guard, dragging Newport to the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Newport has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Alghool is proving hard to escape from.
Newport sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hamza Alghool dominated that round.
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.

Alghool moves into the clinch successfully.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Alghool taking a breather.
The crowd are getting on Alghool's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Newport tries to break the clinch but Alghool is controlling the position.
Newport on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Alghool pushes Newport back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Alghool jumps into guard, dragging Newport to the mat.
Newport stops Alghool from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Newport trying to control the position from guard on top but Alghool is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Newport wanted to stand there but Alghool had control of the position.
Newport sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Alghool's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alghool has one foot on Newport's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Alghool has taken the fight to the clinch.
Alghool lands a nice uppercut.
Alghool has Newport pressed against the cage, preventing Newport from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Alghool on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Newport looking to slow down the pace here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Alghool as Newport tries to tie him up.
Maybe Newport would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.

Alghool breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Newport attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Alghool sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

Newport tries to keep at a distance but Alghool has taken the fight into the clinch.
Alghool blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alghool avoiding damage as Newport throws knees to the body.
Alghool tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Alghool tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Newport smiles and moves away.

Alghool moves into the clinch.
Alghool works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Alghool's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Alghool has Newport up against the cage in a clinch.
Alghool tries to land knees in the clinch but Newport avoids the damage to the body.
Newport with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Newport with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Hamza Alghool has been cut.

Alghool successfully pulls guard.
Newport wants to control from the top but Alghool keeps moving.
Alghool wants to stand up but Newport is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alghool is looking to stand back up but Newport counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Alghool.
Alghool is trying to stand.
Newport tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Newport with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hamza Alghool is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Newport scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Newport looks to score with a jab to the body but Alghool is just out of range.
Alghool now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

Alghool closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Newport taking a breather.

Alghool manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Hamza Alghool has got the better of the ground game so far.

Alghool pushes Newport off and scrambles back to his feet.

Alghool closes the distance and pushes Newport back into the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Newport.
The referee is keeping an eye on Alghool - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Alghool tries a knee to the head but Newport blocks it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Alghool.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hamza Alghool showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hamza Alghool's cut.
That's time! Newport's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Alghool closes the distance and pushes Newport back into the cage.
Hamza Alghool is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Newport tries to break free but Alghool pushes him back against the cage.
Alghool is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Newport to keep the fight standing.
Newport is looking to control Alghool's arms but Alghool gets an underhook and turns him. Now Newport has his back to the cage.
Newport can't break the clinch.
Alghool blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Newport fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Alghool's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Alghool has Newport up against the cage in a clinch.

Alghool breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Newport throws a head kick that misses.
Hamza Alghool seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Newport throws a solid leg kick but Alghool takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Newport.

Alghool moves into range and clinches up with Newport.

Alghool jumps guard.
Newport trying to control but Alghool is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newport is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Alghool wants to get back to his feet but Newport is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Newport trying to control the position from guard on top but Alghool is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Newport would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Alghool can do anything to dispel that myth.
Newport wants to control from the top but Alghool keeps moving.
Thomas Newport has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Newport throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Newport throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Newport tries to keep at a distance but Alghool has taken the fight into the clinch.
Newport is trying to maintain a safe position but Alghool gets an underhook and turns Newport into the cage.
Alghool taking a breather.
Newport tries to land knees in the clinch but Alghool avoids the damage to the body.
Alghool gets through Newport's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Newport is looking to control Alghool's arms but Alghool gets an underhook and turns him. Now Newport has his back to the cage.

Alghool successfully pulls guard.
Alghool wants to stand up but Newport is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newport trying to control the position from guard on top but Alghool is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Newport won't allow Alghool to get back to his feet.
Newport trying to stand up but can't free himself from Alghool's guard.
Alghool wants to get back to his feet but Newport is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Newport throws a body kick that misses.
Newport throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Alghool gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Alghool lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Alghool lands with a left to the head.
Alghool managing to block the knees to the body from Newport.
Alghool blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Alghool softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Newport takes a shot to the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alghool throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Newports head.
Alghool dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Alghool misses with a knee strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hamza Alghool comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Alghool winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hamza Alghool!