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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tahboule Alawi (ranked 1128 p4p, 1383 weight class) and Destin Craven (ranked 100 p4p, 118 weight class). Alawi's entrance music is The Ruler of Everything. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 170 cm
32
147
14 - 8 - 2 |
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172 cm
36
141
29 - 29 - 1 |
Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick |
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Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful |
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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 14 - 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 29 - 29 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Destin Craven!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Saam Ante and Aafke Stam.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alawi ducks under a wild hook from Craven.
Alawi moves out of range of the strikes.
A low kick from Craven is predictable there
and Alawi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Alawi preventing the sweep.
Craven is trying to keep Alawi in close.
Alawi wants to control from the top but Craven keeps moving.
Craven is looking to stand up but Alawi isn't so interested in that idea.
Alawi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Craven swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alawi forces his way into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Craven is looking to improve his position.
Craven is refusing to be controlled, as Alawi sits in half guard.
Alawi takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Craven wants to get back to full guard.
Alawi keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Craven is looking to get back to is feet but Alawi passes into side control.
Alawi slows the pace down.
Craven is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Craven is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Alawi's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Alawi not doing much here.
Alawi is trying to control. Craven wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Craven tries to roll over but Alawi keeps him under control.
Alawi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Craven does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craven is looking for a sweep. Alawi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Alawi perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Alawi trying to pass the guard but Craven defending well.
Alawi frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Alawi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Craven is looking to get to half guard.
Alawi content just to control the position here.
Alawi seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Craven for as long as he can get away with.
Craven is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craven is wriggling around trying to escape.
Alawi wants to control the pace but Craven is squirming around nicely.
Craven's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Craven is trying desperately to improve position.
Craven is trying to reverse the position but instead Alawi has taken his back - oops!
Craven trying to get back to his feet but Alawi is in full control for now.
Will Alawi go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Alawi is trying to stick to Craven's back but Craven is turning into Alawi. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Alawi's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Craven.
Alawi pulls Craven in close to prevent any damage.
Craven won't allow Alawi to sweep him here.
Alawi is working hard here to advance position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craven wants to control from the top but Alawi keeps moving.
Craven with a nice head shot there.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Craven working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Alawi pulls Craven in close to prevent any damage.
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.
Craven working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Alawi's head.
Alawi keeping moving, preventing Craven from controlling successfully.
Alawi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alawi pulls Craven in close to prevent any damage.
Alawi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Craven.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Tahboule Alawi dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!
Craven throws a left and a right that both miss
and Alawi counters with a single leg into guard. Craven didn't expect that.
Craven wants to stand but Alawi is controlling the position.
Craven can't keep his opponent in guard - Alawi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Craven wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alawi is taking a breather. Craven 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.
Craven looking for submissions off his back.
Craven is not content to let Alawi control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Craven wants to get back to full guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Alawi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Craven can do to turn this around?
Alawi trying to control the pace.
Alawi is working for a kimura but Craven is defending it quite comfortably.
Craven is looking to escape.
Craven looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Craven is looking to escape.
Alawi prevents Craven from improving his position.
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.
Craven is looking to escape.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Alawi moves out of range as Craven strikes.
Alawi appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Craven just misses with a punch to the body.
Alawi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Craven pinned against the cage. Craven gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Craven tries a head kick but it misses.
Alawi half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Craven tries a head kick but it misses.
Craven misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Alawi feinted with a counter takedown.
Craven misses with a hook.
Craven thows a leg kick but Alawi checks it
and Alawi counters with a shoot takedown. Craven fights it but they end up in guard.
Alawi stands and throws Craven's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Craven wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craven is looking for a sweep.
Craven is being controlled here.
Alawi is looking to take a break and control but Craven is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Craven is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Alawi is controlling him well.
Craven manages to get back to half guard.
Alawi tries to pass the half guard into mount. Craven knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Alawi with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Alawi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Craven keeps working.
Alawi stops Craven from getting back to his feet.
Alawi is trying to control. Craven wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
That's four 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.
Craven trying to hold on to Alawi's head to control him but Alawi postures up.
Alawi looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Craven wants to control but Alawi is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Alawi trying to control the action but Craven is working from the bottom.
Alawi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Craven sees it coming and defends easily.
Craven gets full guard.
Alawi tries to free his leg and advance position but Craven is retaining full guard.
Alawi stopping the sweep attempt from Craven.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alawi content to stall in guard here.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Craven lands with a thumping leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Tahboule Alawi dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!
Craven cracks Alawi with a good jab.
A head kick by Craven misses
and Alawi decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Craven's guard.
Craven wants to sweep but no luck.
Craven is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Alawi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Tahboule Alawi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Alawi trying to keep a closed guard but Craven is proving a slippery customer.
Craven working some strikes from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alawi controls Craven momentarily but Craven frees himself.
Alawi keeping moving, preventing Craven from controlling successfully.
Alawi controls Craven momentarily but Craven frees himself.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Craven forces his way into half guard.
Alawi trying to control from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Craven there.
Craven seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Craven sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Alawi defending well though.
Alawi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Craven seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Craven trying to control from half guard but Alawi is working away.
Craven might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Alawi haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Alawi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Craven scores with a couple of nice shots.
Craven is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Alawi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Craven.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alawi is trying to maintain the position but Craven is very close to passing his half guard.
Alawi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Alawi trying to hold on to Craven's head to control him but Craven postures up.
Alawi wants to improve his position but Craven is controlling well.
Craven is looking to advance position but Alawi won't allow it.
Alawi is pressing down on Craven's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Craven stopping the sweep attempt from Alawi.
Craven is looking to pass into half guard but Alawi pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Alawi is in guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craven is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Craven wants to stand up but Alawi is controlling him.
Craven tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Alawi slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Alawi advances to full mount.
Craven is trying desperately to improve position.
Craven is really trying hard 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.
Alawi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Craven is desperately trying to improve his position but Alawi has a good base and remains in mount.
Alawi is trying to take his opponent's back.
Craven is trying to stand.
Destin Craven has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alawi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Alawi won't let Craven get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alawi controlling the position easily from mount.
Craven is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Destin Craven.
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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tahboule Alawi!
Tahboule Alawi thanked the fans post fight for their support.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
30% |
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