PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Xylon Kofel (ranked 3592 p4p, 2256 weight class) and Saad Sadiq (ranked 164 p4p, 85 weight class). Sadiq comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Where Have All The Boot Boys Gone - Slaughter And The Dogs kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kofel
vs
Sadiq

173 cm
35
157
16 - 14 - 2

195 cm
33
200
5 - 9 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 14 - 2, fighting out of New York, Xylon Kofel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Saad Sadiq !
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, James Glass and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kofel lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Sadiq ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kofel dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sadiq . That did some damage!
Kofel stuffs the takedown.
Kofel works Sadiq 's body with a nice hook.
Kofel throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kofel throws a low kick, looking for Sadiq 's leg but Sadiq calmly moves out of range.
Sadiq feints the counter takedown.
Kofel does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Kofel is looking to clinch.
Sadiq changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A swing and a miss from Kofel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kofel wants to clinch up but Sadiq keeps it at a distance.

Kofel moves into the clinch.
Sadiq wants a takedown.
A hook to the body from Sadiq .
Kofel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sadiq misses with some punches.
Sadiq lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sadiq .
Kofel blocks a body shot from Sadiq .

Kofel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Xylon Kofel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kofel enables Sadiq to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kofel manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Kofel looking for a guillotine here but Sadiq defends easily.
Sadiq is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sadiq accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kofel is trying to keep Sadiq in close.
Kofel wants to control the position but Sadiq says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Kofel moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kofel keeping moving, preventing Sadiq from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sadiq postures up in Kofel's guard and throws a big left but Kofel blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sadiq tries to free his leg and advance position but Kofel is retaining full guard.
Sadiq slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kofel is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sadiq is looking to take a break and control but Kofel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Sadiq thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four 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.
Sadiq throws a strike aimed at the side of Kofel's head but Kofel avoids it well.
Sadiq throws a strike aimed at the side of Kofel's head but Kofel avoids it well.
Sadiq misses with the ground and pound.
Kofel tries to improve position but can't.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sadiq shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Kofel might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Still in half guard, Sadiq seems content to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

That kick from Kofel tenderised Sadiq 's leg. Sadiq is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kofel thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sadiq looks for a takedown but Kofel sprawls well.
Sadiq tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Sadiq dives in for a single leg takedown but Kofel sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kofel misses with a body punch

and Sadiq counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sadiq postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sadiq working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kofel's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sadiq postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sadiq throws an elbow that misses. Kofel uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sadiq 's guard. Nice move by Kofel!

Kofel wants to control from the top but Sadiq keeps moving.
Sadiq has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sadiq is controlling Kofel's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kofel trying to control but Sadiq is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kofel throws a right hand that misses

so Sadiq counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Saad Sadiq has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kofel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sadiq is one step ahead there.
Sadiq works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sadiq is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sadiq sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kofel defending well though.
Sadiq working the head and body with strikes.
Kofel trying to control here.
Kofel works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sadiq works over Kofel with some ground and pound from guard.

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.
Sadiq slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kofel tries to bench press Sadiq off him but Sadiq keeps the position.
Sadiq lands a few punches from side control.
Kofel is looking for a sweep.
Kofel manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sadiq 's best efforts.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sadiq seems to be looking for submissions.
Kofel is looking to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Saad Sadiq showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Sadiq lands a nice looking body shot.
Sadiq staying out of range there.
Sadiq has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sadiq tries for a takedown but Kofel sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kofel stuffs the takedown.
Kofel tests Sadiq 's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kofel throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Sadiq connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kofel is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Sadiq 's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Kofel throws a poor cross that misses

and Sadiq counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kofel trying to control from the bottom.
Sadiq wants to pass the guard but Kofel is defending well.

Kofel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sadiq is trying to control. Kofel wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kofel blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sadiq .
Sadiq uses his free foot to push down on Kofel's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Kofel.
Kofel sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sadiq tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kofel knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kofel wants to control but Sadiq is keeping busy.
Sadiq wants to control but Kofel is keeping him busy.
Kofel is doing well to control the position and prevent Sadiq from advancing to side control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Sadiq wants to pass the guard but Kofel is defending well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kofel looks to land a left hand but Sadiq moved out of range nicely.
Kofel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And Sadiq tries to counter it with a takedown but Kofel pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Kofel paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Xylon Kofel is winning the standup battle so far.
Kofel pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And Sadiq tries to counter it with a takedown but Kofel pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Sadiq loads up on a big right hand but Kofel slips the punch.
Kofel misses with a leg kick.
Sadiq tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Kofel works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Sadiq checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A big right from Kofel misses.
Sadiq with the counter takedown but Kofel avoids it easily.
Sadiq slips under a jab.
Sadiq is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kofel misses the jab.
Sadiq changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Sadiq tries to clinch but Kofel is having none of it.
Kofel throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kofel throws a hook but Sadiq blocks it.
Sadiq stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kofel.
Kofel throws a looping overhand right but Sadiq ducks down to avoid it.
Xylon Kofel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kofel scores with a hook.
Kofel tries to land a leg kick but Sadiq saw it coming and moves away.
Sadiq drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kofel defends it well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kofel misses with a right hand
enabling Sadiq to counter with a crisp jab.
Kofel throws a hook to the side of Sadiq 's head but Sadiq sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sadiq drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kofel defends it well.
Nice takedown defense from Kofel. No joy for Sadiq on that attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Xylon Kofel.
I think Sadiq has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saad Sadiq !
Saad Sadiq spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.