PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Masahiko Kimura (ranked 1080 p4p, 1634 weight class) and Umar Khattab (ranked 135 p4p, 189 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kimura
vs
Khattab

170 cm
28
185
4 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
192
5 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Conquest Nutrition™ (160Q) $89

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Masahiko Kimura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Umar Khattab!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Franklyn Lucas and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Kimura with that takedown attempt.
Nice body punch from Khattab.
Kimura fails with a takedown attempt.
Kimura misses with a takedown attempt - Khattab sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Masahiko Kimura. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Khattab lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Masahiko Kimura has been cut.
Kimura doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Khattab counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kimura thinking.
Khattab fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Khattab drops Kimura with a right and a left! Khattab comes rushing in but Kimura regains his composure and manages to keep Khattab in guard.
Kimura is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Khattab content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Kimura is rocked!
Khattab looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Khattab lands a couple of elbows.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Khattab lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Khattab scoring with some ground and pound.
Khattab with a nice head shot there.
Oh Kimura is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khattab wants to pass the guard but Kimura is keeping the position.
Kimura seems to have got his legs back now.
Khattab looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Khattab cracks Kimura with a solid left hand.
Khattab connects with a couple of short punches.

Kimura throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kimura seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Khattab works over Kimura with some ground and pound from guard.
Khattab is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kimura tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Khattab throwing strikes from guard but Kimura blocks nicely.
Kimura working a defensive guard here.

Kimura is looking for a triangle but Khattab pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kimura looking for a sweep. Not yet Kimura, not yet.
Khattab must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Khattab got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kimura has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Khattab has managed to get both his arms back between Kimura's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kimura looking to hit a scissor sweep but Khattab is one step ahead there.
Khattab postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Khattab's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Kimura looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Khattab has picked Kimura up and slammed him! Kimura can't keep hold of the triangle and Khattab manages to pass to side control!
Kimura takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Khattab connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Kimura some visible discomfort.
Kimura is trying to get back to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Khattab lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kimura down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kimura is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Khattab off and has taken his back!
Kimura not allowing Khattab to control his hands.
Khattab is keeping busy.
Khattab is trying to break free.

Kimura is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Khattab has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Khattab is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Kimura gets his way!
Kimura is not going to allow Khattab to sit and survive in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khattab is really stuck here.

Kimura is looking for the choke from the back position but Khattab is controlling his hands well.

Kimura is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Khattab defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Kimura has the hooks in and he's looking for a rear naked choke here. Khattab is defending well but eventually Kimura manages to get an arm under the chin and he's locked on the RNC! Khattab has no choice but to tap now! He does! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:43 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Masahiko Kimura!