PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pope Benedict (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and USMAN ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benedict's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, a is for allah. USMAN ali is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Benedict
vs
ali

180 cm
21
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Pope Benedict!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, USMAN ali!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Sosuke Kotani and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Benedict gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows ali to score an easy takedown into full guard.
ali won't allow Benedict to get back to his feet.
ali must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
ali seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
ali missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedict keeping full guard, as ali tries to pass.
ali is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Benedict is working an open guard so ali takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Benedict is breathing heavily.

ali closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - ali lands in his opponent's guard.
ali is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that ali has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
ali pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benedict is keeping the position for now.
Benedict can't keep his opponent in guard - ali advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
ali performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ali wants to pass to mount but Benedict is defending the position.
ali controlling the action here.

ali is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Benedict sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four 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.
ali stops Benedict from getting back to his feet.
ali takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

ali is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Benedict is just riding it out for now. ali eventually gives up the hold.
ali sitting and controlling from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

USMAN ali dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

ali gets a takedown into half guard.
ali trying to pass the guard but Benedict defending well.
ali content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
ali looks to land a strike but Benedict avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

ali decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

ali shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Benedict is trying to defend but ali finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
ali is controlling the pace.
Benedict trying to control but ali postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Benedict is defending against the submission attempts here by ali.
Benedict is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

ali wants to work for an arm triangle but Benedict is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
ali is looking to advance position but Benedict won't allow it.
ali is controlling the pace.

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.
Benedict keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Benedict is looking to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

ali decides to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

USMAN ali showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

ali misses with the combination.
An inside leg kick lands from Benedict.
Benedict tries to clinch there but ali circles away.
ali keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Benedict tries to close the distance and clinch but ali swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Benedict throws a head kick that misses.
Benedict is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

ali gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

ali breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
ali throws a right and a left that both miss.
ali swings for the body but Benedict moves out of range.

ali looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Benedict!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
ali controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ali fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
USMAN ali has got the better of the ground game so far.
ali lands a big elbow.

ali jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Benedict manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Check out the look on ali's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

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.

ali is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Benedict has escaped the position, nice work there.

ali is trying to get an arm triangle but Benedict is defending well.
Benedict tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I would not like to be Benedict right now.

That's four 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.
Benedict covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Benedict is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by ali.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
ali is working the ground and pound. Can Benedict escape?

And that's the end of the fight!
USMAN ali comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got ali 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... USMAN ali!