PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tony Rock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jinder Mahal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mahal comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Sick Puppies - You're Going Down kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rock
vs
Mahal

193 cm
19
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Nutrition Oracle

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tony Rock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jinder Mahal!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Atkins and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A decent looking cross lands there for Mahal.
Mahal keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mahal tries to clinch up.
Rock swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Mahal counter with a right hand.
Mahal fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rock avoids it really well and circles away.
Mahal is looking to clinch but Rock is avoiding it.
No luck for Rock with that takedown attempt.
Rock throws a sloppy head kick
and Mahal counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rock shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mahal sprawls well. Mahal wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rock gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Rock. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rock is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rock displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mahal.
Rock closes the distance and clinches up with Mahal, looking for a takedown. Rock pushes Mahal against the cage but Mahal circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mahal scores with a body shot.
Rock takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Rock throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rock gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Mahal tries to clinch up but Rock circles away and keeps his distance.
Mahal takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Rock shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mahal pinned against the cage. Mahal gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rock is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mahal lands with a right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mahal scores with a nice strike.
Mahal will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mahal circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rock misses with a body kick.
Mahal has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Mahal cracks Rock with a right hand to the side of the head.
Mahal scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Rock. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Mahal tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rock swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rock wants to land a leg kick but Mahal is out of range.
Rock throws a front kick aimed at Mahal's knee but Mahal avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahal tries to clinch but Rock moves out of range.
Rock tries to clinch but Mahal is having none of it.
Rock looks for a takedown but Mahal sprawls well.
Mahal tries to clinch

and Rock counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mahal's guard now.
Rock trying to control but Mahal is working from the bottom.
Rock missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rock has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rock tries to free his leg and advance position but Mahal is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rock gets to his feet. Mahal looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
A jab from Mahal finds it's way through Rock's defenses.
Mahal lands a jab to the head.
Mahal bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rock's head backwards.
Mahal connects with the punch.
Rock changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mahal tries to avoid it but Rock manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mahal to the ground. Mahal escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mahal connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mahal fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Mahal tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Rock counters with a single leg into guard. Mahal didn't expect that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jinder Mahal dominated that round.
That's time! Rock's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rock moves forwards but Mahal connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A shot to the liver by Mahal. Beautiful body shot.
Mahal scores with a shot to the body.
A leg kick checked by Mahal.
Mahal scores with a jab.
Mahal stuffs the takedown attempt from Rock. Rock gets slowly back to his feet.
Mahal is looking to clinch but Rock is avoiding it.
Rock drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Mahal with a nice cross.
Mahal ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rock takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Mahal getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Rock takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Mahal scores with a nice right hand.
Mahal tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rock manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Good standup being displayed there by Mahal as he connects with a hook.
Tony Rock seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rock on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Mahal connects with a looping right hand.
Mahal with a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mahal fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rock darts in trying to clinch
and Mahal cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mahal throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rock's waist but Rock gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mahal off to one side.
Mahal lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Rock closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mahal circles away.
Mahal fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mahal lunges at Rock with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rock's hand.
Rock fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mahal avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Rock. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mahal is looking to clinch but Rock is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahal tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rock swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Rock closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Mahal did well to prevent Rock getting side control.
Rock stalling.
Rock sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mahal defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mahal is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rock scores with a couple of nice shots.
Rock is controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jinder Mahal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Rock looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Horrible takedown by Rock or perhaps it was just good defense by Mahal which made him look bad.
Rock dives in and grabs Mahal's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mahal pushes down on Rock's head and hops out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rock throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Mahal to counter with a crisp jab.
Tony Rock is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rock tries to close the distance and clinch but Mahal swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rock throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Mahal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mahal fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rock.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Rock. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mahal scores with a hook.
Mahal stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mahal wants it to stay on the feet.
Rock looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Rock keeps the fight on the outside.
Rock stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rock wants it to stay on the feet.
Rock changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mahal tries to avoid it but Rock manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mahal to the ground. Mahal escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mahal's corner calls for a 1-2. Mahal obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mahal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rock misses with a lunging right hand
and Mahal cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mahal lands with an overhand left.
Rock shoots in but Mahal avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mahal tries to clinch up.
Rock tries to close the distance and clinch but Mahal swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mahal lands a glancing blow to the side of Rock's head.
Mahal doesn't manage to clinch there - Rock circles away.
Rock tries for a takedown but Mahal sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mahal lands a jab to Rock's midsection.
A jab from Mahal finds it's way through Rock's defenses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahal connects with a nice looking jab.
Rock tries to move into range but Mahal moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Mahal lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Mahal tries for a takedown but Rock sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Rock moves into the clinch.

Rock manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Rock uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Mahal avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Rock tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rock tries to close the distance and clinch but Mahal swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rock slips a jab from Mahal.
Mahal circles away from the clinch attempt.

Rock gets the takedown into side control.
Rock is looking to take a break and control but Mahal is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Rock has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jinder Mahal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mahal 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jinder Mahal!