PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dauda Koroma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raul Negrete (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raul Negrete is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Koroma
vs
Negrete

183 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
190 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Transformer Supplements

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dauda Koroma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raul Negrete!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Stewart Dunkirk and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koroma shoots in and drives through. Negrete sprawls well.
Koroma uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Negrete.
Negrete scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Negrete tries to close the distance and clinch up but Koroma swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Koroma closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Negrete is looking for a sweep. Koroma is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Negrete is defending against the submission attempts here by Koroma.
Negrete regains full guard. Nicely done.
Koroma wants to stand but Negrete has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Koroma looking to pass the guard.
Negrete 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.
Negrete wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Koroma gets to his feet - Negrete follows without any prompting.
Negrete keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A punch combination from Negrete misses.
Koroma tries to clinch there but Negrete circles away.
A head kick misses from Koroma.
Koroma shoots in for a double leg but Negrete sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dauda Koroma. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Koroma is breathing heavily.
Negrete closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Negrete throws a right and a left that Koroma avoids nicely.
Negrete avoids the head kick by Koroma.

Negrete fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Koroma sprawls well initially but Negrete persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Negrete is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Koroma regains full guard. Nicely done.
Negrete tries to free his leg and advance position but Koroma is retaining full guard.

Koroma had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Negrete is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Koroma Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Negrete's back instead.
Koroma has the hooks in. Negrete is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koroma biding his time, controlling Negrete.

Negrete fending off the submission attempt from Koroma.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koroma doesn't have the hooks in and Negrete manages to turn into his guard.

Koroma looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Negrete wants to control from the top but Koroma keeps moving.
Negrete pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Koroma is keeping the position for now.
Koroma is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Negrete is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koroma keeping moving, preventing Negrete from controlling successfully.
Negrete loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Negrete sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Negrete trying to control but Koroma is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Koroma fails with the takedown
and Negrete counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Koroma throws a head kick that misses
and Negrete connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Koroma with a lazy takedown attempt
and Negrete counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Negrete explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
A jab from Negrete finds it's way through Koroma's defenses.
Koroma with a poor takedown

so Negrete counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Negrete wants to control from the top but Koroma keeps moving.
Koroma seems keen to control Negrete's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koroma not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Koroma wants to stand but Negrete is controlling the position.
Koroma wants to sweep here but Negrete controlling him for the moment.
Koroma is trying to keep Negrete in close.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Koroma has his takedown stuffed
and Negrete counters with a head kick. That will keep Koroma thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Negrete throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Koroma shoots in and bounces Negrete off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Negrete pushes Koroma off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Negrete dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Koroma swats away the attempt to clinch by Negrete.

Negrete has taken the fight to the clinch.

Koroma manages to break the clinch.

Koroma shoots in and bounces Negrete off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Koroma tries to free his leg and advance position but Negrete is retaining full guard.
Koroma might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Negrete is trying to keep Koroma in close.
Koroma stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Negrete swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Negrete working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Koroma.
Negrete throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Koroma won't allow Negrete to sweep him here.
Negrete is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Koroma wants to pass the guard but Negrete is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Koroma gets a takedown into half guard.

Koroma decides to stand up.
Koroma avoids a punch combination nicely.
Negrete misses with a jab, cross combination.
Koroma fails with the takedown
and Negrete counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Negrete lands a left and a right that sends Koroma crashing to the canvas! Negrete dives into mount looking to finish!

Koroma is rocked!
Negrete prevents Koroma from getting the reversal.
Oh Koroma is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Dauda Koroma overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Negrete unloading with bombs!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Negrete looking to control but Koroma is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Negrete avoids the attempt from Koroma to control.
Koroma manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Koroma seems to have got his legs back now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koroma slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Koroma looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Negrete being controlled here momentarily.
Koroma keeping moving, preventing Negrete from controlling successfully.
Negrete postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Negrete looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Koroma wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Negrete sitting in guard here, content to control.

Koroma escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Negrete gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Negrete is looking to work some ground and pound but Koroma has wrist control.
Koroma pulls Negrete in to control the position.
Negrete passes Koroma's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Koroma wants to get back to his feet.
Negrete is tying to control. Koroma wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Negrete thows a huge punch but Koroma dodges it nicely.
Negrete not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Koroma has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Negrete is working away from the top position though.
Negrete is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Koroma makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Koroma tries for a takedown but Negrete circles away easily
and Negrete counters with a straight right hand.

Negrete gets caught flat footed, as Koroma shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Koroma pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Negrete is keeping the position for now.
Negrete tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Koroma wants to control from the top but Negrete keeps moving.
Negrete manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Koroma manages to get himself to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Negrete is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Negrete trying to control the position from guard on top but Koroma is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dauda Koroma will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Negrete fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Koroma, pushing him back against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Koroma is looking to control Negrete's arms but Negrete gets an underhook and turns him. Now Koroma has his back to the cage.
Koroma tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Koroma tries to score a body lock takedown but Negrete shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Koroma is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Negrete gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dauda Koroma. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Koroma has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Negrete avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Koroma drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Negrete with a knee to the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Negrete takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Negrete is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Negrete using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Koroma has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Koroma wants to get back to striking at distance but Negrete won't allow it.
Koroma has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Negrete is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Koroma jumps guard but Negrete stands there with Koroma around his waist. Koroma gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Negrete with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Koroma drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Negrete trying to land knees to the body.
Negrete misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Koroma.
Negrete takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Negrete tries a knee to the head but Koroma blocks it.
Negrete trying to land knees to the body.
Koroma jumps guard but Negrete stands there with Koroma around his waist. Koroma gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Koroma wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Negrete has him pressed against the cage.
Negrete stops a takedown attempt from Koroma.
Koroma tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Negrete trying to stall but Koroma improves his position.
Negrete is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Koroma has denied him.
Negrete taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Koroma manages to break the clinch.
Koroma with a lazy takedown attempt
and Negrete counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Negrete will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Koroma misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A nice leg kick lands there from Negrete.
Koroma misses with a takedown attempt
and Negrete cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Koroma slips under a jab from Negrete.
Koroma avoids a punch combination nicely.
Koroma misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

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.
Negrete cracks the inside of Koroma's front leg.
Koroma shoots and misses
and Negrete counters with an outside leg kick.
A combination from Negrete does no damage.
Negrete misses with a wild combination.

Negrete moves into the clinch successfully.

Koroma works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Negrete lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Koroma!
Koroma is in all sorts of trouble here.
Koroma is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Koroma is working to get back to half guard.
Negrete looking to control and managing it successfully.

Negrete looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Negrete connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Koroma is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Negrete pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Koroma squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Negrete can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Koroma is looking to escape.
Koroma working to try and regain half guard.
Koroma is bucking up trying to escape but Negrete cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Koroma wants to hold on but Negrete pushes him away.
Koroma is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Negrete is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Koroma is trying to escape the mount.

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.
Koroma tries to lock up and control but Negrete gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Koroma slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Koroma gets back to full guard.
Koroma is striking off his back. Negrete thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Negrete looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Koroma with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Negrete wants to free his trapped foot but Koroma is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Koroma is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Negrete pulls his head out easily.
Negrete throwing shots but Koroma is blocking nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raul Negrete comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Negrete 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raul Negrete!