PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nursultan Tuliegbay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elias Al Haddad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Tuliegbay
vs
Al Haddad

173 cm
19
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

174 cm
18
163 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Dragon

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nursultan Tuliegbay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Elias Al Haddad!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, William Peck and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Al Haddad lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Al Haddad uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Tuliegbay walks into a left hand.
Al Haddad connects with a nice looking jab.
Al Haddad scores with a decent looking hook.
Al Haddad tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Al Haddad lands a jab to the head.
Tuliegbay takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A telegraphed right hand from Al Haddad misses the target.
Al Haddad lands with a nice body punch.
Al Haddad tries to clinch there but Tuliegbay circles away.
Tuliegbay misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tuliegbay shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuliegbay shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Tuliegbay tries to clinch up but Al Haddad circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice shot by Al Haddad.
Tuliegbay takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Tuliegbay fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nursultan Tuliegbay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tuliegbay wants to clinch up but Al Haddad keeps it at a distance.
Al Haddad scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Tuliegbay avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tuliegbay drops his hands momentarily and Al Haddad takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Al Haddad lands a jab to the nose.
Elias Al Haddad is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tuliegbay walks into a stiff left hand from Al Haddad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuliegbay showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Al Haddad.
Al Haddad throws a good cross that connects.
Al Haddad lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Al Haddad scores with a three punch combo!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Al Haddad swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Tuliegbay.
Al Haddad looks to land a combination but Tuliegbay avoids it well.
Tuliegbay shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Al Haddad sprawls well. Al Haddad wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tuliegbay gets slowly back to his feet.
Al Haddad is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Tuliegbay had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Al Haddad connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Tuliegbay momentarily.
Tuliegbay swats away the attempt to clinch by Al Haddad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Haddad misses with a double jab.
Al Haddad throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Tuliegbay stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Tuliegbay keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Al Haddad misses with a jab, cross combination.
Al Haddad lands a slapping body shot.
Al Haddad is looking to clinch.
Tuliegbay swings for the body but Al Haddad moves out of range.
Al Haddad rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tuliegbay moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Al Haddad moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Al Haddad lands with a nice combination. Tuliegbay backs away looking to recover.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Haddad throws a body kick that misses.
Tuliegbay looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Tuliegbay takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Tuliegbay takes the fight into the clinch.
Al Haddad wants to break the clinch but can't.

Al Haddad breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tuliegbay ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tuliegbay misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Al Haddad misses with a jab, cross combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Al Haddad swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nice straight punches there by Al Haddad. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Al Haddad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elias Al Haddad dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tuliegbay keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tuliegbay fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tuliegbay keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Al Haddad listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Al Haddad throws a head kick but Tuliegbay moves out of range.
Tuliegbay throws a shot from downtown. Al Haddad moves away and avoids it.
Al Haddad throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tuliegbay.
Al Haddad misses with a straight right.
Tuliegbay takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Al Haddad looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tuliegbay takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Haddad lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Tuliegbay slips a straight right by Al Haddad.
Al Haddad misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tuliegbay.
Al Haddad misses with a wild body shot.
Al Haddad throws a series of punches but Tuliegbay moves out of range.
Nice body punch from Al Haddad.
A shot to the liver by Al Haddad. Beautiful body shot.
Al Haddad connects with a right hand. Tuliegbay shakes it off.
Al Haddad misses with a few strikes there.
Al Haddad dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Al Haddad throws out a loose jab but Tuliegbay uses good head movement to avoid it.
Al Haddad tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tuliegbay paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuliegbay uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Al Haddad.
Al Haddad tries to close the distance and clinch but Tuliegbay swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Al Haddad throws a shot to the body.
Al Haddad lands with a nice combination. Tuliegbay backs away looking to recover.
Al Haddad misses with a few strikes there.
Al Haddad works Tuliegbay's body with a nice hook.
Tuliegbay tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Al Haddad keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Al Haddad misses with the combination.
Tuliegbay has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Al Haddad finds it's way round the side to connect with Tuliegbay's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuliegbay fails in his attempt to clinch.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Tuliegbay. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Tuliegbay tries to score a power double leg takedown but Al Haddad sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tuliegbay somewhat.
Tuliegbay fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nursultan Tuliegbay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Al Haddad will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Al Haddad has Tuliegbay up against the cage in a clinch.
Al Haddad lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tuliegbay backwards.
Al Haddad throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Al Haddad lands a hook that snaps the head of Tuliegbay backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Haddad digs a right hand into Tuliegbay's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Tuliegbay's gas tank.

Al Haddad breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Al Haddad pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Tuliegbay back to the cage. Al Haddad follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Al Haddad throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tuliegbay.
Al Haddad lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Tuliegbay looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Al Haddad!
Al Haddad is not content to let Tuliegbay control the position.
Tuliegbay is chipping away with strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Al Haddad is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Al Haddad can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elias Al Haddad showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tuliegbay.
Al Haddad circles away from the clinch attempt.
Al Haddad fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Al Haddad punishes Tuliegbay's body with a nice straight punch.
Al Haddad has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Al Haddad misses with a body shot.
Elias Al Haddad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Al Haddad throws a right and a left that both miss.
A combination from Al Haddad does no damage.
Al Haddad lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tuliegbay circles away quickly and effectively.
Al Haddad scores with a one two! Tuliegbay had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Tuliegbay avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Haddad works the jab nicely.
Tuliegbay blocks a jab.
Elias Al Haddad is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tuliegbay needs to keep his hands up - Al Haddad had a free shot at his head there.
Tuliegbay takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Al Haddad cracks Tuliegbay with a good jab.
Tuliegbay defending well as Al Haddad loads up on a big left hand.
Al Haddad throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A slow jab from Al Haddad misses its intended target.
Tuliegbay is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Al Haddad scores with a nice strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuliegbay blocks a head kick by Al Haddad.
Al Haddad throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tuliegbay uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Al Haddad.
No luck for Tuliegbay with that takedown attempt.
Al Haddad lands a slapping body shot.
Al Haddad connects with a right hand. Tuliegbay shakes it off.
Al Haddad punishes Tuliegbay's body with a nice straight punch.
Al Haddad lands a head shot.
Al Haddad scores with a nice strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Haddad misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Al Haddad swings for the body but Tuliegbay moves out of range.
Donk. Al Haddad catches Tuliegbay right on the button with a cross.
Elias Al Haddad seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tuliegbay shoots in and drives through. Al Haddad sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nursultan Tuliegbay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Al Haddad with a hook.
Al Haddad lands an overhand right.
Al Haddad throws a right hand that Tuliegbay ducks under and follows up with a left that Tuliegbay also avoids with ease.
Tuliegbay displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Al Haddad throws out the jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tuliegbay. Al Haddad does a little dance to reset his feet.
Al Haddad scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Al Haddad swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Haddad misses with a wild combination.
Tuliegbay takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Al Haddad scores with a hook.
Nice jab there from Al Haddad.
Nursultan Tuliegbay has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tuliegbay is trying hard to land a takedown here. Al Haddad sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Al Haddad scores with the left hand. Tuliegbay knows he should have avoided that one.
Tuliegbay looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Al Haddad is fending him off so far but Tuliegbay persists. Nope, Al Haddad circles away and we're back to standing.
Elias Al Haddad is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Left hook, right uppercut from Al Haddad.
Tuliegbay swats away the attempt to clinch by Al Haddad.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elias Al Haddad comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Al Haddad 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elias Al Haddad!
Elias Al Haddad decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.