PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Naim Azarat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and The Repo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Azarat
vs
Repo

181 cm
21
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

Tab Out Clothes

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Naim Azarat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, The Repo!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Paulsen Ambrosius and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Repo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Azarat sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Repo wants to clinch

and Azarat counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Repo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Repo throws a punch but it's blocked by Azarat.
Repo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Azarat.
Repo can't get the takedown.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Repo.
Repo is pressed up against the cage. Azarat has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Repo down to the mat. Repo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Repo closes the distance and clinches.
Azarat gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Repo.
Naim Azarat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of The Repo.
Repo is pressed up against the cage. Azarat has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Repo down to the mat. Repo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Repo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Azarat manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Repo tries to clinch

so Azarat counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Azarat is stalling in the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Naim Azarat just wasn't active enough.

Repo darts in and clinches Azarat up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azarat blocks an elbow strike from Repo.
Repo leaning against his opponent.
Repo lands an elbow inside.
Repo tries to land knees in the clinch but Azarat avoids the damage to the body.
Repo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Repo jumps guard but Azarat turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Repo is looking to take this one to the mat.
Repo lands a knee to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Azarat is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Azarat on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Repo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Repo fails in his attempt to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Repo has Azarat pressed against the cage.
Azarat is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Repo prevents the takedown attempt.
Repo misses with a punch on the inside.
Repo lands an elbow inside that Azarat shrugs off.
Repo is looking to break free of the clinch but Azarat has double underhooks.
Azarat is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Repo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Repo looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Azarat jumps guard but Repo stands there with Azarat around his waist. Azarat gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Azarat is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Repo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Repo misses with an elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Repo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Azarat is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Azarat avoids a wild elbow strike from Repo.
Repo is pushing Azarat up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Azarat is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Repo lands an elbow just above Azarat 's eye.
Repo wants to take the fight to the mat but Azarat manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Repo looks winded!
Repo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Repo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Azarat just stands there and leans against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Azarat changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Repo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Repo dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Azarat keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Repo moves to clinch but Azarat breaks away

and Azarat counters by clinching up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azarat has Repo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Repo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Repo is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Repo throws an elbow but it misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Repo just misses with a elbow thrown towards Azarat's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azarat is looking to break free of the clinch but Repo has double underhooks.
Azarat is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Repo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Naim Azarat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Repo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Azarat pulls his leg out and moves away.
Azarat avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Repo doesn't manage to clinch there - Azarat circles away.
Repo tries to clinch up

and Azarat moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azarat trying to land knees to the body.

Azarat drags the fight down to the ground.
Azarat wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Azarat's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Repo is standing up over Azarat. Azarat looks to escape but Repo dives into side control.
Azarat wants to control but Repo postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azarat is not content to let Repo control the position.
Azarat is looking for a sweep.
Repo trying to control the position but Azarat is working away.

Repo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Azarat tries to escape but Repo is in control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Repo tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Repo has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Azarat is trying to improve his position.
Azarat is pushing Repo's head away, looking to escape. Repo manages to hold on to the position though.
Azarat stops Repo from passing to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Repo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but The Repo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Repo is looking to clinch.
Repo moves to clinch but Azarat breaks away

and Azarat counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Azarat avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Repo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Azarat doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Azarat manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Repo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Repo working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Azarat has passed into half guard!
Azarat keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Repo tries to roll over but Azarat keeps him under control.
Azarat performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Azarat frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Repo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The Repo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Azarat avoids the attempt from Repo to control.
Azarat sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Naim Azarat showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Repo 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... The Repo!