PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hamad Al Zahran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maubee Away (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Away's choice of entrance music: Rude Boy Dreams. Maubee Away told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Al Zahran
vs
Away

188 cm
24
178 lbs
10 - 6 - 1

182 cm
24
184 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Heisenberg
Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Hamad Al Zahran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Maubee Away!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Richard Clark and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Al Zahran lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Away gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Al Zahran tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Al Zahran throws a quick inside leg kick.
Al Zahran fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Away manages to avoid it.
Al Zahran tests Away's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Al Zahran thuds his shin into the meat of Away's side.
Away has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Away there as he acknowledges the shot.
Al Zahran displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Away.
Al Zahran cracks the inside of Away's front leg.
Al Zahran scores with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Zahran ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Away moves away.
Al Zahran connects with a high kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Al Zahran, right into the meat.
Away fails to land the takedown.
Hamad Al Zahran is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Al Zahran tries to clinch there but Away circles away.
Al Zahran throws a lazy right hand but Away sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Al Zahran dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Away. That did some damage!
Al Zahran throws a sloppy head kick and Away moves out of range easily.
Al Zahran buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Away dives in for a single leg takedown but Al Zahran sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Hamad Al Zahran has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maubee Away.
Al Zahran working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Al Zahran.
I was talking to Al Zahran's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A head punch on the inside from Al Zahran fails to land.
Al Zahran scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Al Zahran with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Al Zahran tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Al Zahran misses with a punch to the body.
Al Zahran working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Away has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Al Zahran is trying to keep an underhook but Away manages to get the takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Away sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Al Zahran defending well though.
Away not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Al Zahran keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Away lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Away wants to pass the guard but Al Zahran is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Away misses with a head shot. Al Zahran uses the momentum to regain guard.
Al Zahran is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Away is controlling him.
Al Zahran is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Still in half guard, Al Zahran seems content to control.
Away is trying to control but can't.
Al Zahran is keen to just control but Away is a slippery customer.
Al Zahran wants to stand up but Away has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Al Zahran seems content to control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Away manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Al Zahran pushes down on Away's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Away is holding on to half guard well.
Al Zahran is looking to take a break and control but Away is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Al Zahran controlling the action here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Hamad Al Zahran has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Al Zahran throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Al Zahran throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Away avoids the body shot from Al Zahran.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hamad Al Zahran 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.

Al Zahran scores with a nice strike.
Al Zahran lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Away fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Al Zahran does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Al Zahran throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Al Zahran closes the distance and clinches.
Away blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Al Zahran can't find room to land a body shot as Away controls the action.
Al Zahran wants to stall.
Away blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Al Zahran throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Al Zahran.
Al Zahran lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Al Zahran misses with a body punch.
Al Zahran prevents a takedown attempt there.
Away blocks a body shot from Al Zahran.
Al Zahran tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Away's elbow.
Al Zahran slows down the pace here.
Al Zahran can't find room to land a body shot as Away controls the action.
Al Zahran tries to stall but Away uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Away blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Al Zahran tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Away blocks a body shot from Al Zahran.
Al Zahran dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Away jumps guard but Al Zahran turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Hamad Al Zahran has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maubee Away.
Al Zahran fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Away blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Al Zahran swings wildly with an uppercut but Away uses good head movement to avoid it.
Away blocks a body shot from Al Zahran.
Al Zahran misses with a punch on the inside.
Al Zahran tries to work over Away's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Al Zahran working aggressively here.
The referee calls for Al Zahran to work.
Al Zahran tries a body shot but Away blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Away blocks a body shot from Al Zahran.
Away is working for takedown but Al Zahran is calmly controlling the position for now.

Away decides to pull guard.
Al Zahran slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Away tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Away has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Al Zahran not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Away looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Al Zahran is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

We're going to have a standup here because Hamad Al Zahran wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Al Zahran misses with a body shot.
Al Zahran dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Away. That did some damage!
Al Zahran swings for the body but Away moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Zahran connects with a body shot.
Away checks a leg kick.
Away shoots for a takedown but Al Zahran saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A thudding body kick lands there by Al Zahran!
Al Zahran scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Al Zahran scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Al Zahran misses with a body shot.
Al Zahran ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Away moves away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Al Zahran tries to clinch up but Away circles away and keeps his distance.
Al Zahran fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hamad Al Zahran dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Al Zahran leaves Away with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Al Zahran scores with a nice head shot.
A big left from Al Zahran misses.
Al Zahran keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Al Zahran throws a head kick that Away semi-blocks.
Al Zahran tries a low kick but Away avoids it.
Al Zahran bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Al Zahran lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Al Zahran feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Away's calf.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Away shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Al Zahran pinned against the cage. Al Zahran gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hamad Al Zahran has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maubee Away.
Al Zahran scores with a kick to the body.
Away has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Al Zahran.
Hamad Al Zahran seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Al Zahran scores with a leg kick.
Al Zahran goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Al Zahran scores with a leg kick.
Away walks forward, straight into a front kick from Al Zahran.
That kick from Al Zahran tenderised Away's leg. Away is trying to keep his angry face on.
Good leg kick by Al Zahran there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Maubee Away has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Zahran lands with an overhand left.
Away stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Al Zahran.
Away tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Al Zahran defends well and Away ends up having to push Al Zahran into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Al Zahran taking a breather.
Al Zahran misses with a punch on the inside.
Away prevents a body shot from Al Zahran.
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!
A nice right hand lands inside from Al Zahran.
Away jumps guard but Al Zahran turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Al Zahran trying to control the position but instead, Away has worked for underhooks and has pushed Al Zahran into the cage.
Al Zahran is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Away can do to turn this around?
Al Zahran works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Zahran tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Away blocks an uppercut.
Al Zahran gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Away.

Away has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Al Zahran clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Al Zahran trying to get back to his feet but Away is in full control for now.
Away misses with punches from the back.
Away missing with punches from the back.
Away throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Away is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Al Zahran is trying to get back to his feet but Away has full control of the position and if anything, Al Zahran has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Away misses with an elbow to the head.
Away has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Al Zahran.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Al Zahran tries to break free.
Away lands a shot to the head.
Al Zahran has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Away throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hamad Al Zahran showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Al Zahran, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hamad Al Zahran!
Hamad Al Zahran 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.