PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cletus Nash (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ahmed Bahulu (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.

Nash
vs
Bahulu

173 cm
23
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
24
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 Los Angeles, Cletus Nash!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ahmed Bahulu!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bahulu shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Nash manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Bahulu 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.
It looks like Bahulu might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bahulu pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nash is keeping the position for now.
Nash looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Bahulu bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Nash striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
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!
Nash is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Bahulu off and has taken his back!
Will Nash go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Nash is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Bahulu defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Nash's arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nash controls the action.

Nash is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Bahulu is defending well though. Nash let's go of the attempt for now.
Nash trying to control momentarily.

Bahulu defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nash throwing damaging strikes from the back! Bahulu could be in trouble here!
Nash is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Nash'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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Even with his hooks in, Nash manages to miss with strikes from the back.

Nash working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nash seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Bahulu's chin but Bahulu turns very nicely into Nash's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Bahulu.
Bahulu postures up.
Bahulu wants to pass the guard but Nash is keeping the position.
Bahulu forces his way into half guard.
Nash is staying active underneath Bahulu, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bahulu passes to side control.
Bahulu happy to just control the position for now.
Nash is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nash struggling a bit here.
Nash prevents Bahulu from improving position.
Nash is not content to let Bahulu control the position.

Bahulu is trying to get an arm triangle but Nash is defending well.
Nash prevents Bahulu from improving position.
Nash is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nash struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ahmed Bahulu will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bahulu gets a takedown into half guard.
Nash wants to improve his position but Bahulu is controlling well.
Nash pushes Bahulu off looking to stand but Bahulu dives back in and keeps control.
Nash could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Nash is not content to let Bahulu control the position.
Bahulu prevents Nash from standing back up.
Bahulu is trying to control the action in half guard but Nash is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bahulu wants to free his trapped foot but Nash is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Bahulu prevents Nash from standing back up.
Bahulu moves into full mount! Nash won't be happy about that!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nash is squirming around, avoiding Bahulu's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bahulu punishing his opponent with strikes.
Bahulu controlling from mount.
Bahulu has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Nash's face.

Nash is rocked!

It looks like Cletus Nash has been cut.

Nash is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Bahulu locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Nash is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ahmed Bahulu!