PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Iqbal Al Mamood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Curtis Sharp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Al Mamood kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Mamute Pequenino. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Al Mamood
vs
Sharp

173 cm
36
171 lbs
25 - 18 - 1

178 cm
35
176 lbs
27 - 18 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Iqbal Al Mamood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Curtis Sharp!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Ben Watson and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sharp thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sharp slips a jab from Al Mamood.
Al Mamood lands a jab to the head.
Sharp misses with a two punch combination.
Al Mamood throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Al Mamood scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Al Mamood swings for the body but Sharp moves out of range.

Sharp scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Al Mamood tries to get to full guard but Sharp has control of the leg.

Al Mamood actively working from the bottom here.
Al Mamood moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sharp trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
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!
Al Mamood 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.
Sharp throws an elbow that misses. Al Mamood uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sharp's guard. Nice move by Al Mamood!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Al Mamood accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sharp keeping full guard, as Al Mamood tries to pass.
Sharp is trying to control the position but Al Mamood postures up.
Sharp is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Sharp looking to hit a scissor sweep but Al Mamood is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Al Mamood is looking to work some ground and pound but Sharp has wrist control.
Sharp working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Curtis Sharp was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Sharp tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Al Mamood was well out of range. Poor timing from Sharp.
Iqbal Al Mamood seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Al Mamood fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sharp avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharp tries to land a leg kick but Al Mamood saw it coming and moves away.
Al Mamood checks a leg kick nicely.
Al Mamood dives in for a single leg takedown but Sharp sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Sharp tries to break the clinch but Al Mamood is controlling the position.

Al Mamood jumps guard and drags Sharp to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Sharp passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Al Mamood gets back to half guard.

Al Mamood looking for submissions off his back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sharp throwing shots but Al Mamood is blocking nicely.
Al Mamood is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sharp scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Mamood trying to control from the bottom.
Al Mamood makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Al Mamood.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sharp accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sharp trying to control the position from guard on top but Al Mamood is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Al Mamood working for a triangle but Sharp defends it easily.
Sharp throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sharp makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sharp lands a couple of digs.
Sharp trying to control but Al Mamood is working from the bottom.
Sharp postures up in Al Mamood's guard and throws a big left but Al Mamood blocks it.
Al Mamood trying to control the position.
Sharp trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sharp missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
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!
Sharp pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Al Mamood is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Al Mamood is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Curtis Sharp will probably get the nod.
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.

Sharp throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A looping hook to the body misses from Al Mamood. Sharp does a little dance to reset his feet.

Al Mamood fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sharp, pushing him back against the cage.
Al Mamood makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Sharp is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sharp swings wildly with an uppercut but Al Mamood uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sharp scores with a hook to the body.
Al Mamood lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sharp.
Al Mamood misses with some punches.
Sharp working aggressively here.
Al Mamood struggles to land a body shot inside as Sharp controls his hands.
Al Mamood tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Al Mamood tries a body shot but Sharp blocks it.
Al Mamood lands a nice shot to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sharp is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
I was talking to Al Mamood's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Sharp goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sharp blocks a body shot from Al Mamood.
Al Mamood lands a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Mamood pushes Sharp back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Al Mamood misses with a hook to the ribs.
Al Mamood misses with a hook to the ribs.

Sharp escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sharp works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Al Mamood closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Al Mamood lands in his opponent's guard.
Al Mamood wants to control from the top but Sharp keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Al Mamood being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharp avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sharp lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Al Mamood!
Sharp lands a heavy elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Al Mamood is desperately trying to improve his position but Sharp has a good base and remains in mount.
Sharp thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Al Mamood working to try and regain half guard.
Sharp trying to control but Al Mamood is having none of it.
Al Mamood tries to hold on but Sharp pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharp throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Al Mamood because Sharp loaded up on that one.
Al Mamood gets back to half guard.
Sharp scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sharp is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sharp working Al Mamood over with strikes.
Al Mamood moves into full guard.
Sharp throws an elbow that misses. Al Mamood uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sharp's guard. Nice move by Al Mamood!
Al Mamood wants to control from the top but Sharp keeps moving.
Al Mamood working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sharp looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sharp has Al Mamood pulled in close to control his posture.
Al Mamood chips away with some ground and pound.
Sharp controlling the position.
Al Mamood postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Al Mamood wants to control from the top but Sharp keeps moving.
Al Mamood cracks Sharp with a solid left hand.
Al Mamood trying to control the position from guard on top but Sharp is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Al Mamood throwing strikes from guard but Sharp blocks nicely.
Sharp looking to control.
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 Iqbal Al Mamood will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Al Mamood looks to land a left hand but Sharp moved out of range nicely.
Al Mamood throws a predictable looking body shot
and Sharp counters with a left to the body.
Al Mamood takes a swing at Sharp's ribcage but misses.
Al Mamood misses with a body shot.
Sharp with a lazy takedown attempt

and Al Mamood counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Sharp!
Sharp is trying to get back to half guard.
Sharp can't do much from the bottom here.
Sharp felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Al Mamood wants to control for a moment but Sharp uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Al Mamood throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Al Mamood in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Mamood uses his free foot to push down on Sharp's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Sharp.
Al Mamood with shots to the head and body - Sharp looks very uncomfortable down there.
Sharp tries to lock up and control but Al Mamood gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sharp blocking the ground and pound.
Al Mamood dominating with strikes here.
Al Mamood tries to control but Sharp wriggling away.
Al Mamood in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sharp is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Al Mamood can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sharp is looking to escape.
Al Mamood scoring with strikes but Sharp is staying in there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharp wants to control but Al Mamood is having none of it.
Al Mamood working Sharp over with strikes here.
Al Mamood with good strikes from the mount here!
Al Mamood looking to ground and pound but Sharp is blocking nicely.
Al Mamood raining down shots from the mount!

Sharp is rocked!
Al Mamood punching from mount but Sharp doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Al Mamood has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Sharp's face.
Sharp is still in real trouble! Can Al Mamood finish him?
Al Mamood landing strikes, looking to finish!
The referee warns Sharp that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Al Mamood has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Al Mamood postures up and throws a big right hand. BOOM! Right on the button! Sharp is out cold - huge knockout for Al Mamood!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Iqbal Al Mamood!
Iqbal Al Mamood took some time post fight to say the following; 'BFT is the greatest org in the world and I hope to retire here one day! Not yet though...'.