PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marnie Star (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ali Haji (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.

Star
vs
Haji

184 cm
19
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 The Island, Marnie Star!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ali Haji!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Peter Branson and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haji shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Star drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Haji manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Star manages to get himself to full guard.

Haji trying to control the position from guard on top but Star is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Star bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Haji's guard.

Haji keeping moving, preventing Star from controlling successfully.
Haji controlling Star's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haji looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Haji is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Star has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Haji manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Star manages to get himself to full guard.

Star wants to sweep here but Haji controlling him for the moment.
Haji with a flurry of punches that miss.
Haji slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Haji tries to free his leg and advance position but Star is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Haji sitting in guard here, content to control.
Star working a defensive guard here.
Star wants to stand but Haji is controlling the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Star is on top in guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Star is fighting to break Haji's control of his arms but Haji is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Haji is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Star wants to get back to full guard.
Star moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Haji trying to control but Star is working from the bottom.
Haji is looking to work some ground and pound but Star has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haji prevents Star from getting back to his feet.

Star is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Star trying to control the position.
Haji tries to free his leg and advance position but Star is retaining full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Haji throws a body kick that misses
and Star counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Star takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

It looks like Marnie Star has been cut.

Haji gets a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ali Haji will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Marnie Star's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Haji fails with a takedown attempt.
Star with a poor takedown
and Haji counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Star thinking.
Star looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Haji tries to counter by closing the distance.
Haji throws a head kick that misses.
Haji shoots in for a takedown but Star shows good takedown defense.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Star tries to pull guard but Haji forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marnie Star. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haji tries to circle away but Star has him pinned against the cage.
Haji is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Star is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haji wants to take the fight to the mat but Star manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Star wants a takedown.
Haji tries to break free but Star pushes him back against the cage.

Haji manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Haji is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Haji wants to pass the guard but Star is defending well.
Haji looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Star trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Star is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Haji jumps into side control!
Haji has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Star is looking to reverse the position.
Star is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Haji's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Haji trying to pass the guard but Star defending well.
Star flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Haji has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haji throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Poor strikes thrown by Haji there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Star avoids a series of strikes thrown by Haji.
Haji wants to control the pace but Star is squirming around nicely.

Haji is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Star shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Haji as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Star avoids the head kick by Haji.
Haji shoots in for a double leg but Star sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Haji shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Star sprawls well. Star wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Haji gets slowly back to his feet.
Star fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Haji clinches up with Star and pushes him back against the cage.

Haji manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Star is fighting to break Haji's control of his arms but Haji is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Star stands up and waves to Haji to follow him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ali Haji showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Marnie Star's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Haji shoots in but no luck this time.
Star tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Haji tries a head kick but it misses.
Star closes the distance and clinches up with Haji, looking for a takedown. Star pushes Haji against the cage but Haji circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Marnie Star is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Haji closes the distance and clinches.
Haji tries to pull guard but Star forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Star gets underhooks to prevent Haji's takedown attempt.
Marnie Star has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ali Haji.
Haji has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Haji lands with a light punch inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Star is trying to pull guard but Haji turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Haji tries to score a body lock takedown but Star shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Haji wants to take the fight to the mat but Star manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Haji takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Star's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Star shoots in for a takedown but Haji shows good takedown defense.
Haji stuffs the takedown attempt from Star. Star gets slowly back to his feet.
Star shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Haji as he jumps to the side.
Haji shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Star as he avoids it easily.
Haji has a takedown stuffed.
Haji fails with the takedown.
Star throws a head kick but Haji moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Haji throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Star tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Haji is in Star's guard.
Haji sitting in guard here, content to control.
Haji wants to stand and escape but instead Star has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Haji wants to sweep but no luck.

Haji has his foot on Star's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Star works his way back into a safe position though.
Star trying to control but Haji is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Star looking to pass the guard.

Haji is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Star presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Star stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Haji has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Star after a bit of a struggle.
A frustrated look appears on Star's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Star breaks from the clinch.
Haji keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Haji pushes Star up against the cage in a clinch.
Haji has had enough of the clinch but Star keeps him there for the moment.
Haji scores with a nice hook to the head.
Star wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Haji has had enough of the clinch but Star keeps him there for the moment.
Star is trying to break the clinch but Haji has him pressed against the cage.
Star tries to pull guard but Haji holds him up against the cage and eventually Star drops back down to his feet.
Haji tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Star tries to circle away but Haji has him pinned against the cage.
Star fails to pull guard.
Marnie Star has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ali Haji is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Haji on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ali Haji comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Haji 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ali Haji!