PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Francis Dean (ranked 25083 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adam Muhamad (ranked 5846 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Dean
vs
Muhamad

185 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

170 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Francis Dean!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Adam Muhamad!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Chris Dean and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Muhamad closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Dean is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Muhamad displaying some good clinch control by pressing Dean up against the cage.
Muhamad is stalling here.
Dean tries to pull guard but Muhamad forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Dean fails to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Muhamad lands a takedown into guard.

Dean uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Muhamad looking to score a takedown here. Dean is defending well but Muhamad drives through and ends up in Dean's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dean is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Muhamad slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Muhamad lands a decent elbow from side control.
Dean is trying to improve his position.

Muhamad stands up.
A combination from Dean does no damage.

Muhamad closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Dean to the mat! Dean manages to get full guard.

Dean has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Muhamad is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Muhamad tries to land a knee to the head but Dean blocks with his arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Dean gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Muhamad wriggles free and stands up.
Muhamad should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Muhamad closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Dean's guard.

Dean is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Muhamad is aware though and is defending well.
Dean is breathing heavily.
Muhamad controlling from the top position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Muhamad accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dean looking to hit a scissor sweep but Muhamad is one step ahead there.
Muhamad looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Muhamad defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dean.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Francis Dean. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Muhamad shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Dean napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Dean explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Adam Muhamad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Muhamad closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Muhamad lands in his opponent's guard.
Muhamad postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Muhamad is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Muhamad advances position into side control!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dean is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Muhamad off and has taken his back!
Muhamad tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Adam Muhamad will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dean tries to keep at a distance but Muhamad has taken the fight into the clinch.
Muhamad works on Dean's body with a couple of short punches.
A right hand to the body from Muhamad.
Dean drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Muhamad gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Muhamad avoiding damage as Dean throws knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Muhamad is trying to break free.

Muhamad has Dean pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Muhamad pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Dean tumbling to the mat - Muhamad dives into Dean's guard.
Dean wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Muhamad manages to pass to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dean is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Muhamad's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Muhamad's back!

Muhamad is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Muhamad rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Francis Dean overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Muhamad controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muhamad misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Muhamad has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dean is working away from the top position though.
Dean slips a nice elbow through Muhamad's hands, connecting with Muhamad's forehead.
Muhamad is looking to control Dean's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Muhamad avoid being mounted?
Dean is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Muhamad manages to get to full guard.
Dean will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Dean drops back, looking for a kneebar! Muhamad looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Muhamad looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Muhamad!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muhamad cracks Dean with a big right hand but Dean just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Muhamad throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Dean misses with a strike from the bottom.
Dean is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Muhamad off and has taken his back!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Muhamad just trying to survive but Dean is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Muhamad tries to roll but Dean sticks to his back.
Dean lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Muhamad hold on?!
Muhamad can't escape the position.
Muhamad covering up well and avoiding damage.
Muhamad turns into Dean and is now in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muhamad showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Dean is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Muhamad looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Muhamad trying to hold on to Dean's head to control him but Dean postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Dean connects with a nice short shot to Muhamad's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Adam Muhamad will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Dean avoids a kick to the body.

Muhamad forces Dean back against the cage and clinches.

Muhamad turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Muhamad remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Muhamad is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Dean is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Dean manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Dean is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Muhamad doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dean.
Muhamad keeping hold of Dean's head, controlling as best he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Muhamad is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Dean pulls his head out easily.
Muhamad blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dean.
Muhamad wants to get back to his feet.

Dean is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Muhamad sees it coming and defends easily.

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.
Dean is thwarting Muhamad's attempts to control the position.
Muhamad wants to get back to full guard.
Muhamad wants to control but Dean is keeping busy.
Dean sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Muhamad defending well though.
Muhamad moves into full guard.
Dean trying to control but Muhamad is working from the bottom.
Dean throwing strikes from guard but Muhamad blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dean trying to control the position from guard on top but Muhamad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Dean will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Francis Dean is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Muhamad moves out of range as Dean strikes.

Muhamad gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Muhamad lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Muhamad has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Muhamad gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Muhamad seems to be working for a kimura but Dean defends the submission attempt.
Muhamad takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dean punching from the bottom.
Dean is looking for a sweep. Muhamad is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Muhamad throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Dean is looking for a sweep. Muhamad is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Muhamad missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Francis Dean has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Adam Muhamad is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Muhamad trying to control the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Adam Muhamad comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Muhamad 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Adam Muhamad!