PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mohamed Walal (ranked 3887 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Swift (ranked 8227 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Swift will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Walal
vs
Swift

182 cm
25
215 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

185 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mohamed Walal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Joe Swift!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Daniel Franklin and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Walal shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Swift counter with a right hand.
We've been told by Walal's head coaches at Cozad The Island that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Nice sprawl there from Walal as Swift shoots in.
Walal dives in for a single leg takedown but Swift sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Swift misses with a two punch combination.
Walal shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Swift counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mohamed Walal. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Walal gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Walal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walal tries to score a power double leg takedown but Swift sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Walal somewhat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Walal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swift scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Walal moves to clinch but Swift breaks away
and Swift counters with a left and a right that stings Walal.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Walal.
Walal is looking to clinch but Swift is avoiding it.
Walal doesn't manage to clinch there - Swift circles away.
Walal tries to close the distance and clinch up but Swift swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Swift connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Walal wants to clinch.
Despite the aggression on Swift's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Walal lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Swift has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Swift and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Walal avoids a punch combination nicely.
Walal shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Swift counters with a series of strikes. Walal will be more careful next time no doubt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Walal closes the distance and clinches up with Swift, looking for a takedown. Walal pushes Swift against the cage but Swift circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Swift is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Walal shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Swift but Swift pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Swift swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swift throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Walal's waist but Walal gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Swift off to one side.
Walal wants to clinch up but Swift keeps it at a distance.
Swift is looking for the big counter here.
Walal misses with a takedown
and Swift counters with a series of strikes. Walal will be more careful next time no doubt.
Walal is breathing heavily.
Walal shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Swift sprawls well. Swift wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Walal gets slowly back to his feet.
Swift moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Swift - that will leave a mark!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swift moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Swift lands a jab-cross combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Swift leaves Walal with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
As Walal backs off Swift throws a huge counter combo but Walal manages to avoid it all.
Walal tries to clinch up.
Swift scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Swift throws a one two combo.
Walal shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Swift but Swift pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Swift closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Walal has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Swift regains guard immediately.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Swift dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Swift lands the left hand.
Walal takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Walal misses with a takedown attempt - Swift sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Swift gets caught napping as Walal dives in and scores a takedown. Swift manages to retain guard.
Walal won't allow Swift to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walal stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Swift swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Walal seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Swift is working an open guard so Walal takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walal changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Swift tries to avoid it but Walal manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Swift to the ground. Swift escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Swift swinging wildly here.
Walal drops down looking for a counter takedown but Swift sprawls and moves away.
Swift scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Walal slips a jab and a cross from Swift.
Walal seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Swift tries to clinch there but Walal circles away.
Swift is working the combinations to good effect here.
Swift tries to score a power double leg takedown but Walal sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Swift somewhat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Walal closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Walal lands in his opponent's guard.
Swift wants to stand but Walal is controlling the position.
Swift looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Walal is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swift controlling the position.
Walal's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Walal works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Walal is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Swift is looking to control Walal's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Swift avoid being mounted?
Walal controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Swift pushes Walal off looking to stand but Walal dives back in and keeps control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Swift defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Walal.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mohamed Walal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Walal.
As Walal backs off Swift throws a huge counter combo but Walal manages to avoid it all.
Walal fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Walal shoots in for a takedown but Swift shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Swift showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Walal's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Swift stalks Walal and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Walal's face. Walal staggers backwards, shaken.
Walal misses with a body kick.
Walal closes the distance and clinches up with Swift, looking for a takedown. Walal pushes Swift against the cage but Swift circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Swift throws a counter combo.
Walal with a lazy takedown attempt
and Swift counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Swift fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Walal, pushing him back against the cage.
Swift wants to break free but Walal has control.
Swift struggles to land a body shot inside as Walal controls his hands.
Swift has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Walal breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walal tries to clinch up.
Mohamed Walal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Good shot there by Swift.
Walal closes the distance and clinches up with Swift, looking for a takedown. Walal pushes Swift against the cage but Swift circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mohamed Walal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Swift throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left and a right from Swift both land. Nice combination.

Walal clinches.
Walal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Swift is defending well for now.
Swift looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Walal gets underhooks to prevent Swift's takedown attempt.
Swift wants to break the clinch but can't.

Swift manages to break the clinch.
Swift throws a nice looking combination but Walal bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Swift lands with a slapping head kick.

Walal closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Walal lands in his opponent's guard.
Walal lands a couple of elbows.
Joe Swift is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swift pulls Walal in to control the position.
Walal prevents Swift from getting back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Walal passes Swift's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Walal content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swift wants to get back to his feet.
Walal trying to control the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Walal looks for a takedown but Swift sprawls well.
Swift unleashes a big counter combination but Walal bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Swift tries to close the distance and clinch up but Walal swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Walal shoots in but no luck this time.
As Walal backs off Swift throws a huge counter combo but Walal manages to avoid it all.
Swift keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Walal swats away the attempt to clinch by Swift.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Swift scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Swift fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Walal gets a takedown into half guard.
Walal controlling the action here.
Swift wants to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Swift comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Swift 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Swift!