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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ahmed Al Balawi (ranked 5055 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdoulaye Diabate (ranked 7574 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.
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| 175 cm
25
156 lbs
1 - 0 - 0 |
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177 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 1 - 0 |
Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very strong |
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Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ahmed Al Balawi!
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, Abdoulaye Diabate!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Santiago Holmes and David Hoff.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Al Balawi misses with a double jab.
Al Balawi looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Diabate tries to roll over but Al Balawi keeps him under control.
Al Balawi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diabate tries to roll over but Al Balawi keeps him under control.
Diabate really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Al Balawi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diabate is holding on to half guard well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Diabate can do anything to dispel that myth.
Diabate wants to get back to his feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Diabate is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Al Balawi is working for a kimura but Diabate is defending it quite comfortably.
Diabate keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Al Balawi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Al Balawi lands a nice short elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Al Balawi is looking to take a break and control but Diabate is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Diabate is concentrating on defense, preventing Al Balawi from advancing position.
Al Balawi is pressing down on Diabate's thigh, looking to free his foot. Diabate is holding on for now.
Diabate misses with some strikes from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Diabate pushes Al Balawi off looking to stand but Al Balawi dives back in and keeps control.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diabate throws a sloppy head kick and Al Balawi moves out of range easily.
Diabate rushes Al Balawi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Diabate jumps guard and drags Al Balawi to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Diabate 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.
Diabate working a defensive guard here.
Al Balawi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Diabate keeping moving, preventing Al Balawi from controlling successfully.
Al Balawi won't allow Diabate to get back to his feet.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Balawi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Diabate is adopting a defensive guard.
Al Balawi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Al Balawi shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Al Balawi was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Diabate is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Ahmed Al Balawi dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Al Balawi bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Diabate's head backwards.
Diabate gets caught napping as Al Balawi dives in and scores a takedown. Diabate manages to retain guard.
Diabate is looking to stand back up but Al Balawi counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Diabate.
Diabate is refusing to be controlled, as Al Balawi sits in half guard.
Diabate is trying to get back to full guard.
Al Balawi is thwarting Diabate's attempts to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diabate is staying active underneath Al Balawi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Balawi performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Diabate landing a few short strikes.
Diabate has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Al Balawi is working away from the top position though.
Al Balawi trying to pass the guard but Diabate defending well.
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. Al Balawi connects with a nice short shot to Diabate's temple.
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. Al Balawi connects with a nice short shot to Diabate's temple.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Diabate wants to improve his position but Al Balawi is controlling well.
Al Balawi stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Al Balawi shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Diabate napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Diabate tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Al Balawi trying to control the position but Diabate is working away.
Al Balawi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Diabate can do to turn this around?
Al Balawi decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Al Balawi feints and as Diabate raises his hands in defense, Al Balawi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diabate seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ahmed Al Balawi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Diabate wants to get back to his feet but Al Balawi passes into half guard.
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.
Al Balawi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Diabate has a hand on Al Balawi's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Al Balawi takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Al Balawi with the ground and pound from mount.
Diabate is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diabate is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Al Balawi is staying active.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Ahmed Al Balawi dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!
Al Balawi shoots in and gets a takedown into Diabate's guard.
Diabate tries to strike from the bottom.
Diabate wants to stand and escape but Al Balawi is having none of it.
Diabate controlling the position.
Al Balawi stands up from Diabate's guard - Al Balawi perhaps looking for a knockout.
Al Balawi shoots in and bounces Diabate off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diabate keeping moving, preventing Al Balawi from controlling successfully.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Diabate controls Al Balawi momentarily but Al Balawi frees himself.
Al Balawi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Al Balawi stops Diabate from standing up.
Al Balawi wants to control from the top but Diabate keeps moving.
Diabate had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Al Balawi defends it easily.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Diabate keeping moving, preventing Al Balawi from controlling successfully.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Al Balawi gets a clinch.
Diabate creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Diabate jumps into guard, dragging Al Balawi to the mat.
Al Balawi passes Diabate's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Al Balawi not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Al Balawi lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Al Balawi slips a nice elbow through Diabate's hands, connecting with Diabate's forehead.
Al Balawi lands strikes from half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Balawi is trying to control. Diabate wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Diabate keeping control of the position.
Al Balawi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Diabate's head.
Al Balawi is trying to control the action in half guard but Diabate is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Diabate is looking for a sweep. Al Balawi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Al Balawi lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Diabate wants to control but Al Balawi is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Diabate takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Al Balawi is trying to control the action in half guard but Diabate is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
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.
Al Balawi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Diabate defending well though.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Al Balawi feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Al Balawi's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Al Balawi wants to control from the top but Diabate keeps moving.
Al Balawi stops Diabate from standing up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Diabate pulls Al Balawi in to control the position.
Abdoulaye Diabate has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ahmed Al Balawi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Diabate working a defensive guard but Al Balawi manages to pass into side control anyway.
And that's the end of the fight!
Ahmed Al Balawi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Al Balawi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ahmed Al Balawi!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
28% |
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