PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Abdoulaye Diabate (ranked 8829 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ahmed Al Balawi (ranked 4527 p4p, 0 weight class). Abdoulaye Diabate had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Diabate
vs
Al Balawi

177 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
156 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Abdoulaye Diabate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ahmed Al Balawi!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Michael Johnstone and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Diabate shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Al Balawi is trying to defend but Diabate finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Al Balawi is looking to escape.
Al Balawi moves into full guard.
Diabate wants to pass the guard but Al Balawi is keeping the position.
Diabate knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Al Balawi on the ground.
Diabate makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Balawi looking to control.

Al Balawi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Diabate gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Diabate is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Balawi trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Al Balawi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Al Balawi trying to control the position.
Diabate content to stall in guard here.
Diabate tries to free his leg and advance position but Al Balawi is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Diabate engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Al Balawi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Diabate defends well.
Diabate looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Al Balawi working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diabate scoring with punches to the head and body.
Al Balawi thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Al Balawi trying to control the position.
Diabate postures up and lands a big shot to Al Balawi's brow.
Al Balawi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Diabate is controlling him.
Diabate 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.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Diabate dodges the punch combination from Al Balawi.

Diabate gets caught flat footed, as Al Balawi shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Al Balawi stands up from Diabate's guard - Al Balawi perhaps looking for a knockout.

Diabate shoots in and bounces Al Balawi off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Diabate connects with a couple of short punches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Diabate is looking to advance position but Al Balawi has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

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

Ahmed Al Balawi dominated that round.
That's time! Diabate's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Al Balawi scores with a takedown into Diabate's guard.
Diabate is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ahmed Al Balawi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Al Balawi won't allow Diabate to sweep him here.
Diabate is striking but Al Balawi is not phased and passes to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Diabate is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Al Balawi pulls his head out easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diabate desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Balawi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Diabate is controlling Al Balawi's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Al Balawi is trying to work for a kimura but Diabate is defending well.
Al Balawi trying to control from half guard but Diabate is working away.
Al Balawi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

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.
Diabate trying to control but Al Balawi postures up.
Al Balawi keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Al Balawi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Diabate does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Diabate is trying to stand up here but Al Balawi is controlling him well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Al Balawi pushes Diabate up against the cage in a clinch.

Diabate is trying to trip Al Balawi. He has hold of a leg but Al Balawi is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Diabate persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Diabate is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diabate stopping the sweep attempt from Al Balawi.
Al Balawi will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Al Balawi controls Diabate momentarily but Diabate frees himself.
Diabate controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four 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.

Diabate has taken the fight to the clinch.
Al Balawi stalling in the clinch but Diabate improves position.
Al Balawi letting Diabate take a breather here.
Al Balawi gets through Diabate's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Diabate lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Al Balawi or not.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Al Balawi manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Al Balawi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmed Al Balawi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Diabate throws a head kick but Al Balawi moves out of range.
Al Balawi steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Diabate.

Al Balawi darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Diabate tries to kick Al Balawi off but Al Balawi keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Diabate is not content to let Al Balawi control the position.
Diabate tries to get to full guard but Al Balawi has control of the leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diabate is working hard here to advance position.
Diabate is refusing to be controlled, as Al Balawi sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diabate pushes Al Balawi off looking to stand but Al Balawi dives back in and keeps control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Diabate strikes from the bottom but Al Balawi passes into mount!
Al Balawi wants to control the pace but Diabate is squirming around nicely.
Diabate tries to hold on but Al Balawi pushes him away.
Al Balawi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Al Balawi looking to ground and pound but Diabate is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diabate is squirming around, avoiding Al Balawi's attempts to control the action.
Diabate is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Al Balawi misses with a head shot.
Al Balawi looking to control but Diabate is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Al Balawi sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Diabate is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Al Balawi looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Diabate squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Diabate tries to reverse the position but Al Balawi maintains control.
Diabate tries to lock up and control but Al Balawi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Al Balawi is working for a guillotine from mount but Diabate frees his head quite easily.
Diabate is trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Balawi looking to finish Diabate with some ground and pound. This is bad for Diabate!
Al Balawi trying to control but Diabate is having none of it.
Al Balawi avoids the attempt from Diabate to control.
Diabate is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Diabate is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Diabate on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Diabate tries to get out of the position.
Poor strikes thrown by Al Balawi there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

And that's the end of the fight!
Ahmed Al Balawi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Al Balawi has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ahmed Al Balawi!