PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Raf Razos (ranked 5214 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abul Khayr Belabed (ranked 5090 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.

Razos
vs
Khayr Belabed

172 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Raf Razos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Abul Khayr Belabed!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belabed fails to land the takedown.
Belabed scoring well with a low kick there.
Belabed is trying hard to land a takedown here. Razos sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Belabed misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Razos.
Belabed lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Belabed.
Belabed looks for the body kick but Razos saw that one coming.
Belabed shoots for a takedown but Razos saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Raf Razos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Abul Khayr Belabed.
Belabed is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Razos with a lazy takedown attempt
and Belabed counters with a one-two to the body.

Belabed moves into range and clinches up with Razos.
Razos is trying to pull guard but Belabed has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Razos successfully pulls guard.

Razos is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Belabed is stalling in the full guard.
Razos is wriggling around but Belabed manages to pass to half guard.
Razos trying to hold on to Belabed's head to control him but Belabed postures up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Razos manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Razos looking for a sweep. Not yet Razos, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belabed trying to control but Razos is working from the bottom.
Razos is pulling down on Belabed's head to control his posture.
Razos working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Razos walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belabed fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Razos scores with a jab to the body.
Belabed misses with a head kick.
Razos half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Razos fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Belabed is looking to clinch but Razos is avoiding it.
Razos has a takedown stuffed.
Belabed unleashes a big counter combination but Razos bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Belabed avoids the head kick by Razos.
Razos shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Belabed as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Belabed gets a clinch.
Razos tries for a takedown but Belabed manages to get underhooks.
Belabed tries to break free but Razos pushes him back against the cage.
Razos looking for a takedown.
Razos is looking to take this one to the mat.
Razos is breathing heavily.
Razos tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Belabed just stands there and leans against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Belabed has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Razos avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Razos breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abul Khayr Belabed dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Belabed closes this distance looking for a takedown but Razos circles away.
Razos lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Razos moves into the clinch successfully.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Razos gets underhooks to prevent Belabed's takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belabed has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Razos is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Raf Razos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Abul Khayr Belabed.
A short left from Razos.
Belabed is looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belabed drops down looking for an ankle pick but Razos pulls his leg out and moves away.
Razos pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Belabed misses with a series of wild punches.
Razos throws a big counter combination but Belabed scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Belabed displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Razos.
Razos misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Belabed wants to counter the offense by Razos and move into the clinch position.

Belabed gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Razos drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Belabed gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Razos is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Razos looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Razos is pressed up against the cage. Belabed has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Razos down to the mat. Razos avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Razos tries for a takedown but Belabed sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Belabed tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Belabed tries to close the distance and clinch up but Razos swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Razos clinches.
Razos fails to pull guard.
Razos is trying to pull guard but Belabed turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belabed is looking for a takedown.
Belabed is pressed up against the cage. Razos has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Belabed down to the mat. Belabed avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Razos tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Belabed defends well and Razos ends up having to push Belabed into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Razos misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Belabed is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Razos's half guard.
Razos is trying to escape back to his feet but Belabed uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Belabed wants to lay and pray for a moment but Razos keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Razos tries to buck Belabed off but Belabed is having none of it.
Razos is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Razos is trying to maintain the position but Belabed is very close to passing his half guard.
Belabed is trying to control. Razos wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raf Razos dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Belabed looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Razos is fending him off so far but Belabed persists. Nope, Razos circles away and we're back to standing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Razos is defended easily by Belabed.
Razos shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Belabed sprawls well. Belabed wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Razos gets slowly back to his feet.
Razos is looking to land body kicks.
Belabed lands with a thumping leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belabed connects with a solid leg kick.
Belabed fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Razos throws a head kick but Belabed moves out of range.
Belabed is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Belabed as Razos shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raf Razos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belabed keeps the fight on the outside.
Belabed shoots in but no luck this time.
Razos tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Belabed swivels and escapes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Razos closes the distance and clinches up with Belabed, looking for a takedown. Razos pushes Belabed against the cage but Belabed circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Belabed tries to score a power double leg takedown but Razos sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Belabed somewhat.
Razos fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Razos as Belabed shoots in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belabed shoots in looking for a takedown. Razos tries to sprawl out of it but Belabed keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Razos manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Belabed tries to clinch but Razos moves out of range.
Razos misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Belabed has a takedown stuffed.
Razos was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Razos tries for a takedown but Belabed sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Belabed has taken the fight to the clinch.
Razos can't find room to land a body shot as Belabed controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Razos tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Razos looking for a takedown.
Razos tries to score a body lock takedown but Belabed shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Razos is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Belabed gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Razos tries to pull guard but Belabed won't allow it.

Razos is fighting off a takedown attempt but Belabed is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Razos to the mat. Razos regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Belabed won't allow Razos to sweep him here.
Razos is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belabed is standing up over Razos. Razos looks to escape but Belabed dives into side control.
Belabed wants to lay and pray for a moment but Razos keeps working.
Belabed working the head with strikes.
Belabed trying to control the action but Razos is working from the bottom.
Razos is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Belabed is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Abul Khayr Belabed comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Belabed 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abul Khayr Belabed!