PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Al Ghouti (ranked 6591 p4p, 510 weight class) and Ameqran Anto (ranked 2989 p4p, 317 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Ghouti
vs
Anto

177 cm
21
158 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
160 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Al Ghouti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ameqran Anto!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anto tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ghouti definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Anto gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Ghouti has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ghouti tries a body shot but Anto blocks it.
We've been informed that Anto has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Ghouti tries to throw a body punch but Anto avoids it by throwing Ghouti back against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Ghouti.
Anto wants to get back to striking at distance but Ghouti won't allow it.

Ghouti pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ghouti connects with a crisp jab.
Ghouti misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Anto.
Anto fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ghouti closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Anto fails to pull guard.
A short right from Ghouti.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ghouti wants to break free but Anto has control.

Ghouti breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Anto shoots in for a takedown but Ghouti shows good takedown defense.
Al Ghouti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ameqran Anto.
Ghouti scores with a jab.

Ghouti darts in and clinches Anto up against the cage.

Ghouti manages to break the clinch.

Anto gets caught napping as Ghouti dives in and scores a takedown. Anto manages to retain guard.
Anto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ghouti prevents Anto from getting back to his feet.
Ghouti is looking to work some ground and pound but Anto has wrist control.
Ghouti postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ghouti is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ghouti throws an elbow that misses. Anto uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ghouti's guard. Nice move by Anto!

Ghouti bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Anto's guard.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Anto keeping moving, preventing Ghouti from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anto looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Anto is looking to stand up but Ghouti isn't so interested in that idea.
Ghouti controls from within his opponent's guard.
Anto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ghouti cracks Anto with a solid left hand.
Anto tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ghouti wants to control from the top but Anto keeps moving.
Ghouti throws a big elbow that misses.
Ghouti controlling from the top position.
Ghouti postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ghouti pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Anto is keeping the position for now.
Ghouti is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ghouti avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ghouti accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ghouti 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.
Anto tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ghouti is stalling in the full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ghouti scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ghouti loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Anto not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Anto can't keep his opponent in guard - Ghouti advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Ghouti is nestled in close to Anto, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Anto wants to improve his position but Ghouti is controlling well.
Ghouti thows a huge punch but Anto dodges it nicely.
Ghouti is trying to control the action in half guard but Anto is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ghouti content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Al Ghouti dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ghouti throws a big shot that misses.
Ghouti stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ghouti wants it to stay on the feet.
A little feinted left hand from Ghouti on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Anto fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Anto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ghouti but Ghouti pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Anto misses with a takedown
and Ghouti counters with a nice uppercut.
Al Ghouti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ameqran Anto.
Anto changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ghouti tries to avoid it but Anto manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ghouti to the ground. Ghouti escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Anto takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A shot to the liver by Ghouti. Beautiful body shot.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ghouti darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Ghouti pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Anto back to the cage. Ghouti follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Ghouti tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Anto was well out of range. Poor timing from Ghouti.
Anto moves in looking to clinch but Ghouti pushes him off.
Ghouti looks to land a combination but Anto avoids it well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ghouti lands a nice shot to the body.
Al Ghouti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ghouti clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ghouti gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Ghouti wants to take a breather but Anto is having none of it.
Anto tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Ghouti passes the guard and advances to mount!
Ghouti scoring with strikes but Anto is staying in there.
Al Ghouti overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ghouti lands a nice shot to the head.
Anto manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Ghouti winds up and cracks Anto with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ghouti trying to control the pace.
Ghouti is keen to just control but Anto is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anto is trying to get back to full guard.
Anto is staying active underneath Ghouti, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Anto trying to hold on to Ghouti's head to control him but Ghouti postures up.
Anto is looking to escape.
Anto slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Anto is looking to stand up but Ghouti isn't so interested in that idea.
Ghouti trying to control but Anto is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ghouti throwing strikes but missing.

Anto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Anto keeping moving, preventing Ghouti from controlling successfully.
Ghouti lands a couple of digs.
Anto can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ghouti controls the pace.
Ghouti missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Anto is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ghouti engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Anto gets a double leg takedown into Ghouti's guard.
Ghouti is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Anto can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ghouti has a closed guard, preventing Anto from standing up.

Anto gets to his feet - Ghouti follows without any prompting.
Ghouti misses with an uppercut.
Anto shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ghouti as he avoids it easily.
Ghouti bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Anto's head.
Ghouti moves into range and connects with a jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Anto is defended easily by Ghouti.
Anto has a takedown stuffed.
As Anto looks to move away, Ghouti throws a big counter combo but Anto just gets out of the way.
Ghouti scores with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Al Ghouti dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ghouti connects with a jab.
Anto shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ghouti defends it nicely.
Anto uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ghouti.
Ghouti jabs Anto right on the nose. Anto blinks but takes it well.
Ghouti fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Anto manages to avoid it.
Ghouti throws the left hand but Anto avoids the punch easily.
The fighters circling - Ghouti throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ghouti pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Anto shoots in and drives through. Ghouti sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Anto.
Al Ghouti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ameqran Anto.
Ghouti jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Ghouti lands a jab to the head.
Ghouti throws out a loose jab but Anto uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anto slips a jab from Ghouti.
Anto with the counter takedown but Ghouti avoids it easily.

Ghouti closes the distance and pushes Anto back into the cage.
Anto fails to pull guard.
Ghouti lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Ghouti tries a body shot but Anto blocks it.

Ghouti breaks from the clinch.
Ghouti is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Ghouti drives through with a takedown into Anto's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Ghouti is working Anto over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ghouti trying to control the position from guard on top but Anto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Anto wants to get back to his feet but Ghouti is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ghouti looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Ghouti is working Anto over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ameqran Anto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ghouti's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Anto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Anto is looking for a triangle but Ghouti pushes his legs off easily.
Ghouti throws a big right hand that misses.
Anto looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ghouti is one step ahead there.
Ghouti wants to control from the top but Anto keeps moving.

Ghouti avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anto keeping moving, preventing Ghouti from controlling successfully.
Ghouti slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Anto had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ghouti defends it easily.
Ghouti throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ghouti trying to control the position from guard on top but Anto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ghouti advances position into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ghouti controls the position.
Anto tries to improve position but can't.
Ghouti trying to control the action but Anto is working from the bottom.
Anto defending against the ground and pound.
Ghouti in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Ghouti grinds an elbow into Anto's temple.
Anto is looking to reverse the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ghouti trying to control the position but Anto is working away.
Anto takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Anto takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Al Ghouti showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ghouti has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Al Ghouti!
A very excited looking Al Ghouti rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.
The defeated Ameqran Anto had this to say: 'Thanks for coming '.