PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Balack Rassum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takedowns Tom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takedowns Tom has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rassum
vs
Tom

170 cm
19
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

165 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Good takedowns
Brawler
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Balack Rassum!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Takedowns Tom!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rassum tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Tom tries a head kick but it misses.
Rassum moves out of range of the strikes.
Rassum misses with a kick to the body.

Tom shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rassum's guard.
Tom stops Rassum from standing up.

Rassum is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rassum is looking to stand up but Tom isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tom tries to free his leg and advance position but Rassum is retaining full guard.
Tom trying to control but Rassum is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tom stands and steps away. Rassum gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Rassum pushes Tom up against the cage in a clinch.
Tom wants a takedown.
Tom drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rassum gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Rassum escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rassum instigates a clinch.
Rassum lands with a short shot to the head.
Rassum prevents the takedown attempt.
Balack Rassum has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takedowns Tom.
Tom is working for takedown but Rassum is calmly controlling the position for now.
Tom looks gassed!

Rassum has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Tom regains guard immediately.
Tom being controlled here, momentarily.

Tom looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rassum controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rassum wants to control from the top but Tom keeps moving.
Rassum has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rassum pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tom is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rassum wants to control from the top but Tom keeps moving.

Rassum avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rassum wants to pass the guard but Tom is keeping the position.
Rassum tries to stand but Tom is controlling from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Rassum.

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.
Rassum looks to land a body kick but Tom moved away.

Rassum scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rassum seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tom does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Rassum decides to stand and escape the position.
Rassum scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Rassum gets a clinch.
Rassum scores a nice knee to the body.

Rassum breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rassum moves into range and clinches up with Tom.

Rassum breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rassum lands with a slapping head kick.
Rassum throws a series of punches but Tom moves out of range.

Tom gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rassum avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Balack Rassum dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rassum fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tom ducks under a wild hook from Rassum.
Rassum tries to clinch up.
Rassum lands a head kick. Tom smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Tom bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rassum is looking to regain half guard here but Tom keeps moving and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rassum prevents Tom from moving into mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rassum wants to control but Tom postures up.
Rassum knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tom on the ground.
Rassum is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Tom is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Rassum wants to control but Tom is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tom prevents Rassum from getting the reversal.

Tom goes for an armbar but Rassum turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Rassum.
Rassum wanted to stand there but Tom had control of the position.

Rassum stands up from Tom's guard - Rassum perhaps looking for a knockout.

Rassum closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rassum breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rassum closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rassum lands in his opponent's guard.
Rassum wants to get up but he can't break Tom's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Rassum trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Tom throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rassum tries to stand but Tom is controlling from the bottom.
Rassum wants to control from the top but Tom keeps moving.
Rassum wants to stand but Tom is controlling his posture from full guard.
Tom looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rassum puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely 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.

Rassum decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Rassum wants to clinch up but Tom keeps it at a distance.
Tom takes a kick to the side of the head.
Tom blocks the body kick.
Rassum lands with a nice combination. Tom backs away looking to recover.
Rassum lands a head shot.
Tom has his takedown stuffed
and Rassum counters with a left and a right that stings Tom.
Tom shoots and misses

and Rassum counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Tom is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Rassum pulls his head out easily.

Tom is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Rassum pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Balack Rassum dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rassum wants to clinch.
A punch combination from Rassum misses.
A shot to de liver by Rassum. Beautiful body shot.
Tom fails with the takedown

and Rassum counters by moving into the clinch.
Tom is trying to break free.

Rassum breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rassum tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rassum.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rassum throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Rassum gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rassum lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Tom!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tom tries to hold on but Rassum postures up.

Rassum get's back to his feet.
Rassum lands a glancing blow to the side of Tom's head.
Tom avoids a punch combination nicely.

Tom gets caught flat footed, as Rassum shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Tom tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tom working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Rassum has passed into half guard!
Rassum wants to free his trapped foot but Tom is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Tom wants to control but Rassum is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Rassum decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Tom blocks a head kick by Rassum.
Tom shoots and misses

and Rassum counters with a nice double leg into side control. Tom won't be happy with that.
Tom is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tom regains half guard.

Rassum stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Rassum pushes Tom up against the cage in a clinch.
Rassum lands a nice knee to the body.

Rassum escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tom with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rassum counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Balack Rassum has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takedowns Tom.
Rassum tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rassum goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Tom dodges the punch combination from Rassum.

Rassum drives through and clinches with Tom against the cage.
Balack Rassum is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rassum looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rassum using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Rassum pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rassum scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Tom misses with a takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Rassum shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rassum showed some decent athleticism there.

Tom is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Rassum pulls his head out easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tom keeps control of the position for the meantime.

And that's the end of the fight!
Balack Rassum showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rassum 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Balack Rassum!