PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Richie Alaska (ranked 2691 p4p, 3192 weight class) and Akhtar Assad (ranked 304 p4p, 345 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Alaska
vs
Assad

177 cm
20
160
2 - 1 - 0

182 cm
23
168
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Richie Alaska!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Akhtar Assad!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Dmitry Maklakov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alaska looks to score with a jab to the body but Assad is just out of range.
Alaska misses with a wild body shot.
Assad displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Alaska throws out the jab.
Assad fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Alaska manages to avoid it.
Alaska misses with an uppercut
and Assad connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Alaska looks to score with a jab to the body but Assad is just out of range.
Assad has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Assad lands a jab to the head.
Alaska throws a body punch but Assad moves out of range.
Alaska misses with a wild body shot.
Richie Alaska seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Assad tries to bum rush Alaska with a series of wild strikes but Alaska uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
It looked like Alaska was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Assad.
Alaska looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Alaska is looking to wear down Assad with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sloppy strikes from Assad. Those never looked like landing.

Assad has taken the fight to the clinch.
Alaska is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A short right from Assad on the inside.
Alaska is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Assad is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alaska wants to stall.
Assad just leaning against Alaska, taking a breather.
Alaska is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Assad is keeping busy.
Alaska swings wildly with an uppercut but Assad uses good head movement to avoid it.

Alaska pulls guard effortlessly.

Alaska working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Assad doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Assad manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Alaska keeping full guard, as Assad tries to pass.
Assad really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Alaska. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Alaska looking for a guillotine here but Assad defends easily.
Alaska looking to hit a scissor sweep but Assad is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alaska not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Assad postures up and lands a big shot to Alaska's brow.

Alaska working for a triangle but Assad defends it easily.
Assad trying to control but Alaska is working from the bottom.
Assad is looking to work some ground and pound but Alaska has wrist control.

Alaska looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Assad looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Assad throwing strikes from guard but Alaska blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Assad trying to control the position from guard on top but Alaska is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alaska manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Assad manages to get himself to full guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Assad has his hands on Alaska's head, controlling the position.
Alaska tries to free his leg and advance position but Assad is retaining full guard.
Assad wants to stand and escape but Alaska is having none of it.
Assad keeping full guard, as Alaska tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Assad is controlling Alaska's posture.
Alaska trying to control the position from guard on top but Assad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alaska tries to free his leg and advance position but Assad is retaining full guard.
Alaska controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Assad is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alaska manages to get to full guard.

Alaska looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Richie Alaska will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Assad throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Alaska waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Assad.
Alaska throws a sloppy body shot
and Assad counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Alaska throws a body shot but no joy.
Assad is looking for the big counter here.
Assad uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Alaska.
Assad looks to land a right hand but Alaska moved out of range.
Assad moves away from the strike by Alaska.
Assad steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Alaska.
Alaska gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Assad.
Assad just misses with a punch to the body.
Alaska misses the body punch
and Assad counters with a nice uppercut.
Akhtar Assad is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No joy there for Assad, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Alaska takes a swing at Assad's ribcage but misses.
Assad scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Assad throws a jab when Alaska was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alaska tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Assad was well out of range. Poor timing from Alaska.
Alaska takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alaska looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Alaska misses with a lunging right hand
and Assad connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Alaska throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A looping hook to the body misses from Alaska. Assad does a little dance to reset his feet.
Assad throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nice defenses there by Assad.
Alaska throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Alaska throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Assad counters with a one-two to the body.
Alaska throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Alaska slips a straight right by Assad.
Assad cracks Alaska with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alaska slips a jab from Assad.
A looping hook to the body misses from Alaska. Assad does a little dance to reset his feet.
Assad waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Alaska.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alaska throws out a loose jab but Assad uses good head movement to avoid it.
Assad will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Assad has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Alaska just misses with a punch to the body.
Assad is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Assad might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Some wild striking there from Assad.
Assad lands a jab.
Alaska drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assad closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Assad misses with an uppercut. Alaska saw that one coming.
Alaska throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Assad counters with a right hand to the body.
Alaska lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Assad walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Assad wants to slow Alaska down by chopping away at his legs.
A quick step to the side and Alaska tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Assad rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Alaska counters with a left to the body.
Alaska tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Assad was well out of range. Poor timing from Alaska.
Assad looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Alaska loads up on a big right hand but Assad slips the punch.
Alaska throws a lazy uppercut
and Assad counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Assad jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Alaska is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Assad throws a jab but it's blocked by Alaska.
Assad lands a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sloppy strikes from Assad. Those never looked like landing.
Alaska moves out of range of the strikes.
Alaska throws a predictable looking body shot
and Assad connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A looping hook to the body misses from Alaska. Assad does a little dance to reset his feet.
Assad unleashes a big counter combination but Alaska bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Alaska cracks Assad with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Assad avoids the body shot from Alaska.
Akhtar Assad has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alaska thows a left - swing and a miss!
Assad digs a good hook to Alaska's body.
Akhtar Assad seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Assad!
Assad looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Alaska ducks under a wild hook from Assad.
Alaska slips under a jab.
Richie Alaska is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Assad takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akhtar Assad comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 19:19
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 19:19
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 19:19

The fight is ruled a draw!