PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sheikh Mahmut (ranked 1697 p4p, 1493 weight class) and Alistair Ubereem (ranked 79 p4p, 69 weight class). Alistair Ubereem told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Mahmut
vs
Ubereem

207 cm
28
275
9 - 4 - 0

196 cm
27
270
10 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Brooklyn Threads

Voodoo Nutrition
The Natural Order

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sheikh Mahmut!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alistair Ubereem!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Atkins and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ubereem throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Mahmut went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Mahmut seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Ubereem throws a body punch but Mahmut moves out of range.
Mahmut misses with a takedown
and Ubereem counters with a left to the body.
Mahmut on the wrong end of a nice hook.

It looks like Sheikh Mahmut has been cut.

Mahmut drives through and clinches with Ubereem against the cage.
Ubereem stalling.
Ubereem misses with a body punch.
Ubereem tries a body shot but Mahmut blocks it.
We've been informed that Ubereem 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.
Mahmut has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ubereem after a bit of a struggle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ubereem throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Ubereem tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ubereem misses with a punch on the inside.
Ubereem stalls.
Ubereem lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mahmut backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ubereem misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ubereem has a couple of punches blocked by Mahmut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ubereem.
Ubereem lands a left hand that snaps the head of Mahmut backwards.
Mahmut can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sheikh Mahmut. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ubereem misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mahmut blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ubereem misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ubereem misses with a body punch.
Mahmut changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ubereem fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ubereem misses with a looping right.
Mahmut half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Mahmut takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Ubereem tries to keep at a distance but Mahmut has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mahmut tries to pull guard but Ubereem holds him up against the cage and eventually Mahmut drops back down to his feet.

Mahmut drags the fight down to the ground.

Mahmut is looking for a triangle here but Ubereem uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Mahmut tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Ubereem presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ubereem controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahmut tries to reverse the position but Ubereem maintains control.
Mahmut tries to hold on but Ubereem postures up.
Ubereem tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

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.
Mahmut is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ubereem controlling his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mahmut tries to lock up and control but Ubereem gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alistair Ubereem dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sheikh Mahmut's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mahmut tries to close the distance and clinch but Ubereem swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ubereem appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Mahmut looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ubereem has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ubereem scores with a head kick. Mahmut tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Ubereem looks to land a combination but Mahmut avoids it well.
Mahmut tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Ubereem manages to circle out of the way.
Mahmut shoots for a double leg takedown but Ubereem sprawls well. He's pushed Mahmut's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ubereem lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Mahmut tries to close the distance and clinch but Ubereem swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ubereem swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Ubereem gets caught napping as Mahmut dives in and scores a takedown. Ubereem manages to retain guard.
Mahmut wants to control from the top but Ubereem keeps moving.
Ubereem is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ubereem controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ubereem prevents Mahmut from improving his position.
Ubereem throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Still in half guard, Ubereem seems content to control.
Mahmut is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mahmut trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Mahmut is wriggling around trying to escape.
Alistair Ubereem has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ubereem can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mahmut is looking to escape.
Ubereem might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Mahmut haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Mahmut wants to hold on but Ubereem pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ubereem wants to control but instead Mahmut manages to regain half guard.
Ubereem not doing much here.
Ubereem's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

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.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Alistair Ubereem is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Ubereem tries to keep at a distance but Mahmut has taken the fight into the clinch.
Mahmut is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ubereem pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mahmut jumps guard but Ubereem stands there with Mahmut around his waist. Mahmut gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sheikh Mahmut. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mahmut crunches a lovely knee into Ubereem's ribcage.
A head punch on the inside from Ubereem fails to land.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Ubereem misses with a shot to the kidneys.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alistair Ubereem showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sheikh Mahmut's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Ubereem displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mahmut.
Mahmut moves out of range as Ubereem throws a body kick.
Ubereem circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mahmut fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ubereem throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ubereem misses with a head kick.
Mahmut fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mahmut fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sheikh Mahmut. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mahmut is looking to clinch but Ubereem is avoiding it.
Mahmut throws a series of punches but Ubereem avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahmut moves in looking to clinch but Ubereem pushes him off.
Sheikh Mahmut is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ubereem stuns Mahmut with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Ubereem throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ubereem keeps the fight on the outside.

Mahmut closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Ubereem stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
The crowd are getting on Ubereem's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Ubereem misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Mahmut breaks from the clinch.
Sheikh Mahmut seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ubereem displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mahmut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ubereem circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mahmut avoids a kick to the body.
Ubereem throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mahmut defending well as Ubereem loads up on a big left hand.
Ubereem swings for the body but Mahmut moves out of range.
Ubereem throws a push kick but Mahmut slaps the foot to one side.
Mahmut tries to counter by clinching up but Ubereem breaks away and moves out of range.
Ubereem misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ubereem misses the shot to the body.
Ubereem pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mahmut tries a head kick but it misses.
Mahmut shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ubereem defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ubereem throws a head kick that misses.
Mahmut takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

Ubereem drops Mahmut with a beautiful combination! Mahmut stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Ubereem is looking for the KO!
Ubereem is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mahmut.
Sheikh Mahmut has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A head kick by Ubereem misses

and Mahmut counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mahmut.
Ubereem is trying to stall.
Ubereem gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mahmut.
Mahmut tries to break the clinch but Ubereem is controlling the position.
Alistair Ubereem is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ubereem swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short right from Ubereem on the inside.

Sheikh Mahmut's cut is getting worse.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ubereem misses with a body punch.
Ubereem tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mahmut's elbow.
Ubereem tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mahmut's elbow.
Mahmut missing with knees to the body.
Ubereem tries a body shot but Mahmut blocks it.
Ubereem throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mahmuts head.
Mahmut misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mahmut misses with the head strike.
Mahmut tries to pull guard but Ubereem holds him up against the cage and eventually Mahmut drops back down to his feet.
Mahmut can't break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alistair Ubereem comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ubereem 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alistair Ubereem!
Alistair Ubereem spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.