PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Frost (ranked 23155 p4p, 2986 weight class) and Tahboule Alawi (ranked 416 p4p, 246 weight class). Alawi has chosen The Ruler of Everything as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Frost
vs
Alawi

180 cm
33
153
9 - 14 - 0

170 cm
28
147
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 9 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Frost!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tahboule Alawi!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, William Gold and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Frost closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Alawi is working for takedown but Frost is calmly controlling the position for now.
Alawi drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Frost gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Alawi jumps guard but Frost stands there with Alawi around his waist. Alawi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
John Frost has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tahboule Alawi.

Frost ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Frost no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Alawi is stalling in the full guard.
Frost keeping moving, preventing Alawi from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alawi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Let's hope that Alawi has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alawi looking to pass the guard.
Frost is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Frost working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Frost clinches with his opponent.
I was talking to Frost's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Frost gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Alawi.
Alawi has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Frost avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Alawi has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Frost looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Alawi goes for a takedown attempt but Frost pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
John Frost seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Frost closes the distance and pushes Alawi back into the cage.
Alawi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Frost fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Frost doesn't manage to clinch there - Alawi circles away.
Frost wants to clinch but Alawi slips to the side

and Alawi counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Alawi.
Frost keeping full guard, as Alawi tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alawi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Alawi wants to pass the guard but Frost is keeping the position.
Alawi controlling from the top position.
Alawi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Frost is keeping the position for now.
Alawi stopping the sweep attempt from Frost.
Alawi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Frost swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Alawi is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Frost clinches up with Alawi and pushes him back against the cage.
Alawi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Frost prevents the takedown attempt.
Alawi looking for a takedown.
Alawi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Frost walks away with a smile on his face. Alawi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Frost rushes Alawi and presses him up against the cage.
Alawi is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Frost to keep the fight standing.

Alawi jumps guard.

Alawi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Frost tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Frost moves into the clinch successfully.
Alawi tries to pull guard but Frost holds him up against the cage and eventually Alawi drops back down to his feet.
Frost gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Alawi.
Frost is trying to break the clinch but Alawi is controlling him.
Alawi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Frost just stands there and leans against the cage.
John Frost has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tahboule Alawi.

Frost breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Frost tries to clinch but Alawi moves out of range.
Frost will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Alawi drives through with a takedown into Frost's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Alawi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Frost is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Frost controls Alawi momentarily but Alawi frees himself.
Alawi tries to free his leg and advance position but Frost is retaining full guard.
Alawi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Alawi is continuing to stall.
Alawi trying to control but Frost is working from the bottom.
Frost is trying to keep Alawi in close.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's two 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.
Alawi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Alawi circles away from the clinch attempt.

Alawi tries to keep at a distance but Frost has taken the fight into the clinch.

Frost's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Frost wants to clinch

and Alawi counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Frost!
Frost regains half guard there - taking advantage of Alawi's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Alawi is controlling the pace.
Alawi is pressing down on Frost's thigh, looking to free his foot. Frost is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alawi takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Frost wants to improve his position but Alawi is controlling well.
Still in half guard, Alawi seems content to control.
Frost is looking to improve his position.

Alawi seems to be working for a kimura but Frost defends the submission attempt.
Alawi stalling away here and it's allowed Frost to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Alawi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Alawi tries to free his leg and advance position but Frost is retaining full guard.
Alawi is pushing down on Frost's leg trying to pass to half guard. Frost is fighting to maintain full guard but Alawi has managed to sneak the leg through.

Alawi is looking for a kimura but Frost is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Alawi to get the leverage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Frost is looking to control Alawi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Frost avoid being mounted?
Alawi slows the pace down in half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tahboule Alawi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Frost jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Frost closes the distance and clinches.
Alawi is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Frost is defending well.

Frost breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Frost wants to clinch.
Alawi dives in for a single leg takedown but Frost sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Frost gets a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alawi has Frost pressed against the cage, preventing Frost from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Alawi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
John Frost has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tahboule Alawi.
Alawi is trying to pull guard but Frost turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Frost gets underhooks to prevent Alawi's takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alawi is working for takedown but Frost is calmly controlling the position for now.
Frost prevents the takedown attempt.
Alawi can't get the takedown.

Alawi drags the fight down to the ground.

Alawi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Frost is aware though and is defending well.
Alawi wants to sweep but no luck.
Alawi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Alawi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Alawi looking for a sweep. Not yet Alawi, not yet.

Alawi is looking for a triangle but Frost pushes his legs off easily.
Frost wanted to stand there but Alawi had control of the position.
Frost has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Alawi is on top in guard.

Alawi is stalling in the full guard.
Alawi passes into half guard.
Frost tries to roll over but Alawi keeps him under control.
Well, if Alawi is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Alawi trying to control the action but Frost is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alawi is looking to stall here but Frost recovers full guard.
Alawi sitting in guard here, content to control.
Alawi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Alawi controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Alawi.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Alawi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Frost defends it nicely.
It looked like Frost was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
John Frost is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Frost tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Alawi decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Frost's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alawi is looking to pass into half guard but Frost pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Frost is in guard.

Frost stands up and waves to Alawi to follow him.
Alawi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Frost.
Alawi with the counter takedown but Frost avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tahboule Alawi.
I think Alawi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 29:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!