PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Esmael Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean True (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ali comes to the cage accompanied by Toxicity. True comes into a darkened arena with his song building. None kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Esmael Ali had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 187.0lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Sean True 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!

Ali
vs
True

180 cm
20
200 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

175 cm
20
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Esmael Ali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sean True!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Paulsen Ambrosius and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
True displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ali.
Nice sprawl there from True as Ali shoots in.
True leaves Ali with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Esmael Ali. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ali shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in True's guard.
True looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ali slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
True is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Ali's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
True manages to get to full guard.

Ali thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ali wants to pass the guard but True is keeping the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now True is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

True drops back looking for a leg! Ali is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ali manages to kick True off! True jumps back into Ali's guard.

Ali has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but True can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ali is breathing heavily.

True drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. True seems to have locked his on tight now - Ali screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for True, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:41 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Sean True!