PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Topiyo Khan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jubal Early (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jubal Early looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Khan
vs
Early

180 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

177 cm
20
179 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Topiyo Khan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jubal Early!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Sam Margolis and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khan misses with a head kick.

Khan drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Khan tries to score with some ground and pound. Early controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Early parries the strikes from Khan easily there. Khan is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Early to escape.
Early manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Khan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Khan is looking to stall here but Early recovers full guard.
Early manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Khan is trying desperately to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Early looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Early looking to control but Khan is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Early punching from mount but Khan doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Khan is working to get back to half guard.
Early controlling the position easily from mount.
Early throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Khan because Early loaded up on that one.

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.
Early throwing strikes here but Khan is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Early throwing strikes here but Khan is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Khan is wriggling around trying to escape.
Early looking to control but Khan is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Khan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Early on the ground.
Khan holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Early tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khan is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Early unloading with bombs!
Early has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Khan wants to control but Early is having none of it.
Early prevents Khan from getting the reversal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Early has hold of Khan's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Khan manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Early avoids the attempt from Khan to control.
Khan sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Early is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Khan is just riding it out for now. Early eventually gives up the hold.
Early looks gassed!
Early works his way into full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jubal Early dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Early shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Khan counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Khan throws a strike but Early rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Khan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Early can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Early postures up.
Khan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Early is controlling him.

Early thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Early is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Early postures up.
Khan wants to stand and escape but Early is having none of it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Early throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Early avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Khan lands with a slapping head kick.

Khan shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Early napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Early gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Early makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Early.
Khan landing with the ground and pound.
Khan working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Early working for a triangle but Khan defends it easily.
Early keeping full guard, as Khan tries to pass.
Khan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Early has a closed guard, preventing Khan from standing up.

Early is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Khan is aware though and is defending well.
Early is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Khan wants to control from the top but Early keeps moving.

Early is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Early working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Khan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Early is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Khan is aware though and is defending well.

Early is working an open guard so Khan takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Khan moves in looking to clinch but Early pushes him off.
Khan throws a sloppy head kick

and Early decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Khan's guard.
Early advances to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Early sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Khan defending well though.
Early thows a huge punch but Khan dodges it nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Khan is defending against the submission attempts here by Early.
Khan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jubal Early 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! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Early shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Khan napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Early goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Khan rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Early's guard! Nice work there by Khan!
Khan is looking to stand up but Early won't let him.
Khan cracks Early with a solid left hand.
Khan landing some decent shots from guard.
Khan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Early keeping moving, preventing Khan from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Khan is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Early is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khan postures up in Early's guard and throws a big left but Early blocks it.
Jubal Early has got the better of the ground game so far.
Early working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Khan.
Khan thows a big elbow that misses.
Khan wants to pass the guard but Early is keeping the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Early tries to clinch but Khan moves away

and Khan counters with a single leg into guard. Early didn't expect that.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Khan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Early keeping moving, preventing Khan from controlling successfully.
Early preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Khan preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Early utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Early keeping moving, preventing Khan from controlling successfully.
Khan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Khan got a little sloppy there for a moment and Early has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Khan has managed to get both his arms back between Early's legs - danger averted.

Khan decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Early, up you get!
Khan tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Early counters with a right hand to the body.
Early avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Early tries to clinch up.

Khan darts in and clinches Early up against the cage.
Khan tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Khan tries to pull guard but Early holds him up against the cage and eventually Khan drops back down to his feet.
Early keeps control of Khan as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Khan has Early pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Khan pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Early tumbling to the mat - Khan dives into Early's guard.
Early manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Early throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Early wants to control the pace but Khan is squirming around nicely.
Khan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Poor strikes thrown by Early there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Early controlling from the full mount.
Topiyo Khan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jubal Early is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Early looking to secure an arm triangle but Khan defends it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Topiyo Khan.
I think Early 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jubal Early!