PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brendan Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khalifa Khan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Black
vs
Khan

200 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
18
290 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Brendan Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Khalifa Khan!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Black instigates a clinch.

Khan breaks from the clinch.
Black could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Black swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Black has Khan up against the cage in a clinch.
Khan is pressed up against the cage. Black has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Khan down to the mat. Khan avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Black closes the distance looking to clinch
and Khan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like Brendan Black has been cut.

Black clinches with his opponent.
Khan has Black pressed against the cage.
The crowd are getting on Khan's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Khan tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Black just stands there and leans against the cage.
Khan is trying to force a seperation but Black has the dominant position.

Khan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Black wants to clinch but Khan slips to the side

and Khan counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Black's guard now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Khan trying to control but Black is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Khan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black trying to control the position.
Khan stopping the sweep attempt from Black.
Khan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Black is working hard here to advance position.
Khan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Black looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Black is looking to sweep but instead, Khan has passed into half guard.
Black is looking to control Khan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Black avoid being mounted?

That's two 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.
Black tries to roll over but Khan keeps him under control.
Khan working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Black wants to improve his position but Khan is controlling well.
Black blocking the ground and pound attempt from Khan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khan not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Khan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Black is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Khan jumps into side control!
Khan misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Khan trying to control the position but Black is working away.
Black gets back to half guard.
Black is holding on to half guard well.
Khan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Black's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Black makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Black.

Khan drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Black dives on top into guard.
Khan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Khan trying to control the position.
Khan keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.
Khan trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khalifa Khan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brendan Black's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Black scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Black thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Black sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Khan defending well though.
Black not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Khan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Khan wants to control but Black is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Khan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Khan wants to control but Black passes easily into half guard.
Khan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Black.

Black is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black wants to control but Khan is keeping him busy.
Black is really struggling to control Khan but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Khan gets back to full guard.
Black forces his way into half guard.
Black throws a strike but Khan avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Black stopping the sweep attempt from Khan.

Khan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Khan looking for a guillotine here but Black defends easily.
Khan keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.
Khan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Khan wants to stand but Black is controlling the position.
Black throws and elbow that misses. Khan uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Black's guard. Nice move by Khan!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black pulls Khan in to control the position.
Khan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Black works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Black looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Khan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Khan pushes down on Black's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Black moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

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.
Black wants to sweep here but Khan controlling him for the moment.
Khan postures up.
Black working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Khan.
Black 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Black is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Black utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brendan Black dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Brendan Black's cut.
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.

Khan wants to clinch but Black slips to the side

and Black counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Black trying to control but Khan is working from the bottom.
Khalifa Khan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Khan wants to sweep here but Black controlling him for the moment.
Black sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Khan's guard.
Black is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Black misses with a head shot. Khan uses the momentum to regain guard.
Black wants to pass the guard but Khan is keeping the position.
Black throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Khan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khan thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Black tries to free his leg and advance position but Khan is retaining full guard.
Black is looking to work some ground and pound but Khan has wrist control.
Black thows a big elbow that misses.
Khan striking off his back but it's not causing Black any problems.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Khan is on top in guard.
Black wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Khan is now in half guard.
Black slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khan wants to control from the top but Black keeps moving.
Black seems keen to control Khan's posture.
Black trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Black is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Black tries to land a body kick
and Khan counters with a stiff right hand.

Black rushes Khan and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Khan stalls.
Black blocks an elbow strike from Khan.
Black changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Khan fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Black tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Khan holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Khan leaning his opponent against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Khan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Khan tries to clinch up.
Black closes the distance but Khan moves to the side

and Khan holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Black fails to pull guard.
Black stalling in the clinch but Khan improves position.
Khan fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Black throws an elbow but it misses.
Khan is trying to force a seperation but Black has the dominant position.
Khan lands a shoulder strike.

Brendan Black's cut is getting worse.

Khan successfully pulls guard.
Black trying to stand up but can't free himself from Khan's guard.
Khan manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Khalifa Khan just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Brendan Black's cut.
That's time! Black's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Black avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Khan shoots in looking for a takedown but Black manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Khan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Khan tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Black holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Khan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Black scores with a head kick.

It looks like Khalifa Khan has been cut.
Black tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Khan moves into the clinch.

Black breaks from the clinch.
Khan throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Black's waist but Black gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Khan off to one side.

Black moves into the clinch successfully.
Black taking a breather.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black closes the distance but Khan moves to the side

and Khan counters by clinching up.
Black looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Black slows down the pace here.
Black lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Khan backwards.
Khan managing to block the knees to the body from Black.

Black drags the fight down to the ground.
Black tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Black throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Khan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Khan trying to control but Black is working from the bottom.
Black looking to hit a scissor sweep but Khan is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Khan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Black swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Khan wants to control from the top but Black keeps moving.
Black has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Khalifa Khan was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Black takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Khan closes the distance but Black moves to the side

and Black counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Khan's guard now.
Black trying to control but Khan is working from the bottom.
Khan pulls Black in close to prevent any damage.
Black tries to free his leg and advance position but Khan is retaining full guard.
Black wants to control from the top but Khan keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Black is one step ahead there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Brendan Black.
Black closes the distance but Khan moves to the side

and Khan counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Khan.
Black tries to score a body lock takedown but Khan shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Black trying to stall but Khan improves his position.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Black.
Khan stalling in the clinch.
A short right from Black on the inside.
Khan is stalling here.
Black trying to land knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Black tries to land a knee to the head but Khan blocks with his arms.
Khan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Black stalling in the clinch but Khan improves position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brendan Black had his way with Khalifa Khan in that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Khan tries to clinch up.
Black darts in trying to clinch

and Khan counters by moving into the clinch.
Khan prevents Black from breaking the clinch.
Black tries to stall but Khan uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Khan lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Black backwards.
Black's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Khan has Black pressed against the cage.

Khan jumps guard and drags Black to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Khan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Black can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Black preventing the sweep.
Black is looking to work some ground and pound but Khan has wrist control.
Black wants to control from the top but Khan keeps moving.
Black missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Black accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Black accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two 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.
Black is pushing down on Khan's leg trying to pass to half guard. Khan is fighting to maintain full guard but Black has managed to sneak the leg through.
Khan is pressing down on Black's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Khan throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Black trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Khan wants to sweep here but Black controlling him for the moment.
Khan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Black throwing strikes from guard but Khan blocks nicely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Black accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Khan seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Black accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Black with a flurry of punches that miss.
Black postures up.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Black throws a big right hand that misses.
Khan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Khan trying to control the position.
Black loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Black throws a big right hand that misses.

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.
Black advances position into side control!
Khan is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Khan is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Black tries to score with some ground and pound. Khan controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Khan is looking for a sweep.
Sloppy strikes there by Black.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Khan gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Black thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Khan's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khalifa Khan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Khan 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andi Peters scores the fight 47:48
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 47:48
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khalifa Khan!