PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Salaheddine Aiteouakrim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luis Eduardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Aiteouakrim
vs
Eduardo

192 cm
26
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
23
216 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Salaheddine Aiteouakrim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Luis Eduardo!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Alexandre Firmino and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aiteouakrim misses with a straight left.
Eduardo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Aiteouakrim as he avoids it easily.
Aiteouakrim misses with a looping right.
Aiteouakrim throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Eduardo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Aiteouakrim sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Eduardo moves out of range of the strikes.
Aiteouakrim throws a big shot that misses.
No joy there for Aiteouakrim, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice sprawl there from Aiteouakrim as Eduardo shoots in.
Salaheddine Aiteouakrim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luis Eduardo.
Eduardo ducks under a wild hook from Aiteouakrim.
Eduardo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Aiteouakrim as he avoids it easily.
Eduardo closes the distance and clinches up with Aiteouakrim, looking for a takedown. Eduardo pushes Aiteouakrim against the cage but Aiteouakrim circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Aiteouakrim lands a jab to the head.
Aiteouakrim's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Aiteouakrim duly obliges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eduardo has a takedown stuffed.
Aiteouakrim misses with a body shot.
Aiteouakrim's corner calls for a 1-2. Aiteouakrim obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Aiteouakrim swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Aiteouakrim tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Eduardo was well out of range. Poor timing from Aiteouakrim.
Aiteouakrim throws a right and a left that Eduardo avoids nicely.
Aiteouakrim misses with a wild body shot.
Eduardo fails with a takedown attempt.
Eduardo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aiteouakrim works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Eduardo avoids the body shot from Aiteouakrim.
Nice jab there from Aiteouakrim.
Eduardo shoots in but no luck this time.
Eduardo tries to clinch up.
Aiteouakrim misses with the combination.
Aiteouakrim swings for the body but Eduardo moves out of range.
Aiteouakrim misses with an uppercut. Eduardo saw that one coming.
Eduardo tries to move into range but Aiteouakrim moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Eduardo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Aiteouakrim sprawls well initially but Eduardo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Eduardo keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Eduardo wants to control but Aiteouakrim is keeping him busy.
Eduardo prevents Aiteouakrim from improving his position.
Eduardo wants to pass the guard but Aiteouakrim is defending well.
Aiteouakrim is trying to get back to full guard.
Aiteouakrim is refusing to be controlled, as Eduardo sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aiteouakrim blocking the ground and pound attempt from Eduardo.
Eduardo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Aiteouakrim knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Eduardo sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Eduardo 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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Eduardo perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Eduardo trying to control from half guard but Aiteouakrim is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salaheddine Aiteouakrim 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.

Eduardo shoots in for a double leg but Aiteouakrim sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Eduardo avoids the body shot from Aiteouakrim.
Aiteouakrim fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Aiteouakrim defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Eduardo.
Good shot there by Aiteouakrim.
Eduardo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Salaheddine Aiteouakrim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luis Eduardo.
Eduardo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Aiteouakrim avoids it really well and circles away.
Eduardo has a takedown stuffed.
Eduardo tries for a takedown but Aiteouakrim sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eduardo takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Salaheddine Aiteouakrim is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Aiteouakrim throws a hook but Eduardo blocks it.
Eduardo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Aiteouakrim tries to avoid it but Eduardo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Aiteouakrim to the ground. Aiteouakrim escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Aiteouakrim slaps away a takedown attempt from Eduardo, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Aiteouakrim lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Eduardo at a distance.
Salaheddine Aiteouakrim seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Eduardo checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Aiteouakrim lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Eduardo takes a jab right on the kisser.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Eduardo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Eduardo forces Aiteouakrim back against the cage and clinches.
Aiteouakrim is pressed up against the cage. Eduardo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Aiteouakrim down to the mat. Aiteouakrim avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Aiteouakrim jabbing away but nothing is landing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aiteouakrim fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Eduardo is breathing heavily.
Aiteouakrim misses with a body shot.
Aiteouakrim misses with a looping right.
Aiteouakrim throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Eduardo on the side of the head.

Eduardo shoots in and gets a takedown into Aiteouakrim's guard.
Eduardo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aiteouakrim is keeping the position for now.
Aiteouakrim on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Aiteouakrim tries to get out of the position.
Aiteouakrim trying to keep a closed guard but Eduardo is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eduardo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Eduardo passes Aiteouakrim's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Eduardo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Aiteouakrim keeps working.
Aiteouakrim is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Eduardo is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Aiteouakrim!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aiteouakrim can't escape the position.
Eduardo looking to finish with strikes here!
Aiteouakrim is in all sorts of trouble here.
Eduardo avoids the attempt from Aiteouakrim to control.
Eduardo throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Eduardo scoring with strikes but Aiteouakrim is staying in there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Salaheddine Aiteouakrim will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Eduardo shoots in for a takedown but Aiteouakrim shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Aiteouakrim. Eduardo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Eduardo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Aiteouakrim.
Eduardo misses with a hook.
Aiteouakrim misses the jab.
Eduardo walks into a stiff left hand from Aiteouakrim.
Aiteouakrim swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Aiteouakrim avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Eduardo moves away from the strike by Aiteouakrim.
Salaheddine Aiteouakrim is winning the standup battle so far.
Aiteouakrim misses the shot to the body.
Aiteouakrim misses with an uppercut

and Eduardo counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eduardo wants to take a breather but Aiteouakrim is having none of it.
Aiteouakrim avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Eduardo.
Aiteouakrim trying to control from the bottom.
Eduardo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Eduardo stalling.
Eduardo is trying to control the action in half guard but Aiteouakrim is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eduardo is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Luis Eduardo was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Eduardo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Aiteouakrim as he avoids it easily.
Eduardo looks to score with a jab to the body but Aiteouakrim is just out of range.
Aiteouakrim misses with a hook. Eduardo ducked under it nicely.
Eduardo wants to clinch but Aiteouakrim slips to the side
and Aiteouakrim cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Eduardo misses with a double jab.
Aiteouakrim throws a lazy right hand but Eduardo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Eduardo moves out of range as Aiteouakrim strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aiteouakrim throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Aiteouakrim misses with a body shot
and Eduardo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Eduardo ducks under a wild hook from Aiteouakrim.
Eduardo avoids the body shot from Aiteouakrim.
Eduardo shoots for a takedown but Aiteouakrim saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Salaheddine Aiteouakrim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luis Eduardo.
A slow jab from Aiteouakrim misses its intended target.
The fighters circling - Aiteouakrim throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A telegraphed right hand from Aiteouakrim misses the target.
Eduardo slips under a jab.
Eduardo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Aiteouakrim.
Salaheddine Aiteouakrim is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Aiteouakrim throws a low kick, looking for Eduardo's leg but Eduardo calmly moves out of range.
Eduardo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Luis Eduardo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Eduardo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Aiteouakrim defends it nicely.
Aiteouakrim displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Eduardo.
Eduardo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aiteouakrim cracks a nice hook into Eduardo's ribs.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Luis Eduardo.
I think Aiteouakrim has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Salaheddine Aiteouakrim!