PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mark Dai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Janjalani Abu Bakhar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dai
vs
Abu Bakhar

175 cm
23
185 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

178 cm
23
185 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mark Dai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Janjalani Abu Bakhar!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Matheus Silva and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dai avoids a punch combination nicely.
Abu Bakhar tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dai swivels and escapes.
Dai shoots for a takedown but Abu Bakhar saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dai with a lazy takedown attempt

and Abu Bakhar counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Abu Bakhar postures up in Dai's guard and throws a big left but Dai blocks it.
Dai 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.
Abu Bakhar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dai is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Abu Bakhar wants to pass the guard but Dai is keeping the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dai is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Abu Bakhar has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dai can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Abu Bakhar looking for a guillotine here but Dai defends easily.
Abu Bakhar keeping moving, preventing Dai from controlling successfully.
Dai won't allow Abu Bakhar to sweep him here.
Dai with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Dai with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Dai trying to control but Abu Bakhar is working from the bottom.
Dai scoring with punches to the head and body.
Abu Bakhar manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dai tries to lock up and control but Abu Bakhar gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Abu Bakhar landing punches.
Dai can't escape the position.

Abu Bakhar goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Dai is on top in guard.
Dai lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Dai content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dai accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Abu Bakhar is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dai is working Abu Bakhar over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Dai in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Abu Bakhar had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Dai defends it easily.
Abu Bakhar looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dai loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Abu Bakhar looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dai is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Dai got a little sloppy there for a moment and Abu Bakhar has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Dai has managed to get both his arms back between Abu Bakhar's legs - danger averted.
Abu Bakhar looks gassed!
Dai stopping the sweep attempt from Abu Bakhar.
Dai tries to free his leg and advance position but Abu Bakhar is retaining full guard.
Dai working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Abu Bakhar's head.
Dai postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Dai working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Abu Bakhar's head.
Dai lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Dai is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Abu Bakhar looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Abu Bakhar wants to sweep but no luck.
Dai with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Dai cracks Abu Bakhar with a solid left hand.
Dai works over Abu Bakhar with some ground and pound from guard.
Dai lands a couple of digs.
Dai scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Dai lands a couple of elbows.
Dai keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Abu Bakhar's head.
Dai makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Abu Bakhar working for a triangle but Dai defends it easily.
Abu Bakhar wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mark Dai will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice sprawl there from Abu Bakhar as Dai shoots in.
Abu Bakhar tries for a takedown but Dai sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Dai fails to land the takedown.
Abu Bakhar throws a right and a left that Dai avoids nicely.
Dai fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Dai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown by Dai or perhaps it was just good defense by Abu Bakhar which made him look bad.
Dai fails with a takedown attempt.
Abu Bakhar looks to land a left hand but Dai moved out of range nicely.
Dai throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Abu Bakhar's waist but Abu Bakhar gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dai off to one side.
Dai misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Abu Bakhar closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dai circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abu Bakhar moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Abu Bakhar stuffs the takedown attempt from Dai. Dai gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Abu Bakhar will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nice sprawl there from Dai as Abu Bakhar shoots in.

Dai decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Dai drops an elbow to the side of Abu Bakhar's head.
The fighters are battling for position here. Abu Bakhar manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Dai postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Abu Bakhar lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Dai!
Abu Bakhar misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dai 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dai keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dai is concentrating on defense, preventing Abu Bakhar from advancing position.
Mark Dai overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dai is pressing down on Abu Bakhar's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Abu Bakhar drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Dai manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Abu Bakhar has Dai in his guard.
Dai scoring with punches to the head and body.
Dai stands up over Abu Bakhar, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Dai throws a big right hand that misses.
Abu Bakhar bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dai's guard.
Abu Bakhar thows a big elbow that misses.
Dai wants to control but Abu Bakhar passes easily into half guard.
Abu Bakhar looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abu Bakhar works his way into full mount!
Dai wants to control but Abu Bakhar is having none of it.
Abu Bakhar looking to finish with strikes here!
Dai is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Dai tries to hold on but Abu Bakhar pushes him away.
Abu Bakhar thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Abu Bakhar throws some wild stikes that Dai manages to avoid easily.
Dai tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abu Bakhar working the ground and pound effectively.
Dai is wriggling around trying to escape.
Abu Bakhar fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Dai working to try and regain half guard.
Abu Bakhar lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dai is trying to escape the mount.
Dai is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Abu Bakhar sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Dai really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Abu Bakhar scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Dai?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Janjalani Abu Bakhar will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Dai fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Dai has a takedown stuffed.
Dai has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Dai shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Abu Bakhar as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Dai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Abu Bakhar throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dai.
Abu Bakhar throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Dai sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Abu Bakhar thows a body shot but no joy.
Abu Bakhar shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dai but Dai pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Dai shoots in and gets a takedown into Abu Bakhar's guard.
Dai distracts Abu Bakhar with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Dai scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Abu Bakhar looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Abu Bakhar 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dai is working Abu Bakhar over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Abu Bakhar had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Dai defends it easily.
Dai scoring with some ground and pound.
Dai trying to control the position from guard on top but Abu Bakhar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dai lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Abu Bakhar looking for a sweep. Not yet Abu Bakhar, not yet.
Dai landing some decent shots from guard.
Abu Bakhar trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Dai's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Dai avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dai is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Dai working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Abu Bakhar looking for a sweep. Not yet Abu Bakhar, not yet.
Abu Bakhar has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dai wants to control from the top but Abu Bakhar keeps moving.
Abu Bakhar lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Dai!
Dai blocking the ground and pound.
Dai can't escape the position.
Dai wants to hold on but Abu Bakhar pushes him away.

Dai defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Abu Bakhar.

Abu Bakhar with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dai is looking to improve his position but Abu Bakhar isn't that keen on the idea.
Abu Bakhar raining down hammerfists from mount.
Abu Bakhar with a couple of short strikes.
Abu Bakhar thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dai keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Abu Bakhar throws a sloppy strike and Dai uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Dai has ended up in Abu Bakhar's guard.
Dai is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Dai postures up.
Abu Bakhar looking for a sweep. Not yet Abu Bakhar, not yet.
Dai working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Dai postures up and lands a big shot to Abu Bakhar's brow.
Abu Bakhar trying to keep a closed guard but Dai is proving a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dai postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Dai's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Abu Bakhar working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Dai doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Dai manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

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 Mark Dai.
I think Dai 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight for Mark Dai!
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight for Mark Dai!
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Janjalani Abu Bakhar!

Mark Dai wins by split decision!