PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dave Tiongson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hakeem Jabbar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Tiongson
vs
Jabbar

191 cm
29
290 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

220 cm
22
243 lbs
10 - 13 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Dave Tiongson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Hakeem Jabbar!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Sam Margolis and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jabbar rushes Tiongson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tiongson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Jabbar prevents it.

Jabbar manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Jabbar is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Jabbar wants to sweep here but Tiongson controlling him for the moment.
Tiongson throwing strikes from guard but Jabbar blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tiongson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jabbar is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiongson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jabbar changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tiongson tries to avoid it but Jabbar manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tiongson to the ground. Tiongson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Jabbar pushes Tiongson up against the cage in a clinch.
Jabbar using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tiongson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Jabbar is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Tiongson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Jabbar is defending well.
Tiongson takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Dave Tiongson has been cut.
Tiongson throws an elbow that misses.
Tiongson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Jabbar to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Tiongson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jabbar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Tiongson rushes Jabbar and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Jabbar breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick misses from Jabbar.
Tiongson fails to land the takedown.
Jabbar shoots for a double leg takedown but Tiongson sprawls well. He's pushed Jabbar's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jabbar takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
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!

Jabbar moves into the clinch.
Tiongson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tiongson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Jabbar trying to land knees to the body.

Jabbar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiongson dives in and grabs Jabbar's left leg, looking for a takedown. Jabbar pushes down on Tiongson's head and hops out.
Tiongson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Jabbar avoids it really well and circles away.
Tiongson avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

Tiongson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Jabbar pushes off an throws an elbow but Tiongson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Jabbar gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tiongson.

Jabbar decides to pull guard.
Tiongson wants to stand but Jabbar is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tiongson trying to control the position from guard on top but Jabbar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tiongson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Jabbar has a closed guard, preventing Tiongson from standing up.
Tiongson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tiongson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Jabbar on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Jabbar throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tiongson stopping the sweep attempt from Jabbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hakeem Jabbar will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dave Tiongson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tiongson shoots for a double leg takedown but Jabbar sprawls well. He's pushed Tiongson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nice sprawl there from Jabbar as Tiongson shoots in.

Jabbar closes the distance and clinches.
Tiongson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jabbar walks away with a smile on his face. Tiongson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Tiongson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tiongson misses with a few strikes there.
Jabbar shoots in looking for a takedown. Tiongson tries to sprawl out of it but Jabbar keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tiongson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Tiongson shoots in but no luck this time.
Tiongson shoots in for a takedown but Jabbar shows good takedown defense.
Tiongson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Tiongson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Jabbar avoids it really well and circles away.
Tiongson blocks a head kick by Jabbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiongson avoids the head kick by Jabbar.

Jabbar moves into range and clinches up with Tiongson.

Jabbar breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tiongson has a takedown stuffed.
Tiongson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Jabbar tries to avoid it but Tiongson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Jabbar to the ground. Jabbar escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Jabbar has a takedown stuffed.
Tiongson cracks Jabbar with a right hand to the side of the head.
Jabbar displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tiongson.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tiongson is defended easily by Jabbar.
Tiongson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Jabbar circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jabbar darts in and clinches Tiongson up against the cage.

Jabbar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tiongson shoots in for a double leg but Jabbar sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Jabbar closes the distance and clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jabbar looking for a takedown.

Jabbar pulls Tiongson into guard.
Tiongson trying to move into half guard but instead Jabbar has managed to sweep!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jabbar is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Tiongson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tiongson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tiongson looking to control.

Tiongson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Jabbar is aware though and is defending well.
Tiongson trying to control the position.

Jabbar avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Jabbar connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jabbar stands up and waves to Tiongson to follow him.

Jabbar moves into range and clinches up with Tiongson.
Tiongson jumps guard but Jabbar stands there with Tiongson around his waist. Tiongson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Jabbar manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Tiongson looking to pass the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tiongson throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakeem Jabbar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dave Tiongson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Tiongson instigates a clinch.

Jabbar manages to break the clinch.
Jabbar throws a sloppy head kick and Tiongson moves out of range easily.
Jabbar fails with a takedown attempt.
Tiongson throws a head kick but Jabbar moves out of range.
Jabbar tries to close the distance and clinch but Tiongson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Jabbar gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tiongson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tiongson looking to stall.
Jabbar blocking some punches.
Tiongson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiongson throws a knee to the head but misses.

Jabbar is trying to trip Tiongson. He has hold of a leg but Tiongson is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Jabbar persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Jabbar throws a big elbow that misses.
Jabbar throws a big elbow that misses.
Jabbar won't allow Tiongson to sweep him here.
Jabbar trying to control the position from guard on top but Tiongson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jabbar cracks Tiongson with a solid left hand.
Jabbar working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Jabbar postures up in Tiongson's guard and throws a big left but Tiongson blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tiongson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Jabbar's guard.
Tiongson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jabbar manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Tiongson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Jabbar looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tiongson is one step ahead there.
Tiongson advances position into side control!
Jabbar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jabbar gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Jabbar really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Tiongson thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jabbar is squirming around, avoiding Tiongson's attempts to control the action.
Hakeem Jabbar is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tiongson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Jabbar is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

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 Dave Tiongson.
I think Jabbar 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hakeem Jabbar!
A relieved looking Hakeem Jabbar thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.