PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Naim alBahni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Muhammad Solomon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Solomon has chosen In A Heartbeat as his entrance music. 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.

alBahni
vs
Solomon

187 cm
19
214 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
19
213 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

KINGDOM

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Naim alBahni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Muhammad Solomon!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Robert Douchet and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Solomon comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Solomon tries to close the distance and clinch but alBahni swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Solomon buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
alBahni throws a left and a right that both miss
and Solomon counters with a good low kick that alBahni was not able to check.
Naim alBahni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No joy there for alBahni, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Solomon keeps the fight on the outside.
alBahni fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Solomon misses with a looping left.
No joy there for alBahni, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
alBahni tries to bum rush Solomon with a series of wild strikes but Solomon uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

alBahni closes the distance and clinches.
Solomon fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Solomon takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Solomon working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solomon lands a nice shot to the body.
alBahni has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
alBahni blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Solomon tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
alBahni is trying to break the clinch but Solomon has him pressed against the cage.
Solomon misses with a punch on the inside.
Solomon misses with a punch on the inside.
Solomon'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.
alBahni prevents a body shot from Solomon.

alBahni pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Solomon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Solomon swings widly with a right hand

and alBahni counters by clinching up.
alBahni blocks a body shot from Solomon.
alBahni prevents a body shot from Solomon.
Solomon stalling in the clinch but alBahni improves position.
Solomon tries a body shot but alBahni blocks it.
Solomon misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Solomon tries to work over alBahni's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Solomon is looking to control alBahni's arms but alBahni gets an underhook and turns him. Now Solomon has his back to the cage.
Solomon throws a punch but it's blocked by alBahni.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by alBahni as Solomon tries to tie him up.
alBahni wants to break free but Solomon has control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
alBahni is looking to break free of the clinch but Solomon has double underhooks.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Solomon creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Solomon wants to stall.
Solomon tried to land a shot to the body but connects with alBahni's elbow.
Solomon slows down the pace here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Muhammad Solomon.
alBahni tries to clinch up but Solomon circles away and keeps his distance.
alBahni misses with a jab, cross combination.
Solomon thows a body shot but no joy.
alBahni pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Solomon back to the cage. alBahni follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

It looks like Muhammad Solomon has been cut.
alBahni tries to clinch but Solomon moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solomon avoids a punch combination nicely.
alBahni throws a series of strikes that have Solomon backpedaling.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
alBahni fails with an attempt to clinch.
Solomon swats away the attempt to clinch by alBahni.
alBahni tries to clinch up
and Solomon makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
alBahni tries to clinch but Solomon moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fight stays on the outside here - alBahni looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
alBahni tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Solomon paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naim alBahni dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Muhammad Solomon's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

alBahni wants to clinch.
alBahni throws a lazy head kick
and Solomon counters with a low kick, right behind alBahni 's knee.
Solomon avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
alBahni throws a series of punches but Solomon moves out of range.
alBahni throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
alBahni fails to land with a series of punches.
alBahni misses with a combination
and Solomon counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
alBahni tries to clinch up.
The crowd cheers as alBahni lands an impressive looking overhand right. Solomon doesn't seem phased though.
alBahni wants to clinch.
alBahni misses with a wild combination.
Naim alBahni is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.

alBahni gets a clinch.
alBahni has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
alBahni is trying to break the clinch but Solomon is controlling him.
Solomon taking a breather.
Solomon taking a breather.
Solomon stalling in the clinch but alBahni improves position.
Solomon keeps the fight in the clinch, despite alBahni's efforts to push away.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A nice left hand lands by Solomon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Solomon working aggressively here.
Solomon lands a body punch in the clinch.
Solomon misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Solomon tries to throw a body punch but alBahni avoids it by throwing Solomon back against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Solomon - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Solomon lands a nice uppercut.
Solomon struggles to land a body shot inside as alBahni controls his hands.
alBahni has had enough of the clinch but Solomon keeps him there for the moment.
Solomon can't find room to land a body shot as alBahni controls the action.
Solomon lands a nice uppercut.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
alBahni wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Solomon has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solomon working aggressively here.
alBahni blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Muhammad Solomon seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
alBahni has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Solomon just leaning against alBahni, taking a breather.
Solomon misses with a short punch on the inside.
Solomon lands with a light punch inside.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by alBahni as Solomon tries to tie him up.
alBahni wants to break the clinch but can't.
Solomon misses with some punches.
A left hand lands to the body for Solomon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
alBahni tries to circle away but Solomon has him pinned against the cage.
Solomon can't find room to land a body shot as alBahni controls the action.
Solomon looking to stall.
alBahni is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Solomon keeps control of alBahni as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Solomon tried to land a shot to the body but connects with alBahni's elbow.
Solomon lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
alBahni is trying to push Solomon away but Solomon has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Solomon scores with a shot to the side of alBahni's head.
Solomon trying to stall but alBahni improves his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

alBahni wants to clinch.
Solomon buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
alBahni tries to clinch up but Solomon circles away and keeps his distance.

alBahni has Solomon up against the cage in a clinch.
Solomon keeps control of alBahni as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
alBahni wants to get back to striking at distance but Solomon won't allow it.
Solomon misses with a punch on the inside.
alBahni has had enough of the clinch but Solomon keeps him there for the moment.

alBahni breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
alBahni swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Solomon counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
alBahni throws a right hand that Solomon ducks under and follows up with a left that Solomon also avoids with ease.
Solomon is looking to clinch but alBahni is avoiding it.

alBahni clinches up against the cage.
Solomon goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
alBahni blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Solomon is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Solomon keeps the fight in the clinch, despite alBahni's efforts to push away.
Solomon trying to stall but alBahni improves his position.
Solomon is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and alBahni has denied him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Solomon doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

alBahni manages to break the clinch.
alBahni tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Solomon manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Solomon swats away the attempt to clinch by alBahni.
alBahni fails to land with a series of punches.
alBahni wants to clinch.

alBahni rushes Solomon and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solomon throws a blind hook that connects with the side of alBahnis head.
alBahni blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nice body punch from Solomon - that landed with a thud.
Solomon lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Solomon lands a shot to the body.
Solomon looking to slow down the pace here.
Solomon keeps the fight in the clinch, despite alBahni's efforts to push away.
alBahni wants to break free but Solomon has control.
A frustrated look appears on alBahni's face as he tries to break the clinch.
alBahni is trying to break the clinch but Solomon has him pressed against the cage.
alBahni is trying to force a seperation but Solomon has the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solomon scores with an uppercut up the middle.
alBahni wants to break free but Solomon has control.
Solomon is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Solomon swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Solomon can't find room to land a body shot as alBahni controls the action.
Solomon working aggressively here.
alBahni wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Solomon has him pressed against the cage.
alBahni has had enough of the clinch but Solomon keeps him there for the moment.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

alBahni manages to break the clinch.
Solomon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

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 Naim alBahni.
I think alBahni 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Naim alBahni!