PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abdul Rashid Naji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Umberto Duran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Duran has chosen Hatebreed - Live for this as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rashid Naji
vs
Duran

195 cm
23
277 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

199 cm
27
280 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Valhalla Q160 Nutrition

{R.W} Four Aces Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Abdul Rashid Naji!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Umberto Duran!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Dillan Fox and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Duran misses the shot to the body.
Duran misses with a few strikes there.
Naji gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Naji moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Naji looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Naji scores with a takedown into Duran's guard.
Naji looking to sit in guard and control but Duran gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Naji preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Naji 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 are loving this. Great action here.
Duran trying to control the position from guard on top but Naji is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Naji managing to control the position.
Duran throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duran postures up.
Duran trying to control but Naji is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Naji is on top in guard.
Duran is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Duran working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Naji.
Naji looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Naji trying to control but Duran is working from the bottom.
Naji won't allow Duran to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naji working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Naji trying to control the position from guard on top but Duran is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Naji working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Duran looking to control.

Umberto Duran has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Naji misses with an uppercut.

Naji drives through with a takedown into Duran's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Naji slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Duran struggling a bit here.
Naji is looking to take a break and control but Duran is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Naji lands some shots froms side control.
Naji scores with a couple of short elbows.
Naji wants to lay and pray for a moment but Duran keeps working.
Naji has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Naji misses with the ground and pound.
Naji has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Duran!
Naji punishing his opponent with strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Naji is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Duran can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

It looks like Umberto Duran has been cut.
Naji thowing shots but they're missing.
Naji working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naji thowing shots but they're missing.
Duran is squirming around, avoiding Naji's attempts to control the action.
Naji controlling the position easily from mount.
Naji has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Duran's face.

That has opened up Umberto Duran's cut even more.

Naji swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Duran is now in Naji's guard. A big mistake from Naji there, giving up the dominant position!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Naji is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Duran defends well.

Duran stands up from guard. Let's bang!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul Rashid Naji dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Umberto Duran's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Duran uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Naji.
Naji fails with a takedown attempt.
Naji ducks under a wild hook from Duran.
Duran digs a good body shot into Naji's ribs.
Duran uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Naji.
Duran throws a big shot that misses.
Duran displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Naji.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Naji.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdul Rashid Naji. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Naji pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Duran throws a lazy right hand but Naji sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Duran blocks a jab.
Duran swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Duran clinches up against the cage.
A short uppercut from Duran.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duran tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Duran gets through Naji's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Duran escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Naji has a takedown stuffed.
Duran's corner calls for a 1-2. Duran obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Naji connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

The cut above Umberto Duran's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Duran connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Duran pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Naji shoots in but no luck this time.
Naji throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Duran throws a jab but it's blocked by Naji.
Duran keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Duran defending well as Naji loads up on a big left hand.
Naji throws an overhand right that lands on Duran's shoulder, as Duran tries to avoid the shot.
Duran blocks a jab.
Duran stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Duran wants it to stay on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duran tries to bum rush Naji with a series of wild strikes but Naji uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Naji throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Duran lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Duran has Naji up against the cage in a clinch.
Naji is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Duran to keep the fight standing.
Duran misses with a hook to the ribs.
Naji can't find room to land a body shot as Duran controls the action.
Naji throws a head punch that misses.
A short right from Naji on the inside.
Naji tries to break the clinch but Duran is controlling the position.

Duran's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Duran tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Naji manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Duran displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Naji throws out the jab.
Duran defending well as Naji loads up on a big left hand.
A slow jab from Duran misses its intended target.
Duran uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Naji.
Duran lands with a nice body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duran throws out a loose jab but Naji uses good head movement to avoid it.
Duran misses with a hook.

Duran forces Naji back against the cage and clinches.
Naji tries to pull guard but Duran holds him up against the cage and eventually Naji drops back down to his feet.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Duran creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Duran.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A left hand lands to the body for Duran.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Duran working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Duran lands a right hand that snaps the head of Naji backwards.
Duran lands an uppercut.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Duran.
Duran lands a shoulder strike.
Nice body punch from Duran - that landed with a thud.
A short right from Duran.
Duran is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Duran lands with a short shot to the head.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naji clobbers Duran with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Duran stuffs the takedown.
Duran wants to clinch.
The fighters circling - Naji throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Duran clinches up with Naji and pushes him back against the cage.
Naji stalling against the cage.
Duran lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Naji is trying to maintain a safe position but Duran gets an underhook and turns Naji into the cage.
Duran lands a body punch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Duran.
Duran lands a shoulder strike.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Duran lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Naji.
Naji jumps guard but Duran turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Duran lands with a short shot to the head.

Duran breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Umberto Duran seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Duran moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Umberto Duran showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Umberto Duran's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Duran fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Naji looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Naji rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Duran counters with a straight right hand.

Naji gets tackled into the cage by Duran. Duran maintains the clinch.

Naji breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Duran cracks Naji with an open hand slap.
Duran uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Naji.
Naji just misses with a punch to the body.

Duran manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Naji on his heels. He'll look to pass Naji's guard now, I'm sure.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Duran throws a big right hand that misses.
Duran throwing strikes from guard but Naji blocks nicely.
Duran keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Naji's head.
Duran lands a couple of digs.
Naji keeping moving, preventing Duran from controlling successfully.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duran slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Duran landing with the ground and pound.
Duran trying to control the position from guard on top but Naji is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Duran stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Naji swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Naji avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Duran loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Duran trying to control but Naji is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Duran throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Duran throwing strikes from guard but Naji blocks nicely.
Duran working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Duran avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Duran working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Duran with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Naji manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Naji throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Naji can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Duran is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duran is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Duran is looking to get to half guard.
Naji can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Duran is looking to escape.
Naji throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Naji jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Duran is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Duran and Naji has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Duran is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Duran's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Duran tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Naji is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Duran has escaped the position, nice work there.
Duran is trying to control Naji's posture but Naji avoids it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Umberto Duran comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Duran 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Umberto Duran!
During a confident post fight interview, Umberto Duran thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.