PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Abdual Jemall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hamid Zaferani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Jemall
vs
Zaferani

180 cm
31
160 lbs
24 - 12 - 0

170 cm
27
145 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Abdual Jemall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hamid Zaferani!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Chris Saunders and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zaferani blocks a leg kick.
Jemall thumps Zaferani with a low kick.
Jemall uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Jemall looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zaferani scores with a crisp jab that stopped Jemall in his tracks.
Jemall is looking to clinch.
Jemall misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zaferani.
Zaferani moves into range and connects with a jab.
Jemall misses with a combination
and Zaferani counters with a stiff right hand.
Jemall throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Jemall closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Zaferani's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zaferani keeping moving, preventing Jemall from controlling successfully.
Jemall in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaferani not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zaferani 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.
Jemall landing with the ground and pound.
Jemall trying to control but Zaferani is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jemall throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zaferani works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zaferani looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Jemall postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jemall looking to sit in guard and control but Zaferani gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Jemall has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Zaferani is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Jemall.
Jemall tries to buck Zaferani off but Zaferani is having none of it.
Zaferani happy to just control the position for now.
Zaferani wants to control but Jemall is keeping him busy.
Jemall sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jemall wants to improve his position but Zaferani is controlling well.
Jemall 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.

Jemall is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zaferani pulls his head out easily.
Zaferani looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zaferani is pressing down on Jemall's thigh, looking to free his foot. Jemall is holding on for now.
Zaferani controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hamid Zaferani has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Jemall throws a hook to the side of Zaferani's head but Zaferani sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Jemall on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Jemall doesn't manage to clinch there - Zaferani circles away.
Zaferani moves out of range of the strikes.
Zaferani throws out a loose jab but Jemall uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zaferani has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Zaferani there as he acknowledges the shot.

Jemall forces Zaferani back against the cage and clinches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jemall misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zaferani lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jemall tries a body shot but Zaferani blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdual Jemall dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Zaferani takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Jemall has Zaferani up against the cage in a clinch.
Jemall fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Zaferani.
Jemall is trying to break the clinch but Zaferani has him pressed against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Jemall fails to land.
A nice left hand lands by Jemall.
Jemall is trying to break the clinch but Zaferani has him pressed against the cage.
Jemall can't find room to land a body shot as Zaferani controls the action.
Zaferani scores with a hook to the body.
Zaferani lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Zaferani.
Jemall scores with a hook to the body.
Jemall is trying to push Zaferani away but Zaferani has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Zaferani lands with a short shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Zaferani on the inside.
Jemall throws a head punch that misses.
Jemall has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Zaferani after a bit of a struggle.
Jemall is trying to force a seperation but Zaferani has the dominant position.
Jemall goes for a takedown attempt but Zaferani pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Zaferani lands a leg kick that knocks Jemall off balance momentarily.
Jemall blocks a head kick by Zaferani.

Jemall shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Jemall showed some decent athleticism there.
Jemall throwing shots but Zaferani is blocking nicely.
Zaferani moves into full guard.
Jemall loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaferani looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jemall is one step ahead there.
Zaferani managing to control the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jemall stopping the sweep attempt from Zaferani.
Jemall throws a strike but Zaferani rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Jemall trying to keep a closed guard but Zaferani is proving a slippery customer.
Zaferani must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaferani pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jemall is keeping the position for now.
Abdual Jemall overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jemall not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Jemall looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Jemall is trying to control the position but Zaferani postures up.

We're going to have a standup here because Abdual Jemall wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Jemall checks a low kick from Zaferani.
Jemall rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Zaferani counters with a low kick, right behind Jemall 's knee.
Zaferani misses with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaferani lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Jemall throws a leg kick
enabling Zaferani to counter with a crisp jab.
Zaferani stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zaferani wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdual Jemall. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jemall is looking to slow Zaferani down with leg kicks.
A head kick by Jemall misses
and Zaferani counters with a right hand to the body.
Jemall walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Zaferani checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Zaferani ducks under a wild hook from Jemall.
Zaferani digs a good hook to Jemall's body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zaferani misses with an uppercut. Jemall saw that one coming.
Jemall tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jemall thows a leg kick but Zaferani checks it
and Zaferani makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jemall shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Zaferani as he jumps to the side.
Jemall lands a high kick!
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 Abdual Jemall will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Jemall slips a jab from Zaferani.
Jemall misses the shot to the body.
Jemall throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Jemall throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jemall's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Zaferani connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Jemall scrambles back to his feet.
Jemall swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Jemall throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jemall tries to clinch up.
Jemall throws a looping overhand right but Zaferani ducks down to avoid it.
Zaferani fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Jemall.
Zaferani lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Jemall showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zaferani.

Jemall closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Zaferani regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jemall is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Zaferani sees it coming and defends easily.
Zaferani manages to get to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zaferani wants to sweep here but Jemall controlling him for the moment.
Jemall is fighting to break Zaferani's control of his arms but Zaferani is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Zaferani looking for a sweep. Not yet Zaferani, not yet.
Jemall throws an elbow that misses. Zaferani uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Jemall's guard. Nice move by Zaferani!
Zaferani postures up.
Abdual Jemall is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaferani is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Jemall not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zaferani controls from within his opponent's guard.

Abdual Jemall has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Jemall blocks the body kick.
Abdual Jemall seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jemall fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zaferani looks to land a right hand but Jemall moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jemall tries to clinch up.
Zaferani throws a sloppy head kick and Jemall moves out of range easily.
Zaferani rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Jemall counters with an inside leg kick.
Hamid Zaferani seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jemall avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zaferani lands with a nice body kick.
Hamid Zaferani is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zaferani circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jemall shoots for a takedown but Zaferani saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Jemall throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

Jemall feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Jemall tries to free his leg and advance position but Zaferani is retaining full guard.
Zaferani is controlling Jemall's posture.
Zaferani wants to sweep here but Jemall controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jemall wants to control from the top but Zaferani keeps moving.
Jemall tries to free his leg and advance position but Zaferani is retaining full guard.
Jemall is stalling in the full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Abdual Jemall just wasn't active enough.
Jemall misses with a double jab
and Zaferani counters with a nice body shot.
Hamid Zaferani has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jemall scores with a leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jemall throws a jab but it's blocked by Zaferani.
Jemall misses with a looping left.
Zaferani throws the kick towards the body but Jemall avoids it.

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 Abdual Jemall.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Jemall, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 29:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27

The fight is ruled a majority draw!