PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Taco Bueno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saadi Al Fayyad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Al Fayyad has chosen Desert Storm as his entrance music. Saadi Al Fayyad will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Bueno
vs
Al Fayyad

182 cm
22
200 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

193 cm
22
217 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Taco Bueno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Saadi Al Fayyad!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Jonathan Paton and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Bueno or perhaps it was just good defense by Al Fayyad which made him look bad.
Bueno lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Al Fayyad is looking to land body kicks.
Bueno misses with a series of wild punches.
Bueno checks a leg kick nicely.
Bueno throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Al Fayyad.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bueno is defended easily by Al Fayyad.
Al Fayyad lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Bueno moves out of range of the body kick from Al Fayyad.
Bueno moves out of range of the leg kick from Al Fayyad.
Al Fayyad misses with a body kick.
Al Fayyad throws a leg kick that is checked
and Bueno counters with a straight right hand.
Al Fayyad lands with a slapping head kick.

Bueno decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Bueno landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bueno is working for a kimura but Al Fayyad is defending it quite comfortably.
Bueno not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bueno missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Al Fayyad is looking to control Bueno's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Al Fayyad avoid being mounted?
Bueno working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bueno thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Bueno is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Bueno seems to be looking for submissions.
Al Fayyad is controlling Bueno's trapped leg to prevent Bueno from advancing to side control.
Al Fayyad blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bueno.
Bueno is keen to just control but Al Fayyad is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bueno is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Al Fayyad defends it well.
Bueno looks to land a strike but Al Fayyad avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Bueno trying to control the position from guard on top but Al Fayyad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bueno advances to half guard.

Bueno is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Al Fayyad is just riding it out for now. Bueno eventually gives up the hold.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Al Fayyad can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bueno moves nicely into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bueno is trying to ground and pound but Al Fayyad uses the momentary lack of control by Bueno to regain half guard.
Bueno throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bueno frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taco Bueno dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Al Fayyad lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Bueno has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Bueno and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Al Fayyad tries to land a front kick but Bueno steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Bueno checks a leg kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Al Fayyad.
Bueno misses with a double jab.
Both fighters circling a little - Al Fayyad finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Al Fayyad.
Bueno avoids the head kick by Al Fayyad.
Al Fayyad throws a leg kick but Bueno sees it coming and moves out of range.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Al Fayyad, right into the meat.
Bueno misses with a few strikes there.
Al Fayyad misses with a low kick.
Taco Bueno is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Al Fayyad is looking to land body kicks.
Al Fayyad fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Bueno has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Al Fayyad wants to slow Bueno down by chopping away at his legs.
Nice takedown defense from Al Fayyad. No joy for Bueno on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bueno swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Al Fayyad lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Bueno has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Bueno and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Al Fayyad.
Al Fayyad connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Bueno misses with a series of wild punches.
Al Fayyad avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Al Fayyad feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Bueno's calf.
Al Fayyad misses with a body kick.
Bueno tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Al Fayyad lands with a nice body kick.
Al Fayyad moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Bueno ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Al Fayyad moves away.
Al Fayyad dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bueno. That did some damage!
Al Fayyad attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Bueno takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Fayyad throws a head kick that Bueno semi-blocks.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Al Fayyad. Bueno shrugs it off though.
Saadi Al Fayyad seems to be getting the better of the standup.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bueno pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Al Fayyad connects with an inside leg kick.
Al Fayyad avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bueno misses with a straight left.
Al Fayyad throws a head kick that half lands.

Bueno shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Al Fayyad manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Bueno slips nicely into half guard.
Al Fayyad blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bueno.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bueno wants to control but Al Fayyad is keeping him busy.
Bueno throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bueno is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Al Fayyad!
Bueno looking to ground and pound but Al Fayyad is blocking nicely.

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

Bueno wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Al Fayyad, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bueno wants to control but Al Fayyad is keeping him busy.
Al Fayyad defending against the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bueno is looking to take a break and control but Al Fayyad is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Saadi Al Fayyad will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Al Fayyad scoring well with a low kick there.
Bueno throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Al Fayyad lands a head kick!
Bueno is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Al Fayyad swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Al Fayyad explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Bueno shoots for a double leg takedown but Al Fayyad sprawls well. He's pushed Bueno's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Al Fayyad throws a quick inside leg kick.
Bueno takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Bueno takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bueno moves out of range of the leg kick from Al Fayyad.
Bueno shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Al Fayyad as he avoids it easily.
Al Fayyad throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A head kick from Al Fayyad lands but Bueno takes it in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Fayyad shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Bueno tries to keep at a distance but Al Fayyad has taken the fight into the clinch.
Bueno fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taco Bueno. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Al Fayyad tries to land knees in the clinch but Bueno avoids the damage to the body.
Al Fayyad blocking some punches.
Bueno has Al Fayyad pressed against the cage, preventing Al Fayyad from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Al Fayyad.
Al Fayyad has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Bueno gets through Al Fayyad's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Al Fayyad pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Al Fayyad lands a head kick!
Al Fayyad scores with a spinning back kick!
Bueno tries to close the distance and clinch up but Al Fayyad swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bueno avoids the head kick by Al Fayyad.
Al Fayyad throws a nice outside leg kick.
Saadi Al Fayyad is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Al Fayyad takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Al Fayyad tries to score with a low kick but Bueno moves his leg out of the way.
Bueno throws a right and a left that Al Fayyad avoids nicely.
Bueno on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Al Fayyad lands with a thumping leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Al Fayyad.
Bueno closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Saadi Al Fayyad has been cut.
Al Fayyad moves away from the strike by Bueno.
Al Fayyad stuffs the takedown attempt from Bueno. Bueno gets slowly back to his feet.
Al Fayyad lands with a nice body kick.
Bueno misses with a looping right.
Bueno stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Al Fayyad.
Al Fayyad attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Bueno misses the jab.
Bueno cracks Al Fayyad with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Saadi Al Fayyad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bueno swinging wildly here.
Bueno misses with a wild combination.
Bueno keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Bueno throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Al Fayyad.
Al Fayyad keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Al Fayyad lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Bueno blocks a head kick by Al Fayyad.
Bueno checks a low kick from Al Fayyad.
Bueno throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Al Fayyad on the side of the head.

Al Fayyad rushes Bueno and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Al Fayyad's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Al Fayyad misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Fayyad scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Bueno throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Al Fayyad clinches with his opponent.
Bueno lands a body shot.
Bueno struggles to land a body shot inside as Al Fayyad controls his hands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bueno misses with a hook from the clinch.
Al Fayyad misses with an elbow strike.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bueno creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Al Fayyad throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Al Fayyad looking to throw knees to the head but Bueno is blocking nicely.
Al Fayyad blocks an uppercut.
Bueno lands with a right to the head.
A short left from Bueno.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Al Fayyad comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Al Fayyad tries to land a knee to the head but Bueno blocks with his arms.
Bueno lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Bueno dodges an elbow strike from Al Fayyad.
Bueno swings wildly with an uppercut but Al Fayyad uses good head movement to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saadi Al Fayyad comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Al Fayyad 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saadi Al Fayyad!
Our winner, Saadi Al Fayyad, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.