PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nabeel Cheema (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arizona Praiseworthy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cheema
vs
Praiseworthy

215 cm
20
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nabeel Cheema!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Arizona Praiseworthy!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Alan Glass and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cheema fails with the takedown.
Nabeel Cheema seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cheema doesn't manage to clinch there - Praiseworthy circles away.
Cheema fails with a takedown attempt.
Cheema really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Praiseworthy drives through and clinches with Cheema against the cage.

Cheema pulls guard effortlessly.
Cheema wants to sweep here but Praiseworthy controlling him for the moment.
Cheema manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Praiseworthy manages to get himself to full guard.
Praiseworthy really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cheema. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cheema controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Praiseworthy looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Cheema has picked Praiseworthy up and slammed him! Praiseworthy can't keep hold of the triangle and Cheema manages to pass to side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cheema has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Praiseworthy!
Praiseworthy is trying to stand.
Praiseworthy holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Cheema tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Praiseworthy can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cheema throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Cheema looking for a guillotine from mount but Praiseworthy is having none of it.
Praiseworthy can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cheema working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Cheema looking to control but Praiseworthy is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Praiseworthy is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cheema unloads with some shots from mount but Praiseworthy bucks and avoids them well.
Cheema thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Praiseworthy tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Praiseworthy tries to buck Cheema off but Cheema takes his back!
Cheema tries to get the hooks in deep but Praiseworthy pushed the leg off.

Cheema is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Praiseworthy is defending well though. Cheema let's go of the attempt for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cheema has the hooks in. Praiseworthy is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Cheema controls the action.
Praiseworthy staying busy and making it hard for Cheema to control.
Cheema throwing wild punches that miss their target.

Cheema working for a choke but Praiseworthy is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nabeel Cheema 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.

Praiseworthy shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cheema.

Praiseworthy closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cheema did well to prevent Praiseworthy getting side control.
Cheema manages to get to full guard.
Praiseworthy is looking to advance position but Cheema has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Cheema wants to control the pace but Praiseworthy is squirming around nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Praiseworthy avoids a series of strikes thrown by Cheema.
Praiseworthy is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Praiseworthy holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Cheema tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Cheema thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Cheema stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Praiseworthy moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Praiseworthy with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Praiseworthy is working for takedown but Cheema is calmly controlling the position for now.

Praiseworthy turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Praiseworthy looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Praiseworthy goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Cheema rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Praiseworthy's guard! Nice work there by Cheema!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cheema is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Cheema won't allow Praiseworthy to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cheema trying to control but Praiseworthy is working from the bottom.
Nabeel Cheema overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Praiseworthy is working an open guard so Cheema takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Praiseworthy is looking to clinch but Cheema is avoiding it.
Praiseworthy changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cheema tries to avoid it but Praiseworthy manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cheema to the ground. Cheema escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nabeel Cheema has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arizona Praiseworthy.
Praiseworthy shoots in but no luck this time.
Cheema tries for a takedown but Praiseworthy circles away easily
and Cheema takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Praiseworthy shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Praiseworthy must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cheema is trying to keep Praiseworthy in close.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cheema looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cheema keeping moving, preventing Praiseworthy from controlling successfully.
Praiseworthy throws a big elbow that misses.
Praiseworthy postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Praiseworthy wants to pass the guard but Cheema is keeping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Praiseworthy thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Praiseworthy lands a couple of decent looking shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arizona Praiseworthy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Praiseworthy moves into the clinch.
Praiseworthy with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Cheema is trying to force a seperation but Praiseworthy has the dominant position.
Praiseworthy jerks Cheema to the side and lands a massive knee to the head that knocks him out cold! Cheema's lifeless body is proped up only by the cage. Praiseworthy steps back, hand raised, as the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Knee). Arizona Praiseworthy!