PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gregorio San Pedro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdul Rashid Naji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

San Pedro
vs
Rashid Naji

198 cm
31
270 lbs
27 - 12 - 0

195 cm
30
277 lbs
15 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Alpha Male

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gregorio San Pedro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Abdul Rashid Naji!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Colin Fotheringham and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Naji is looking to clinch but San Pedro is avoiding it.
San Pedro bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Naji's head.
San Pedro lands a body shot.

San Pedro sends Naji crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! San Pedro is motioning to the referee to let Naji up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

It looks like Abdul Rashid Naji has been cut.
Gregorio San Pedro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
San Pedro falls off balance throwing a combination

and Naji counters with a single leg into guard. San Pedro didn't expect that.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Naji landing some decent shots from guard.
Naji won't allow San Pedro to get back to his feet.
Naji throws a big elbow that misses.
Naji works a leg free and moves into half guard.
San Pedro blocking the ground and pound attempt from Naji.
San Pedro avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Naji.
San Pedro tries to roll over but Naji keeps him under control.
Naji content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Naji is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Naji has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
San Pedro is staying active underneath Naji, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Naji missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. San Pedro manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Naji accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Naji works over San Pedro with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naji throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Naji throws a big right hand that misses.
Naji looking to sit in guard and control but San Pedro gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Naji throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Naji has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but San Pedro can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Naji escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. San Pedro gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
San Pedro sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
San Pedro postures up.

Naji throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

San Pedro got a little sloppy there for a moment and Naji has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, San Pedro has managed to get both his arms back between Naji's legs - danger averted.

Naji has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. San Pedro 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 Naji.
San Pedro wants to control but Naji is keeping him busy.
Naji is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Naji blocking the ground and pound attempt from San Pedro.
San Pedro prevents Naji from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
San Pedro wants to take a breather but Naji is having none of it.
Naji is looking for a sweep. San Pedro is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Naji actively working from the bottom here.

Naji looking for submissions off his back.

Naji looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Naji is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
San Pedro not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Naji is trying to stand back up but San Pedro is controlling him
Naji wants to get back to full guard but San Pedro has mounted him!
San Pedro content just to control the position here.
San Pedro is landing with some decent strikes but Naji is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gregorio San Pedro will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Abdul Rashid Naji's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

San Pedro lands with an uppercut that bounces Naji off the cage and back into range.
San Pedro takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

San Pedro closes the distance and pushes Naji back into the cage.

Naji has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed San Pedro clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
San Pedro tries to escape the position.
San Pedro trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Naji lands strikes to the head.
San Pedro covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
San Pedro looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

San Pedro is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Naji gets his way!
San Pedro looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on San Pedro's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Naji has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, San Pedro has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Naji scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. San Pedro is looking for a way out.
Naji lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can San Pedro hold on?!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
San Pedro covering up well and avoiding damage.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Naji.

Naji tightening his grip on San Pedro, looking for the choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naji is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Naji softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Naji keeps control of the position easily here as San Pedro tries to buck him off.

Naji is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. San Pedro is defending well though. Naji let's go of the attempt for now.
Naji gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
San Pedro tries to escape the position.
Naji is punishing San Pedro with some ground and pound.
Naji missing with strikes.
Naji is punishing San Pedro with some ground and pound.

San Pedro is rocked!
What can San Pedro do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Oh San Pedro is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Even with his hooks in, Naji manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Naji lands a massive shot to the side of San Pedro 's head and he's out cold! Naji jumps to his feet and milks the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Abdul Rashid Naji!
After winning the bout, Abdul Rashid Naji thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.