PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abdul Rashid Naji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Box Spar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Abdul Rashid Naji could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Box Spar's chin.

Rashid Naji
vs
Spar

195 cm
30
277 lbs
19 - 11 - 0

192 cm
33
272 lbs
21 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Alpha Male

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Abdul Rashid Naji!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Box Spar!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Sam Margolis and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Spar.
Naji bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Spar's head.
Spar catches Naji with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Naji has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Pacific MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Naji avoids the body shot from Spar.
Naji blocks a jab.
No joy there for Spar, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Spar displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Naji throws out the jab.
Spar misses with a wild body shot.
Naji keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A punch combination from Spar misses.
Spar changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Spar darts in and clinches Naji up against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Naji.
Spar misses with a punch on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Naji creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naji swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Spar lands with a right to the head.
Spar prevents the takedown attempt.
Naji changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Spar fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Spar thows a body shot but no joy.
Spar swings widly with a right hand

and Naji counters with a takedown into side control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Spar manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Spar is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Naji pulls his head out easily.

Spar looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Spar gets full guard.
Naji stands and throws Spar's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Naji thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naji working away.
Spar takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Naji working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Naji scores with punches from side control.
Spar sneaks back into half guard.
Naji passes the guard and advances to mount!
Spar is wriggling around trying to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spar keeps trying to improve his position.
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spar sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Spar looking for submissions off his back.
Spar is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Well, if Naji is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Spar trying to control but Naji postures up.
Spar tries to roll over but Naji keeps him under control.
Naji seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Naji looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Naji throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Naji is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Spar doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Naji.
Naji is keen to just control but Spar is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naji seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Naji trying to control the action but Spar is working from the bottom.
Naji looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Spar is staying active underneath Naji, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Spar is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Naji pulls his head out easily.
Naji is keen to just control but Spar is a slippery customer.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Spar makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Spar.

Spar looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul Rashid Naji dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Spar misses with an uppercut
and Naji counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Box Spar has been cut.
Spar throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Nice shot by Spar.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Naji lands with a right to the head.
Naji drops down looking for an ankle pick but Spar pulls his leg out and moves away.
Naji throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Spar's waist but Spar gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Naji off to one side.
Spar scores with a shot to the body.

Naji gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Spar tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Spar.
Naji is working for takedown but Spar is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdul Rashid Naji. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Naji is looking to take this one to the mat.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Naji as Spar tries to tie him up.
Still in the clinch, Naji scores with a nice short uppercut.

Naji breaks the clinch.
Spar feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Najis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Spar lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Spar lands a left and a right that send Naji crashing to the mat, dazed. Spar thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Spar gets tackled into the cage by Naji. Naji maintains the clinch.
Naji lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Spar backwards.
Spar stops a takedown attempt from Naji.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Naji.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Spar lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Naji backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naji is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Spar is keeping busy.
Naji misses with a short punch on the inside.
Spar tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Naji lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Spar backwards.
Naji lands an uppercut.
Naji looking to slow down the pace here.
Naji has Spar pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Spar manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Spar prevents a takedown attempt there.
Spar misses with a body punch.
Spar blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Naji prevents a body shot from Spar.
Spar is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Naji looking for a takedown.
Naji blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spar misses with a punch on the inside.
Naji misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nice body punch from Spar - that landed with a thud.
Naji misses with the head strike.
Naji is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Spar gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Spar pushes Naji back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Naji has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Spar avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Spar is pressed up against the cage. Naji has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Spar down to the mat. Spar avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Spar throws a lazy head kick
and Naji counters with a stiff right hand.
Box Spar is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Spar doesn't manage to clinch there - Naji circles away.
Spar lands a right hook to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Naji moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Naji shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Spar as he jumps to the side.
Box Spar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spar lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Abdul Rashid Naji has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spar is looking to clinch.
Spar tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Naji counters with a takedown into side control.
Spar tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Spar wants to get back to his feet but Naji drags him back down.
Spar regains half guard.
Naji slips a nice elbow through Spar's hands, connecting with Spar's forehead.

Naji looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Naji thows a huge punch but Spar dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Box Spar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Spar moves out of range as Naji strikes.
Spar lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Spar takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Spar tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Naji manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
No joy there for Spar, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Naji throws a big shot that misses.
Naji blocks a head kick by Spar.
Spar misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Naji scores with a takedown into Spar's guard.
Naji working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Naji distracts Spar with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naji trying to control the position from guard on top but Spar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Naji wants to pass the guard but Spar is keeping the position.
Naji with a nice head shot there.
Spar is trying to keep Naji in close.
Naji wants to control from the top but Spar keeps moving.
Naji postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Spar looking for a sweep. Not yet Spar, not yet.
Spar looking to control.

Spar is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Spar throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Spar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Naji content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naji stopping the sweep attempt from Spar.
Abdul Rashid Naji overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
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 working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Naji working some strikes from top position.

Spar is rocked!
Spar looking for a sweep. Not yet Spar, not yet.
Spar is still in real trouble! Can Naji finish him?
Naji slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Naji content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Naji wants to pass the guard but Spar is keeping the position.
Naji arches his back and unloads with a massive left and a right! Spar's eyes roll back into his head, he's out cold! The ref dives in to stop the fight - wow, they were hard shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Abdul Rashid Naji!
Abdul Rashid Naji retains his super heavyweight title!
A very excited looking Abdul Rashid Naji made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.