PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kareem al Rashid (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonathan Devlin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think al Rashid might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Highlight Reel. Kareem al Rashid has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

al Rashid
vs
Devlin

178 cm
36
167 lbs
24 - 17 - 0

172 cm
30
160 lbs
12 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Zipp Zapp

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 17 - 0, fighting out of London, Kareem al Rashid!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 13 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jonathan Devlin!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Paul Aken and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Devlin sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Devlin misses with a low kick.
al Rashid throws a nice inside leg kick.

Devlin gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
al Rashid wants to pass the guard but Devlin is keeping the position.

al Rashid gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
al Rashid keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Devlin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

al Rashid gets in close and instigates a clinch.
al Rashid misses with a hook to the ribs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Devlin blocks a body shot from al Rashid.
al Rashid swings away with an uppercut that misses.
al Rashid blocks the elbow strike.
al Rashid tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Devlin throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
al Rashid misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
al Rashid is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Devlin is defending well.
al Rashid misses with a hook from the clinch.
Devlin throws an elbow but it's blocked.
al Rashid can't get the takedown.
al Rashid misses with a punch to the body.
Devlin creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
I was talking to al Rashid's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
al Rashid wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kareem al Rashid. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Devlin controlling the action here for a moment.
al Rashid digs a right hand underneath Devlin's ribcage. Devlin let out a lung full of air as it connected.
al Rashid misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Still in the clinch, al Rashid scores with a nice short uppercut.
al Rashid lands on the inside with an uppercut.
al Rashid lands a nice shot to the body.
Devlin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Devlin is trying to stall.
al Rashid blocks the elbow strike.
al Rashid tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Devlin avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Devlin looking to slow down the pace here.
al Rashid lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Devlin backwards.
Devlin lands an elbow inside that al Rashid shrugs off.
al Rashid fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Devlin is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice body punch from al Rashid.
al Rashid misses with a short punch on the inside.
Devlin stalling the fight.
al Rashid misses with a body punch.
al Rashid lands a shoulder strike.
Devlin misses with a body punch.
Devlin scores a nice knee to the body.
al Rashid throws a punch but it's blocked by Devlin.
Devlin has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. al Rashid seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Devlin can turn it around.
Devlin throws an elbow that misses.
al Rashid lands a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from al Rashid.
al Rashid avoids a wild elbow strike from Devlin.
al Rashid fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

al Rashid wants the takedown. Devlin is fighting it off but al Rashid persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Devlin's guard against the cage.
Devlin wants to stand up but al Rashid is controlling him.

al Rashid drops back looking for a leg! Devlin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Devlin manages to kick al Rashid off! al Rashid jumps back into Devlin's guard.
al Rashid trying to control the position from guard on top but Devlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
al Rashid trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

al Rashid gets to his feet - Devlin follows without any prompting.
Devlin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Devlin throws a right hand that al Rashid ducks under and follows up with a left that al Rashid also avoids with ease.
al Rashid with a body punch. A glancing blow.
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!
al Rashid throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Devlin is looking to slow al Rashid down with leg kicks.
Devlin throws a right hand that al Rashid ducks under and follows up with a left that al Rashid also avoids with ease.

Devlin forces al Rashid back against the cage and clinches.
Devlin misses with some punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Devlin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A short uppercut from al Rashid.
al Rashid lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kareem al Rashid dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Devlin lands a nice shot that snaps al Rashid's head back.
Devlin tries to close the distance and clinch but al Rashid swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Devlin misses the shot to the body.
Devlin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by al Rashid.
al Rashid circles away from the clinch attempt.

al Rashid gets a clinch.
al Rashid tries for a takedown. No joy.
al Rashid misses with some punches.
Devlin has al Rashid pushed against the cage.
al Rashid lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
al Rashid lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Devlin backwards.
al Rashid lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
al Rashid throws a punch but it's blocked by Devlin.
al Rashid lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Devlin backwards.
al Rashid misses with a shot to the kidneys.
al Rashid lands with a light punch inside.
Devlin is trying to maintain a safe position but al Rashid gets an underhook and turns Devlin into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
al Rashid goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
al Rashid misses with a punch to the body.
Devlin misses with some punches.
Devlin pushes al Rashid back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
al Rashid lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Devlin misses with an elbow over the top.
Devlin looking to slow down the pace here.
Devlin prevents a body shot from al Rashid.
Devlin throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
al Rashid scores with a hook to the body.
A nice left hand lands by al Rashid.
Devlin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for al Rashid.
Devlin throws a knee to the head but misses.
al Rashid takes an elbow to the forehead.
Devlin throws an elbow but it misses.
A nice left hand lands by al Rashid.
Devlin struggles to land a body shot inside as al Rashid controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Devlin softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
al Rashid misses with a hook to the ribs.
al Rashid scores a nice knee to the body.
Devlin blocks a body shot from al Rashid.
al Rashid throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Devlins head.
al Rashid has a couple of punches blocked by Devlin.
Devlin takes a shot to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, al Rashid creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
al Rashid lands a hook that snaps the head of Devlin backwards.
al Rashid working aggressively here.
A short left from al Rashid.
al Rashid struggles to land a body shot inside as Devlin controls his hands.
al Rashid presses Devlin against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
al Rashid lands a nice elbow.
Devlin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
al Rashid softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Devlin is rocked!
al Rashid tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Devlin is still on wobbly legs! Can al Rashid finish him?
al Rashid tries a knee to the head but Devlin blocks it.
al Rashid misses with a hook from the clinch.
Devlin blocks an uppercut.
al Rashid misses with a short punch on the inside.
al Rashid has a couple of punches blocked by Devlin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Devlin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from al Rashid fails to land.
al Rashid is leaning against Devlin and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Devlin seems to have recovered his senses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for al Rashid.
al Rashid tries to work over Devlin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
al Rashid struggles to land a body shot inside as Devlin controls his hands.
al Rashid lands with a right to the head.
al Rashid takes a shot to the head.
A hook to the body from al Rashid.
al Rashid misses with a hook to the ribs.
al Rashid scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Devlin prevents a takedown attempt there.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Devlin just misses with a elbow thrown towards al Rashid's brow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Devlin.
al Rashid dodges an elbow strike from Devlin.
Nice body punch from Devlin.
al Rashid can't find room to land a body shot as Devlin controls the action.
al Rashid lands an uppercut.
Devlin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
al Rashid lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A short left from al Rashid.
Devlin prevents a body shot from al Rashid.
With the fighters up against the cage, Devlin throws an elbow but misses.
Devlin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but al Rashid has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Devlin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
al Rashid lands with a short shot to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by al Rashid.
Come on Devlin - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Devlin throws an elbow that misses.
Devlin lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Devlin lands a nice knee to the body.
Devlin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. al Rashid is defending well for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Devlin lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Devlin lands a nice elbow.
al Rashid misses with a punch on the inside.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Devlin just misses with a elbow thrown towards al Rashid's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kareem al Rashid dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Devlin on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Devlin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and al Rashid counters with a nice leg kick.
al Rashid with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

al Rashid shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

al Rashid is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

al Rashid is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Devlin sees it coming and defends easily.

al Rashid is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Devlin is looking to escape.
al Rashid is looking to take a break and control but Devlin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

al Rashid wants to work for an arm triangle but Devlin is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

al Rashid is working for a submission of some sort.

al Rashid seems to be looking for submissions.
Jonathan Devlin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
al Rashid prevents Devlin from standing back up.

al Rashid is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Devlin is just riding it out for now. al Rashid eventually gives up the hold.

al Rashid is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Devlin still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Devlin has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
al Rashid manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

al Rashid is trying to work for a kimura but Devlin is defending well.
al Rashid wants to pass to mount but Devlin is defending the position.
Kareem al Rashid overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
al Rashid stops Devlin from getting back to his feet.

al Rashid is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kareem al Rashid is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Devlin looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

al Rashid is trying to work for a kimura but Devlin is defending well.

al Rashid 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.

al Rashid is working for a submission of some sort.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kareem al Rashid showed his dominance in that final round.
Well al Rashid has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kareem al Rashid!
Kareem al Rashid seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.