PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mohammad Mohammad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bob Backlund (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mohammad Mohammad has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Mohammad
vs
Backlund

181 cm
33
175 lbs
14 - 7 - 2

189 cm
24
197 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry)

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 14 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Mohammad Mohammad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bob Backlund!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Konstantin Menshow and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slapping leg kick lands for Mohammad.
Mohammad looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Backlund scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Backlund is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mohammad doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Backlund.
Backlund thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mohammad's head.
Backlund not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Backlund thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mohammad's head.
Mohammad taking some punishment here, with Backlund in his half guard.
Backlund winds up and cracks Mohammad with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Mohammad is defending against the submission attempts here by Backlund.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Backlund lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Backlund seems to be working for a kimura but Mohammad defends the submission attempt.
Mohammad has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Backlund is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Backlund tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mohammad knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Backlund is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mohammad doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Backlund.
Backlund thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Backlund seems to be looking for submissions.

Backlund is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mohammad sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Backlund is working for a submission of some sort.
Backlund passes to full mount!
Mohammad is controlling an arm, preventing Backlund from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Backlund lands a big shot there that rocks Mohammad but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Backlund postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Mohammad looks a forlorn figure.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Backlund has control of Mohammad's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Mohammad regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Backlund looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Backlund has control of Mohammad's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Mohammad regains control of the situation pretty easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mohammad throws a half hearted mid kick.

Backlund gets the takedown into side control.
Bob Backlund has got the better of the ground game so far.

Backlund goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Mohammad rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Backlund's guard! Nice work there by Mohammad!
Mohammad wants to control from the top but Backlund keeps moving.

Backlund is looking to cinch up a triangle. Mohammad throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Backlund's body to avoid the submission. Backlund has instead reached around Mohammad's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Backlund arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Bob Backlund!
After the fight, Bob Backlund was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.