PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Riyadh Al Azzawi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kareem Jabbar Iii (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Al Azzawi
vs
Jabbar Iii

188 cm
18
212 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

193 cm
18
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

GREEN!160

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Riyadh Al Azzawi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kareem Jabbar Iii!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, George Francis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Al Azzawi closes the distance and clinches.
Al Azzawi lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Kareem Jabbar Iii has been cut.
I was talking to Al Azzawi's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Jabbar Iii avoids the elbow strike from Al Azzawi, against the cage.
Jabbar Iii's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Jabbar Iii jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Al Azzawi walks away with a smile on his face. Jabbar Iii gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Jabbar Iii closes the distance and clinches.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Al Azzawi.
Al Azzawi misses with an elbow over the top.
Jabbar Iii blocks the elbow strike.
Jabbar Iii fails to pull guard.
Nice elbow from Al Azzawi.
Al Azzawi lands a nice elbow.
Al Azzawi comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Jabbar Iii is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Al Azzawi gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Riyadh Al Azzawi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kareem Jabbar Iii.
Al Azzawi lands a nice elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Al Azzawi lands an elbow inside that Jabbar Iii shrugs off.
Al Azzawi throws an elbow that misses.
Jabbar Iii takes an elbow to the temple.
Jabbar Iii blocks a body shot from Al Azzawi.
Al Azzawi lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Jabbar Iii looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Al Azzawi pushes off an throws an elbow but Jabbar Iii leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Azzawi lands a body punch.
Al Azzawi lands a body punch in the clinch.
Al Azzawi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Al Azzawi just misses with a elbow thrown towards Jabbar Iii's brow.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Al Azzawi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Al Azzawi lands an elbow inside that Jabbar Iii shrugs off.
Al Azzawi lands an elbow that stopped Jabbar Iii in his tracks for a moment.
Al Azzawi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Al Azzawi misses with an elbow over the top.
Jabbar Iii misses with a hook to the ribs.
Al Azzawi throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Al Azzawi comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Al Azzawi throws an elbow that misses.
Al Azzawi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Al Azzawi prevents the takedown attempt.
Al Azzawi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Jabbar Iii tries to pull guard but Al Azzawi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jabbar Iii can't find room to land a body shot as Al Azzawi controls the action.
Jabbar Iii fails to pull guard.
Al Azzawi lands a nice elbow.

That has opened up Kareem Jabbar Iii's cut even more.
Jabbar Iii takes an elbow to the forehead.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Al Azzawi can't find room to land a body shot as Jabbar Iii controls the action.
Al Azzawi gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Al Azzawi comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Al Azzawi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Jabbar Iii takes an elbow to the temple.
Jabbar Iii blocks an elbow strike.
Al Azzawi comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

The cut above Kareem Jabbar Iii's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Jabbar Iii is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Al Azzawi to keep the fight standing.
Al Azzawi creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Jabbar Iii's defenses.
Jabbar Iii wants to get back to striking at distance but Al Azzawi won't allow it.
Jabbar Iii blocks an elbow strike.
Al Azzawi looks to throw an elbow but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Al Azzawi just misses with a elbow thrown towards Jabbar Iii's brow.
Al Azzawi lands an elbow just above Jabbar Iii 's eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Azzawi creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Jabbar Iii's defenses.
Jabbar Iii tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Jabbar Iii has Al Azzawi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Al Azzawi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Jabbar Iii tries to pull guard but Al Azzawi won't allow it.
Al Azzawi lands an elbow that stopped Jabbar Iii in his tracks for a moment.
Al Azzawi lands an elbow inside.
Al Azzawi lands an elbow that stopped Jabbar Iii in his tracks for a moment.

Kareem Jabbar Iii's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Al Azzawi lands a damaging elbow.
Al Azzawi throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Jabbar Iii tries to pull guard but Al Azzawi won't allow it.
Jabbar Iii blocks an elbow strike from Al Azzawi.
Al Azzawi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Al Azzawi lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Al Azzawi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Kareem Jabbar Iii's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Riyadh Al Azzawi!
Our winner, Riyadh Al Azzawi, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.