PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Junior Brandon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Madhaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brandon comes into the arena with Life Is Beautiful blaring out of the sound system. Madhaki has chosen Fela Kuti - Let's Start as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Brandon
vs
Madhaki

178 cm
35
215 lbs
12 - 14 - 0

189 cm
28
215 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

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 12 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Junior Brandon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Josh Madhaki!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brandon fails with the takedown.
Madhaki lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Brandon at a distance.
Madhaki shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Brandon eats them both and turns towards Madhaki to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Madhaki tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Brandon was well out of range. Poor timing from Madhaki.
Brandon fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Madhaki keeps Brandon at a distance using the push kick.
Brandon goes for a double leg but Madhaki avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Madhaki continues to drive forward.
As Brandon backs off Madhaki throws a huge counter combo but Brandon manages to avoid it all.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Junior Brandon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Brandon looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Brandon trying to control the position from guard on top but Madhaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Brandon tries to free his leg and advance position but Madhaki is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Madhaki has his hands on Brandon's head, controlling the position.
Brandon passes Madhaki's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Brandon looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Brandon's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Brandon is looking to pass Madhaki's guard but actually Madhaki recovers to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Brandon accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Madhaki can't keep his opponent in guard - Brandon advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Brandon controlling the pace.
Brandon stalling away here and it's allowed Madhaki to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Brandon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Madhaki is keeping the position for now.
Brandon seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Brandon wants to clinch
and Madhaki counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Brandon thinking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Brandon manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Madhaki on his heels. He'll look to pass Madhaki's guard now, I'm sure.

Brandon stands up and waves to Madhaki to follow him.
Madhaki gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Brandon counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Brandon controlling the action here.
Madhaki is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Brandon decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Madhaki swings for the body but Brandon moves out of range.
Brandon is looking to counter with a body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Brandon dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Good shot there by Madhaki.
Brandon needs to keep his hands up - Madhaki had a free shot at his head there.
Madhaki tried to score with a low kick but Brandon checks it.
Brandon tries to clinch but Madhaki moves out of range.
A big left from Brandon misses.
Madhaki slaps away a takedown attempt from Brandon, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Madhaki misses with a body shot.
Madhaki connects with a body shot that sends Brandon's belly button to the back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Madhaki lands a body shot.
Madhaki connects with a nice looking jab.
Josh Madhaki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Brandon takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Madhaki feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Brandon's calf.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot by Madhaki.
Madhaki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Madhaki leaves Brandon with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Brandon throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Madhaki tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Brandon is in Madhaki's guard.
Madhaki keeping full guard, as Brandon tries to pass.
Madhaki keeping moving, preventing Brandon from controlling successfully.
Brandon engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Madhaki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Madhaki controlling Brandon's posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Brandon misses with a takedown attempt
letting Madhaki counter with a right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Junior Brandon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Brandon doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Madhaki counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Madhaki, as that shot connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Madhaki misses with a wild body shot.
Brandon misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Brandon backing away here, and Madhaki unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Madhaki tries to land a leg kick but Brandon saw it coming and moves away.
Brandon moves out of range of the body kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Madhaki.
Brandon throws a shot from downtown. Madhaki moves away and avoids it.
Madhaki stuffs the takedown.
Brandon misses with a straight left.
Madhaki sizes up Brandon with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Brandon keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Brandon throws a series of punches but Madhaki avoids them all with ease.
Madhaki looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Madhaki.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Brandon.
Madhaki looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Madhaki misses with a body kick.
Brandon feinted with a counter takedown.
Madhaki digs a good hook to Brandon's body.

Brandon takes the fight into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A frustrated look appears on Madhaki's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Madhaki taking a breather.
Madhaki has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
The referee is keeping an eye on Madhaki - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Madhaki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Madhaki throws a shot from downtown. Brandon moves away and avoids it.
Left hook, right uppercut from Madhaki.

It looks like Junior Brandon has been cut.

Madhaki gets tackled into the cage by Brandon. Brandon maintains the clinch.

Brandon jumps guard and drags Madhaki to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Brandon is controlling Madhaki's posture.
Brandon looking to hit a scissor sweep but Madhaki is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Madhaki slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brandon trying to control the position here.
Madhaki trying to control but Brandon is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Brandon is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Nice uppercut lands for Madhaki. That snapped Brandon's head back.
Brandon takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Brandon shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Madhaki but Madhaki pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Brandon moves into range and clinches up with Madhaki.
Good body shot from Madhaki.
A head punch on the inside from Madhaki fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Brandon decides to pull guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Brandon holds on and takes a little breather.
We've been hearing good reports from Brandon's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Madhaki stays in close to Brandon's body and controls the position.
Brandon is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Madhaki dives into side control.
Brandon might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Brandon is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brandon is trying to control Madhaki's posture but Madhaki avoids it.
Madhaki is looking to take a break and control but Brandon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Brandon is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Madhaki's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Madhaki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Madhaki has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Madhaki!
During a confident post fight interview, Josh Madhaki thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.