PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Underestimated Dillashaw Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). al-Baghdadi kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Till I Collapse - Eminem Feat. Nate Dogg. 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.

Bakr al-Baghdadi
vs
Dillashaw Junior

178 cm
32
155 lbs
24 - 16 - 0

169 cm
31
153 lbs
23 - 19 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition
Hellbent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Underestimated Dillashaw Junior!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

al-Baghdadi moves into the clinch.
Dillashaw Junior working aggressively here.
Dillashaw Junior misses with some punches.
Dillashaw Junior managing to block the knees to the body from al-Baghdadi.
al-Baghdadi lands a left hand that snaps the head of Dillashaw Junior backwards.
al-Baghdadi blocking some punches.
Dillashaw Junior misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from al-Baghdadi.
We've been informed that Dillashaw Junior has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

al-Baghdadi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Underestimated Dillashaw Junior seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
al-Baghdadi scores with a hook to the body. Dillashaw Junior takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
al-Baghdadi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dillashaw Junior.
Dillashaw Junior pivots, looking for a leg kick but al-Baghdadi is out of range and Dillashaw Junior settles back down.
It looked like al-Baghdadi was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
al-Baghdadi cracks the inside of Dillashaw Junior's front leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dillashaw Junior moves into range and connects with a jab.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Dillashaw Junior.
al-Baghdadi tries to land a front kick but Dillashaw Junior steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Dillashaw Junior closes the distance and pushes al-Baghdadi back into the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dillashaw Junior digs a right hand underneath al-Baghdadi's ribcage. al-Baghdadi let out a lung full of air as it connected.
al-Baghdadi tries to throw a body punch but Dillashaw Junior avoids it by throwing al-Baghdadi back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dillashaw Junior throws a blind hook that connects with the side of al-Baghdadis head.
Dillashaw Junior misses with a knee strike.
al-Baghdadi gets through Dillashaw Junior's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Dillashaw Junior throws a punch but it's blocked by al-Baghdadi.
Dillashaw Junior wants to break the clinch but can't.
Dillashaw Junior lands a body punch.
al-Baghdadi trying to control the position but instead, Dillashaw Junior has worked for underhooks and has pushed al-Baghdadi into the cage.
Dillashaw Junior misses with some punches.
al-Baghdadi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Dillashaw Junior tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dillashaw Junior missing with knees to the body.
Dillashaw Junior tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from al-Baghdadi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
al-Baghdadi misses with the head strike.
al-Baghdadi scores with a hook to the body.
Dillashaw Junior fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by al-Baghdadi.
Dillashaw Junior misses with some punches.
Dillashaw Junior tries to land a knee to the head but al-Baghdadi blocks with his arms.
al-Baghdadi prevents a body shot from Dillashaw Junior.
al-Baghdadi tries to throw a body punch but Dillashaw Junior avoids it by throwing al-Baghdadi back against the cage.
al-Baghdadi tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Dillashaw Junior avoids it.
al-Baghdadi misses with a knee strike.
Dillashaw Junior missing with knees to the body.
al-Baghdadi tries to throw a body punch but Dillashaw Junior avoids it by throwing al-Baghdadi back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
al-Baghdadi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Dillashaw Junior misses with a hook from the clinch.
al-Baghdadi misses with an elbow over the top.
Dillashaw Junior swings wildly with an uppercut but al-Baghdadi uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dillashaw Junior.
A head punch on the inside from Dillashaw Junior fails to land.
Dillashaw Junior being controlled against the cage.
Dillashaw Junior tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Dillashaw Junior swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Dillashaw Junior misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dillashaw Junior swings wildly with an uppercut but al-Baghdadi uses good head movement to avoid it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for al-Baghdadi.
A short left from al-Baghdadi.
Dillashaw Junior missing with knees to the body.
Still in the clinch, Dillashaw Junior scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
al-Baghdadi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Dillashaw Junior fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
al-Baghdadi blocks an uppercut.
Dillashaw Junior lands with a light punch inside.
Dillashaw Junior tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Dillashaw Junior has a couple of punches blocked by al-Baghdadi.
Good body shot from Dillashaw Junior.
Dillashaw Junior fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Dillashaw Junior goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dillashaw Junior misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dillashaw Junior avoiding damage as al-Baghdadi throws knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dillashaw Junior working some nice short punches in the clinch.
al-Baghdadi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
al-Baghdadi can't find room to land a body shot as Dillashaw Junior controls the action.
Dillashaw Junior swings wildly with an uppercut but al-Baghdadi uses good head movement to avoid it.
al-Baghdadi blocks an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Underestimated Dillashaw Junior dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Dillashaw Junior doesn't manage to clinch there - al-Baghdadi circles away.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
al-Baghdadi misses with a kick to the body.
Dillashaw Junior throws a nice inside leg kick.
al-Baghdadi throws a quick inside leg kick.
al-Baghdadi moves out of range of the leg kick from Dillashaw Junior.
Dillashaw Junior misses with a low kick.
Dillashaw Junior throws an ugly left hook that misses
and al-Baghdadi counters with a straight right hand.
Dillashaw Junior throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dillashaw Junior lands a right hook to the body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Dillashaw Junior lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and al-Baghdadi has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from al-Baghdadi and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
al-Baghdadi keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
al-Baghdadi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Dillashaw Junior throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A little feinted left hand from al-Baghdadi on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Dillashaw Junior avoids the head kick by al-Baghdadi.
A low kick from Dillashaw Junior misses
and al-Baghdadi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Dillashaw Junior takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is winning the standup battle so far.
al-Baghdadi lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Dillashaw Junior. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Dillashaw Junior.
Dillashaw Junior moves out of range as al-Baghdadi throws a body kick.
Dillashaw Junior throws an overhand right that lands on al-Baghdadi's shoulder, as al-Baghdadi tries to avoid the shot.
al-Baghdadi tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Dillashaw Junior uses good head movement to avoid the hook from al-Baghdadi.
Dillashaw Junior looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Dillashaw Junior chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Some bone on bone action there as al-Baghdadi checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from al-Baghdadi. Dillashaw Junior shrugs it off though.
Dillashaw Junior misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dillashaw Junior buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Dillashaw Junior misses the target.
Dillashaw Junior ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by al-Baghdadi.
Dillashaw Junior misses the jab.
Dillashaw Junior connects with a solid leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
al-Baghdadi throws an off balance right hand
and Dillashaw Junior counters with a nice kick to the body.
Dillashaw Junior throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by al-Baghdadi.
al-Baghdadi misses with a hook. Dillashaw Junior ducked under it nicely.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Dillashaw Junior! But no joy.
Dillashaw Junior wants to clinch up but al-Baghdadi keeps it at a distance.
al-Baghdadi connects with a jab.
A lazy left from Dillashaw Junior finds it's target.
al-Baghdadi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dillashaw Junior.
Dillashaw Junior slips under a jab.
al-Baghdadi swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Dillashaw Junior to counter with a crisp jab.
Dillashaw Junior has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
al-Baghdadi throws a head kick but Dillashaw Junior moves out of range.
Dillashaw Junior appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Dillashaw Junior checks a leg kick.
al-Baghdadi misses with a hook
and Dillashaw Junior counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Dillashaw Junior fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but al-Baghdadi is out of range.
Dillashaw Junior lands a jab.
al-Baghdadi swings away with a body shot that misses
and Dillashaw Junior counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dillashaw Junior throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
al-Baghdadi lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
al-Baghdadi with a jab.
A slow jab from al-Baghdadi misses its intended target.
Dillashaw Junior on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A solid leg kick lands there for al-Baghdadi.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Dillashaw Junior. al-Baghdadi shrugs it off though.
Dillashaw Junior misses the body punch
and al-Baghdadi counters with a stiff right hand.
al-Baghdadi scores with the left hand. Dillashaw Junior knows he should have avoided that one.
A good leg kick by al-Baghdadi.
al-Baghdadi lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A low kick from al-Baghdadi misses
and Dillashaw Junior counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. al-Baghdadi is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Dillashaw Junior is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
al-Baghdadi throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Dillashaw Junior counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dillashaw Junior takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Dillashaw Junior throws a low kick but al-Baghdadi avoids it.
al-Baghdadi moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Dillashaw Junior attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
al-Baghdadi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
al-Baghdadi misses with a kick to the body.
Dillashaw Junior moves out of range of the leg kick from al-Baghdadi.
al-Baghdadi swats away the attempt to clinch by Dillashaw Junior.
al-Baghdadi takes a jab right on the kisser.
Dillashaw Junior is looking to chop away at al-Baghdadi's legs.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
al-Baghdadi on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dillashaw Junior. al-Baghdadi does a little dance to reset his feet.
A quick step to the side and al-Baghdadi tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dillashaw Junior misses with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Underestimated Dillashaw Junior will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Dillashaw Junior avoids the body shot from al-Baghdadi.
Dillashaw Junior tries a low kick but al-Baghdadi avoids it.
al-Baghdadi takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Dillashaw Junior tries to clinch up.
al-Baghdadi sizes up Dillashaw Junior with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
al-Baghdadi goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Dillashaw Junior ducks down and throws a hook to the body but al-Baghdadi moves away.
al-Baghdadi tried to counter with a leg kick but Dillashaw Junior avoided it.
Dillashaw Junior dodges the punch combination from al-Baghdadi.
Dillashaw Junior moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice leg kick lands there from Dillashaw Junior.
Dillashaw Junior is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dillashaw Junior tries a low kick but al-Baghdadi avoids it.
Dillashaw Junior shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dillashaw Junior lands with a nice body kick.
Dillashaw Junior looks to land a left hand but al-Baghdadi moved out of range nicely.
Dillashaw Junior misses with a lunging right hand
enabling al-Baghdadi to counter with a crisp jab.
al-Baghdadi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A bone on bone clash there as Dillashaw Junior blocks the leg kick.
A little jabbing left from Dillashaw Junior on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Dillashaw Junior takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Dillashaw Junior scores with the left hand. al-Baghdadi knows he should have avoided that one.
al-Baghdadi's corner calls for a 1-2. al-Baghdadi obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A slow jab from al-Baghdadi misses its intended target.
Dillashaw Junior was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
al-Baghdadi is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Dillashaw Junior looks for the body kick but al-Baghdadi saw that one coming.
al-Baghdadi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Dillashaw Junior defending well as al-Baghdadi loads up on a big left hand.
al-Baghdadi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Dillashaw Junior connects with a nice looking jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
al-Baghdadi stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Dillashaw Junior.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dillashaw Junior scores with a jab to the body.
Dillashaw Junior lands a nice shot to the body.
Dillashaw Junior keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from al-Baghdadi.
A low kick from Dillashaw Junior misses
and al-Baghdadi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Dillashaw Junior misses with a low kick.
As Dillashaw Junior backs away, al-Baghdadi returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
al-Baghdadi ducks under a wild hook from Dillashaw Junior.
al-Baghdadi is looking to slow Dillashaw Junior down with leg kicks.
al-Baghdadi throws a chopping leg kick but Dillashaw Junior manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Dillashaw Junior misses with a few strikes there.
Dillashaw Junior tries to land a leg kick but al-Baghdadi saw it coming and moves away.
al-Baghdadi stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Dillashaw Junior.
A low kick from Dillashaw Junior is predictable there
enabling al-Baghdadi to counter with a crisp jab.
al-Baghdadi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Dillashaw Junior can pounce on him.
al-Baghdadi thuds his right hand into Dillashaw Junior's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dillashaw Junior swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice defenses there by Dillashaw Junior.
al-Baghdadi throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Dillashaw Junior buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
al-Baghdadi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fighters circling - Dillashaw Junior throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Dillashaw Junior throws a big shot that misses.
al-Baghdadi swings widly with a right hand
and Dillashaw Junior counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Underestimated Dillashaw Junior is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Dillashaw Junior slips under a jab from al-Baghdadi.
Dillashaw Junior throws a head kick but al-Baghdadi moves out of range.
al-Baghdadi is looking to counter punch.
al-Baghdadi listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Dillashaw Junior fakes the leg kick and cracks al-Baghdadi in the body.
A punch combination from Dillashaw Junior misses.
al-Baghdadi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Dillashaw Junior sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A chopping leg kick lands by al-Baghdadi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dillashaw Junior throws a big shot that misses.
al-Baghdadi misses with an uppercut. Dillashaw Junior saw that one coming.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dillashaw Junior bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
al-Baghdadi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dillashaw Junior.
Dillashaw Junior uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from al-Baghdadi.
Dillashaw Junior looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
al-Baghdadi throws a leg kick that is checked
and Dillashaw Junior cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dillashaw Junior lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Dillashaw Junior defending well as al-Baghdadi loads up on a big left hand.
Dillashaw Junior swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Dillashaw Junior throws a series of punches but al-Baghdadi avoids them all with ease.
Dillashaw Junior takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
That kick from al-Baghdadi tenderised Dillashaw Junior's leg. Dillashaw Junior is trying to keep his angry face on.
Dillashaw Junior moves forwards but al-Baghdadi connects with a nice, crisp jab.
al-Baghdadi misses with a looping left.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Well Dillashaw Junior has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

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