PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ali Pasha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Cuervo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pasha
vs
Cuervo

162 cm
30
131 lbs
18 - 10 - 2

172 cm
26
156 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 18 - 10 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Ali Pasha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jose Cuervo!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Alec Ball and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cuervo lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Cuervo is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Pasha fails with a takedown attempt.
Cuervo throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Nice body punch from Cuervo.
Cuervo tries a low kick but Pasha avoids it.
Cuervo has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Pasha.
Pasha tries to close the distance and clinch but Cuervo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Pasha rushes Cuervo and presses him up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pasha.
A nice right hand lands inside from Pasha.
Pasha blocks an uppercut.

Cuervo breaks from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Pasha closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Pasha is looking for a kimura here.
Cuervo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pasha is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pasha wants to take a breather but Cuervo is having none of it.
Pasha controlling the action here.
Pasha not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cuervo trying to hold on to Pasha's head to control him but Pasha postures up.
Pasha tries to pass to full mount but Cuervo defends it.

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.

Pasha is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cuervo sees it coming and defends easily.
Cuervo wants to get back to his feet.

Pasha wants to work for an arm triangle but Cuervo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Pasha lands strikes from half guard.

Pasha is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Cuervo wants to improve his position but Pasha is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pasha is keen to just control but Cuervo is a slippery customer.
Pasha perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Cuervo is looking to improve his position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Pasha tries to clinch but Cuervo is having none of it.
Pasha moves out of range of the body kick from Cuervo.

Pasha closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Cuervo quickly recovers to half guard.
Pasha content to control rather than advance.
Cuervo trying to hold on to Pasha's head to control him but Pasha postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pasha throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cuervo wants to improve his position but Pasha is controlling well.
Pasha is trying to control the action in half guard but Cuervo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Pasha is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Pasha stops Cuervo from getting back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pasha trying to control from half guard but Cuervo is working away.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Cuervo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ali Pasha will probably get the nod.
That's time! Pasha's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A bone on bone clash there as Pasha blocks the leg kick.
Pasha uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cuervo.
It looked like Pasha wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Cuervo lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Pasha shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cuervo as he avoids it easily.
Pasha tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pasha takes one on the button.
Cuervo will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Pasha!
Nice body kick there by Cuervo.
Pasha tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cuervo defends well and Pasha ends up having to push Cuervo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Cuervo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Pasha.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ali Pasha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cuervo misses with a wild body shot.
Pasha is looking for a counter combo.
Cuervo throws an overhand right that lands on Pasha's shoulder, as Pasha tries to avoid the shot.
Pasha wants to clinch up but Cuervo keeps it at a distance.

Pasha instigates a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pasha has a couple of punches blocked by Cuervo.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cuervo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cuervo lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Pasha moves out of range of the body kick.
Cuervo misses with a kick to the body.
Pasha shoots in looking for a takedown but Cuervo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Pasha's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Pasha tries to clinch there but Cuervo circles away.
Pasha tries to clinch but Cuervo is having none of it.
Cuervo is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Nice uppercut lands for Pasha. That snapped Cuervo's head back.
Cuervo lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Cuervo misses with the body kick

and Pasha counters with a takedown into side control.
Cuervo tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A lull in the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cuervo is having to fend off submission attempts from Pasha, who is looking to sink in the choke. Pasha doesn't have the hooks in though and Cuervo manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
Pasha keeping moving, preventing Cuervo from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pasha trying to keep a closed guard but Cuervo is proving a slippery customer.
Cuervo working some strikes from top position.
Pasha is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ali Pasha overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pasha has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cuervo's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Pasha avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pasha is trying to control the position from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cuervo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cuervo is looking to work some ground and pound but Pasha has wrist control.
Cuervo trying to control the position from guard on top but Pasha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pasha looking for subs off his back but Cuervo has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Pasha manages to get to full guard.
Cuervo with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pasha tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Pasha is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cuervo is aware though and is defending well.

Pasha has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cuervo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Cuervo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Pasha takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Cuervo takes a swing at Pasha's ribcage but misses.
As Cuervo looks to move away, Pasha throws a big counter combo but Cuervo just gets out of the way.
Cuervo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Pasha lands a jab to Cuervo's midsection.
Cuervo bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Cuervo has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Pasha shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cuervo defends it nicely.
Good leg kick by Cuervo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Cuervo.
Cuervo just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromPasha.
Pasha tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cuervo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pasha moves out of range of the body kick from Cuervo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pasha shoots in for a takedown but Cuervo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Pasha tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cuervo defends well and Pasha ends up having to push Cuervo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ali Pasha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cuervo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pasha takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Pasha fails to land the takedown.
Cuervo flicks out a counter leg kick but Pasha steps away.
Pasha avoids a kick to the body.
Jose Cuervo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pasha misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cuervo was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Cuervo misses with a series of wild punches.
It looked like Pasha wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Pasha clinches with his opponent.
Pasha scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A nice left hand lands by Pasha.
Pasha misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pasha misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pasha.
Cuervo is looking to break free of the clinch but Pasha has double underhooks.
A short body shot lands from Cuervo as the two fighters clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pasha.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cuervo.
Pasha fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cuervo.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Cuervo struggles to land a body shot inside as Pasha controls his hands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cuervo trying to control the position but instead, Pasha has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cuervo into the cage.

Cuervo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cuervo wants to slow Pasha down by chopping away at his legs.
Cuervo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cuervo scores with a push kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cuervo slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pasha looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cuervo let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Cuervo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pasha tries to clinch but Cuervo is having none of it.
Pasha takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Pasha misses with a takedown attempt - Cuervo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
No luck for Pasha with that takedown attempt.

Pasha gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Pasha lands a right hand.
Still in the clinch, Pasha scores with a nice short uppercut.
Pasha misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cuervo tries a body shot but Pasha blocks it.
Cuervo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pasha swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cuervo avoiding damage.
Cuervo tries to break the clinch but Pasha is controlling the position.
Cuervo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Cuervo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cuervo misses with a hook

and Pasha moves into the clinch.
Pasha working aggressively here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pasha fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cuervo blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Cuervo breaks the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Cuervo as Pasha shoots in.
Pasha uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cuervo.
Pasha closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cuervo circles away.
Cuervo scoring well with a low kick there.
Pasha shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cuervo as he avoids it easily.
Cuervo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Pasha checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Cuervo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cuervo 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Cuervo!
Jose Cuervo was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
In defeat, Ali Pasha stepped up to the mic, saying 'He was the better fighter tonight. But I will be back'.