PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Richard Batsbak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Malik Haruna Al Bu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Batsbak
vs
Haruna Al Bu

177 cm
24
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Richard Batsbak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Malik Haruna Al Bu!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Santiago Holmes and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Haruna Al Bu closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Batsbak did well to prevent Haruna Al Bu getting side control.
Batsbak wants to get back to full guard.

Batsbak actively working from the bottom here.
Haruna Al Bu thows a huge punch but Batsbak dodges it nicely.

Batsbak looking for submissions off his back.
Batsbak has hold of Haruna Al Bu's hands but Haruna Al Bu slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Haruna Al Bu is looking to take a break and control but Batsbak is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Batsbak looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Batsbak is not content to let Haruna Al Bu control the position.
Haruna Al Bu prevents Batsbak from improving his position.
Haruna Al Bu wants to control but Batsbak is keeping him busy.

Batsbak actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haruna Al Bu wants to pass the guard but Batsbak is defending well.

Batsbak actively working from the bottom here.
Haruna Al Bu is trying to control. Batsbak wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Haruna Al Bu wants to free his trapped foot but Batsbak is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Batsbak avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Haruna Al Bu.

Batsbak looking for submissions off his back.
Haruna Al Bu wants to lay and pray for a moment but Batsbak keeps working.
Batsbak keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Haruna Al Bu winds up and cracks Batsbak with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Batsbak actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Haruna Al Bu content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Haruna Al Bu should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Haruna Al Bu wants to lay and pray for a moment but Batsbak keeps working.
Haruna Al Bu really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Batsbak. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Batsbak looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Batsbak is breathing heavily.
Haruna Al Bu seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Batsbak does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Batsbak looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Haruna Al Bu pushes past his half guard into mount!
Batsbak can't escape the position.
Haruna Al Bu pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Batsbak sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Haruna Al Bu wants to lay and pray for a moment but Batsbak keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haruna Al Bu lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Haruna Al Bu lands a nice short elbow.
Haruna Al Bu slips a nice elbow through Batsbak's hands, connecting with Batsbak's forehead.
Ground and pound from Haruna Al Bu.

Haruna Al Bu stands up and beckons Batsbak to join him on the feet.

Haruna Al Bu shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Batsbak manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Haruna Al Bu trying to control the position from guard on top but Batsbak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Haruna Al Bu must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Haruna Al Bu wants to pass the guard but Batsbak is keeping the position.
Haruna Al Bu sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Batsbak escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Haruna Al Bu gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Haruna Al Bu pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Batsbak is keeping the position for now.

Batsbak had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Haruna Al Bu defends it easily.
Haruna Al Bu stopping the sweep attempt from Batsbak.

Haruna Al Bu is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Haruna Al Bu wants to control from the top but Batsbak keeps moving.
Haruna Al Bu looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malik Haruna Al Bu 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.

Haruna Al Bu drives through with a takedown into Batsbak's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Batsbak utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Haruna Al Bu trying to control but Batsbak is working from the bottom.
Haruna Al Bu postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Haruna Al Bu with a flurry of punches that miss.

Batsbak is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Haruna Al Bu has his hands clasped together but Batsbak extends and breaks Haruna Al Bu's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Batsbak.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Richard Batsbak!