PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Merg Zwafigan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Muhamad Alli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Zwafigan
vs
Alli

191 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
23
214 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

generic brand
generic brand

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Merg Zwafigan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Muhamad Alli!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alli has managed to clinch.

Zwafigan is trying to trip Alli. He has hold of a leg but Alli is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Zwafigan persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Alli looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Zwafigan trying to control but Alli is working from the bottom.
Alli working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zwafigan.
Alli not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Alli throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Zwafigan wants to pass the guard but Alli is keeping the position.
Alli looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alli has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zwafigan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zwafigan wants to control from the top but Alli keeps moving.
Zwafigan postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Zwafigan throwing strikes from guard but Alli blocks nicely.

Alli has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zwafigan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zwafigan trying to control the position from guard on top but Alli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zwafigan postures up in Alli's guard and throws a big left but Alli blocks it.
Zwafigan trying to stand up but can't free himself from Alli's guard.
Zwafigan wants to control from the top but Alli keeps moving.
Alli will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Zwafigan trying to control but Alli is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alli is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alli has a closed guard, preventing Zwafigan from standing up.
Zwafigan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Alli ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zwafigan moves away.
Muhamad Alli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alli throws out a loose jab but Zwafigan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Alli misses with a wild body shot.
Zwafigan checks a low kick from Alli.
Alli fails in his attempt to clinch.

Alli closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Zwafigan to the mat! Zwafigan manages to get full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alli won't allow Zwafigan to sweep him here.

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.
Zwafigan can't keep his opponent in guard - Alli advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Zwafigan wants to control but Alli passes into side.
Alli advances to full mount.
Alli cracks Zwafigan with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muhamad Alli dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Zwafigan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Alli.
Zwafigan tries to land a front kick but Alli steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Alli shoots in and drives through. Zwafigan sprawls well.
Zwafigan tries to bum rush Alli with a series of wild strikes but Alli uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The fighters circling - Alli throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Alli shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Zwafigan as he jumps to the side.
Alli misses with a straight left.

Zwafigan bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Alli is looking to regain half guard here but Zwafigan keeps moving and retains side control.
Zwafigan wants to stand but Alli has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
Alli trying to keep a closed guard but Zwafigan is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alli keeping full guard, as Zwafigan tries to pass.

Alli looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Zwafigan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Alli on the ground.
Zwafigan trying to control the position from guard on top but Alli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zwafigan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two 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.
Zwafigan wants to get up but he can't break Alli's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Zwafigan controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Zwafigan scoring with punches to the head and body.
Alli throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Alli trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Zwafigan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Alli trying to control the position.
Alli is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zwafigan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Alli is looking for a triangle but Zwafigan pushes his legs off easily.
Alli throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Zwafigan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Alli escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zwafigan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Alli looking for a guillotine here but Zwafigan defends easily.
Zwafigan wants to control from the top but Alli keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muhamad Alli showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Zwafigan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alli throws a hook but Zwafigan blocks it.

Alli changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Zwafigan looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Alli is looking to take a break and control but Zwafigan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Zwafigan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zwafigan tries to buck Alli off but Alli is having none of it.
Alli working the ground and pound but Zwafigan is defending the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zwafigan can't do much from the bottom here.
Zwafigan is trying to improve his position.

Alli wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zwafigan, who protects the arm well.
Alli takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Alli wants to control but Zwafigan is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Alli working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Zwafigan tries to control but Alli manages to take his back.
Muhamad Alli has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zwafigan trying to control but not successfully.
Zwafigan tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zwafigan is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Alli gets his way!
Zwafigan trying to control the position but Alli manages to sink in the hooks.

Zwafigan is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Zwafigan tries to roll but Alli sticks to his back.
Merg Zwafigan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zwafigan controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Alli is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Zwafigan has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Zwafigan trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

And that's the end of the fight!
Muhamad Alli comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Alli winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Muhamad Alli!