PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Haji Muakbar (ranked 4252 p4p, 473 weight class) and The Artist (ranked 5464 p4p, 558 weight class). Muakbar comes to the cage accompanied by That Punjabi Jay-Z song. Artist has chosen Limp Bizkit / Break Stuff as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Muakbar
vs
Artist

171 cm
48
192 lbs
41 - 32 - 2

182 cm
30
192 lbs
18 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 41 - 32 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Haji Muakbar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, The Artist!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Steve Smith and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Artist getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Artist scores with a takedown into Muakbar's guard.
Muakbar is controlling Artist's posture.
Artist scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Artist postures up in Muakbar's guard and throws a big left but Muakbar blocks it.
Muakbar managing to control the position.
Muakbar 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Muakbar trying to control the position here.
Artist trying to control the position from guard on top but Muakbar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Muakbar is trying to keep Artist in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muakbar wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Artist throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Muakbar works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Artist working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Artist trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Muakbar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Artist with a flurry of punches that miss.
Artist distracts Muakbar with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Artist working his ground and pound in the gym.
Muakbar utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Artist keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Muakbar's head.
Artist with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Artist is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Artist postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Artist landing with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Artist trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Artist throws a big right hand that misses.
Artist wants to control from the top but Muakbar keeps moving.
Muakbar wants to sweep but no luck.
Artist looking to sit in guard and control but Muakbar gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Muakbar throws a strike but Artist rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Artist throwing strikes from guard but Muakbar blocks nicely.
Artist throws a strike but Muakbar rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Muakbar is looking to work some ground and pound but Artist has wrist control.
Muakbar throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Artist works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Muakbar wants to control from the top but Artist keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muakbar missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Artist has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Muakbar doesn't defend quickly enough and Artist has managed to lock this one up! Can Muakbar escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Artist on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:29 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). The Artist!
A relieved looking The Artist thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
In defeat, Haji Muakbar stepped up to the mic, saying 'the roid rage just didn't kick in this time'.