PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Haji Muakbar (ranked 6862 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate Freeman (ranked 3835 p4p, 0 weight class). Muakbar comes to the cage accompanied by That Punjabi Jay-Z song. Freeman has chosen Old Firm Casuals - Better start running as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Muakbar
vs
Freeman

171 cm
48
192 lbs
41 - 33 - 2

188 cm
30
194 lbs
16 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
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 - 33 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Haji Muakbar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Nate Freeman!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Muakbar misses with an uppercut
and Freeman counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A shot to the body from Muakbar misses
letting Freeman counter with a right hand.

Muakbar instigates a clinch.
Muakbar misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Muakbar goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Freeman working hard to break the clinch.
Muakbar keeps control of Freeman as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Freeman wants to break the clinch but can't.
A short left from Muakbar.

Muakbar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Muakbar throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Muakbar misses with a lunging right hand
and Muakbar takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Muakbar looks to score with a jab to the body but Freeman is just out of range.
Despite the aggression on Freeman's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Good standup being displayed there by Muakbar as he connects with a hook.

Muakbar fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Freeman, pushing him back against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Muakbar keeps control of Freeman as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Freeman's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Freeman tries to break free but Muakbar pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman blocks a body shot from Muakbar.
Muakbar has Freeman pressed against the cage, preventing Freeman from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Muakbar lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Freeman backwards.
Muakbar lands a body punch.

Muakbar gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Muakbar postures up in Freeman's guard and throws a big left but Freeman blocks it.
Muakbar with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Muakbar has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Muakbar works over Freeman with some ground and pound from guard.
Muakbar makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Muakbar postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Muakbar throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Muakbar accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Our spies down at at Elite Gym inform us that Freeman has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Muakbar is looking to work some ground and pound but Freeman has wrist control.
Freeman really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Muakbar. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Muakbar in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Muakbar is in close to Freeman's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Muakbar drops back looking for a leg! Freeman is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Freeman manages to kick Muakbar off! Muakbar jumps back into Freeman's guard.
Freeman trying to control the position here.
Freeman trying to control the position.
Muakbar throws a big elbow that misses.
Muakbar preventing the sweep.
Muakbar throwing strikes from guard but Freeman blocks nicely.
Muakbar postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Muakbar throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Muakbar accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Muakbar trying to control the position from guard on top but Freeman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Muakbar accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Muakbar postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Muakbar throws an elbow that misses. Freeman uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Muakbar's guard. Nice move by Freeman!

Muakbar pulls Freeman in close to his closed guard and prevents Freeman from doing any damage or advancing position.

Freeman gets to his feet. Muakbar looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Muakbar walks into a left hand.
Freeman avoids the body shot from Muakbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muakbar gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Freeman.
Muakbar throws a big shot that misses.
Freeman throws out a counter right but Muakbar avoids it with no problem.
Muakbar getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Muakbar slips a jab from Freeman.
Muakbar misses with a series of wild punches.
Muakbar throws a hook but Freeman blocks it.
Muakbar pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Muakbar just misses with a punch to the body.
Freeman appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Muakbar throws a combination. Freeman tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Muakbar throws a right hand that misses
and Freeman counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice jab there from Muakbar.

Freeman is rocked!
Muakbar lands an uppercut, right on the button! Freeman tumbles backwards into the cage, staring vacantly into space! He's got no idea where he is, who he is or what day it is... Poor guy.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:51 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Haji Muakbar!
During a confident post fight interview, Haji Muakbar thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
In defeat, Nate Freeman stepped up to the mic, saying 'I'm glad the belt went to a fellow LOD member, unfortunately it wasn't me tonight. Sorry to disappoint my fans!'.