PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jhon Lineker (ranked 2327 p4p, 222 weight class) and Irshaad Sayed (ranked 2311 p4p, 220 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lineker
vs
Sayed

170 cm
24
148 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

173 cm
27
150 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jhon Lineker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Irshaad Sayed!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Lou da Vinci and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lineker is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sayed sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lineker is defended easily by Sayed.
Nice shot lands for Sayed.
Sayed stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sayed wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jhon Lineker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sayed lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Lineker looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Lineker closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sayed is trying to stand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sayed has one foot on Lineker's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Sayed scores with a decent looking hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lineker gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Sayed.
Sayed throws a body punch but Lineker moves out of range.
Lineker fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sayed stuffs the takedown attempt from Lineker. Lineker gets slowly back to his feet.
Sayed is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Sayed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sayed swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
No luck for Lineker with that takedown attempt.
It seemed like Sayed was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Lineker fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lineker fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sayed avoids it really well and circles away.
Lineker shoots in for a double leg but Sayed sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lineker closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sayed circles away.
Lineker fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sayed avoids it really well and circles away.
A combination from Sayed does no damage.
A head kick from Sayed lands but Lineker takes it in his stride.
Sayed connects with a leg kick. Lineker looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lineker.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Lineker tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Jhon Lineker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lineker changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sayed tries to avoid it but Lineker manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sayed to the ground. Sayed escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sayed throws a series of strikes that have Lineker backpedaling.
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!
Sayed will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lineker showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sayed.
Lineker looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Lineker fails to land the takedown.
Sayed is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Sayed throws a sloppy head kick and Lineker moves out of range easily.
Sayed lands a head kick. Lineker smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Sayed connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Sayed swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Lineker.
Lineker has a takedown stuffed.
Sayed scores with a sloppy right hand. Lineker should have avoided that one.
Irshaad Sayed is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lineker fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lineker tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sayed sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lineker somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lineker fails to land the takedown.
Sayed fails to land with a series of punches.
Lineker has his takedown stuffed
and Sayed counters with a nice uppercut.
Lineker blocks a head kick by Sayed.
Sayed lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Sayed gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lineker to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Lineker works over Sayed with some ground and pound from guard.

Sayed manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Sayed, right into the meat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sayed connects with a leg kick. Lineker looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A head kick misses from Sayed.

Lineker gets a takedown into half guard.
Lineker trying to mount his opponent but Sayed defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lineker wants to control but Sayed is keeping him busy.
Lineker prevents Sayed from standing back up.
Lineker throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lineker thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lineker sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sayed defending well though.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Sayed pushes Lineker off looking to stand but Lineker dives back in and keeps control.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lineker working the head and body with strikes.
Lineker landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Irshaad Sayed dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sayed moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Sayed lands with a shot to the body.
Lineker goes for a double leg but Sayed avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Sayed continues to drive forward.
Sayed swinging wildly here.
Sayed lands a really nice looking cross but Lineker seems unphased.
Sayed uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Sayed has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
A nice combination there by Sayed.
Lineker gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sayed counters with a nice uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sayed tries a head kick but it misses.
Sayed looks to land a combination but Lineker avoids it well.
Lineker tried to counter with a leg kick but Sayed avoided it.

Lineker closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Sayed is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Sayed takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lineker scores with a couple of short elbows.
Sayed is pushing Lineker's head away, looking to escape. Lineker manages to hold on to the position though.
Lineker cracks Sayed with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Lineker working the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sayed is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Lineker asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Lineker cracks Sayed with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Jhon Lineker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lineker connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Sayed some visible discomfort.
Sayed is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Lineker is controlling him well.

Sayed throws Lineker to one side and escapes!
Sayed delivers a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lineker shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Lineker's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Lineker 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.
Lineker working some strikes from top position.
Sayed really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lineker. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lineker makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Sayed pushes Lineker off and scrambles back to his feet.
Sayed thuds his right hand into Lineker's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sayed fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sayed tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sayed leaves Lineker with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jhon Lineker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sayed swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lineker feinted with a counter takedown.
Sayed works the jab nicely.
Sayed has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sayed swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lineker shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sayed as he jumps to the side.
Sayed misses with a straight right.
Sayed cracks Lineker with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Lineker with that takedown attempt.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sayed.
Sayed throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Lineker drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sayed is trying to buck Lineker off.
Sayed is working to avoid the ground and pound but Lineker connects with a decent elbow.
Lineker working the body and head with strikes.
Lineker cracks Sayed with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Lineker cracks Sayed with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Lineker working the head and body with strikes.
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!
Lineker lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Lineker lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lineker lands a nice forearm strike.
Sayed on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Sayed is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Lineker is controlling him well.
Sayed is not content to let Lineker control the position.
Sayed is trying to buck Lineker off.
Lineker lands a decent elbow from side control.
Sayed wants to get back to his feet but Lineker is dominant here and he's now got Sayed's back!
Lineker lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sayed grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.

Sayed is rocked!
Sayed wants to get back to his feet.
Sayed is still in real trouble! Can Lineker finish him?
Lineker lands a shot to the head.
Lineker gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Irshaad Sayed will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Lineker tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sayed sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lineker somewhat.

Lineker is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sayed's half guard.
Sayed seems to have recovered his senses.
Ground and pound from Lineker.
Lineker is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sayed is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Lineker scores with a couple of nice shots.
Sayed is looking to escape.
Ground and pound from Lineker.
Sayed avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lineker.
Lineker not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sayed has hold of Lineker's hands but Lineker slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sayed is trying to stand.
Lineker scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Lineker there.
Sayed pushes Lineker off looking to stand but Lineker dives back in and keeps control.
Lineker is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sayed pushes Lineker off looking to stand but Lineker dives back in and keeps control.
Lineker scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sayed wants to get back to his feet.

Sayed has one foot on Lineker's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Sayed lands with a kick to the temple. Lineker shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Lineker fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Sayed gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lineker to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Sayed pushes Lineker off and scrambles back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice takedown defense from Sayed. No joy for Lineker on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jhon Lineker. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lineker will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Lineker gets the takedown into side control.

Sayed throws Lineker to one side and escapes!
Lineker fails with a takedown attempt.
Sayed throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Sayed connects with a crisp jab.
Lineker shoots for a takedown but Sayed saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Some wild striking there from Sayed.
Sayed jabs Lineker right on the nose. Lineker blinks but takes it well.
Sayed throws a nice looking combination but Lineker bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lineker tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Sayed manages to circle out of the way.
Sayed lunges at Lineker with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Lineker's hand.
Lineker shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sayed as he jumps to the side.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Sayed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sayed rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lineker moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sayed slaps away a takedown attempt from Lineker, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sayed connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Lineker's hands.
Lineker looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Sayed throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sayed enables Lineker to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sayed manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sayed is looking to stand up but Lineker isn't so interested in that idea.
Lineker landing with the ground and pound.
Sayed wants to stand but Lineker is controlling the position.
Lineker cracks Sayed with a solid left hand.
Lineker is in close to Sayed's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sayed is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Lineker's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sayed can do anything to dispel that myth.
Lineker with a nice head shot there.
Sayed wants to stand and escape but Lineker is having none of it.
Lineker postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Lineker is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Irshaad Sayed is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sayed has momentary wrist control but Lineker slips an elbow through the middle.
Lineker lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sayed is looking to stand up but Lineker isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Irshaad Sayed comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sayed 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Irshaad Sayed!