PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Leonard Campbell (ranked 6100 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ali Ajan (ranked 8701 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Campbell
vs
Ajan

169 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

155 cm
18
130 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Leonard Campbell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ali Ajan!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, William Gold and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ajan connects with a solid leg kick.
Ajan shoots in for a takedown but Campbell shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ajan shoots in for a double leg but Campbell sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ajan shoots in looking for a takedown. Campbell tries to sprawl out of it but Ajan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Campbell manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Campbell went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Leonard Campbell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ali Ajan.
Ajan misses with a takedown attempt - Campbell sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
As Ajan looks to move away, Campbell throws a big counter combo but Ajan just gets out of the way.
Ajan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Campbell sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ajan somewhat.
Ali Ajan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ajan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Campbell is fending him off so far but Ajan persists. Nope, Campbell circles away and we're back to standing.
Campbell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Campbell was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ajan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ajan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Campbell paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ajan is defended easily by Campbell.
Ajan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ajan avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ajan with a lazy takedown attempt
and Campbell counters with a solid body kick.
Campbell shoots for a takedown but Ajan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Campbell closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ajan avoids a wild elbow strike from Campbell.

Campbell pulls guard effortlessly.
Campbell tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ajan tries to free his leg and advance position but Campbell is retaining full guard.
Ajan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Campbell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Campbell is working hard here to advance position.
Campbell is pulling down on Ajan's head. It's preventing any offense from Ajan, at least for the moment.
Campbell trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Campbell wants to improve his position but instead Ajan has moved into half guard.
Campbell is looking for a sweep. Ajan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Campbell wants to control but Ajan is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ajan wants to take a breather but Campbell is having none of it.
Ajan missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ajan prevents Campbell from improving his position.
Ajan content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Campbell wants to control but Ajan is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ajan is taking a breather. Campbell says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A head kick misses from Campbell.
Campbell is breathing heavily.
Ajan closes the distance and clinches up with Campbell, looking for a takedown. Ajan pushes Campbell against the cage but Campbell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Ajan gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Ajan breaks the clinch.
Campbell shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ajan but Ajan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Campbell will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonard Campbell dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ajan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Campbell swivels and escapes.
Campbell dodges the punch combination from Ajan.
Ajan has his takedown stuffed
and Campbell counters with a two punch combo.
Ajan misses with a body shot.
Leonard Campbell is winning the standup battle so far.
Campbell misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ajan moves into the clinch successfully.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Ajan is pressed up against the cage. Campbell has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ajan down to the mat. Ajan avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ajan tries to clinch but Campbell moves away
and Campbell counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Ajan is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Ajan shoots in but Campbell avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Campbell tried to counter with a leg kick but Ajan avoided it.
Leonard Campbell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ali Ajan.
Ajan looks for a takedown but Campbell sprawls well.
Campbell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ajan paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Ajan closes the distance and clinches.
Ajan has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Campbell is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ajan scores with a shot to the side of Campbell's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Campbell fails to pull guard.

Ajan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Ajan has Campbell up against the cage in a clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Ajan is struggling to control the position.
Ajan tries to pull guard but Campbell won't allow it.

Campbell has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Ajan regains guard immediately.
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!
Ajan working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ajan has control of Campbell's left arm, preventing Campbell from doing any damage.

Ajan looking for subs off his back but Campbell has passed one foot through into half guard.
Ajan is breathing heavily.
Campbell is pressing down on Ajan's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ajan is holding on for now.

That's four 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.
Ajan tries to roll over but Campbell keeps him under control.
Campbell thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Campbell stands up from half guard.
Ajan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Campbell counters with an outside leg kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Campbell has managed to clinch.
Campbell misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonard Campbell dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Campbell will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Campbell takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Ajan tries to close the distance and clinch but Campbell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ajan doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Campbell counters with a one-two to the body.
Ajan closes the distance and clinches up with Campbell, looking for a takedown. Ajan pushes Campbell against the cage but Campbell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Ajan moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ajan tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Leonard Campbell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ali Ajan.
Ajan lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Campbell fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Campbell misses with some punches.
Ajan gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Campbell.
Ajan tries for a takedown but Campbell manages to get underhooks.
A shot in the inside from Campbell.
Campbell drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ajan gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Ajan gets control of Campbell's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ajan will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Campbell throws a big right hand that misses.
Ajan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ajan keeping moving, preventing Campbell from controlling successfully.
Campbell advances position into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Campbell tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Campbell has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ajan tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ajan explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Ajan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ajan dives in and grabs Campbell's left leg, looking for a takedown. Campbell pushes down on Ajan's head and hops out.
Ajan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Campbell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ajan dives in for a single leg takedown but Campbell sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Campbell tried to counter with a leg kick but Ajan avoided it.
Ajan 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ajan tries to clinch but Campbell is having none of it.
Ajan swats away the attempt to clinch by Campbell.
As Campbell backs off Ajan throws a huge counter combo but Campbell manages to avoid it all.
Nice takedown defense from Campbell. No joy for Ajan on that attempt.
Campbell scores with a leg kick.
Ajan throws a series of punches but Campbell moves out of range.

Campbell instigates a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ajan can't break the clinch.
Ali Ajan seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Campbell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Leonard Campbell.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Campbell, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonard Campbell!