PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rafael De Souza (ranked 7012 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khalid Al Saadoun (ranked 3879 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

De Souza
vs
Al Saadoun

175 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

181 cm
25
156 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rafael De Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Khalid Al Saadoun!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Bart Greer and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Al Saadoun scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Al Saadoun missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Al Saadoun perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Al Saadoun prevents De Souza from improving his position.
De Souza is refusing to be controlled, as Al Saadoun sits in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Saadoun prevents De Souza from improving his position.

Al Saadoun seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Souza is looking to improve his position.
Al Saadoun stalling.
De Souza keeping hold of Al Saadoun's head, controlling as best he can.
Al Saadoun controlling the pace.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
De Souza wants to control but Al Saadoun is keeping busy.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
De Souza shoots in looking for a takedown. Al Saadoun tries to sprawl out of it but De Souza keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Al Saadoun manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Al Saadoun fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging De Souza to the ground. Al Saadoun is now in De Souza's guard.
De Souza controlling the position.
Al Saadoun is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Al Saadoun's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
De Souza on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if De Souza tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Saadoun wants to get up but he can't break De Souza's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Al Saadoun avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Al Saadoun wants to get up but he can't break De Souza's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Al Saadoun controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
De Souza looks to clinch

and Al Saadoun counters with a nice double leg into side control. De Souza won't be happy with that.
De Souza seems a little lost for a moment, as Al Saadoun dominates the positioning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Saadoun wants to stand but De Souza has his arm trapped.
De Souza parries the strikes from Al Saadoun easily there. Al Saadoun is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable De Souza to escape.
De Souza is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Al Saadoun off and has taken his back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

De Souza working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Al Saadoun trying to control the hands but De Souza breaks the grip.
Al Saadoun tries to roll but De Souza sticks to his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Al Saadoun is trying to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A telegraphed takedown attempt from De Souza is defended easily by Al Saadoun.
De Souza checks a leg kick.
Al Saadoun scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Al Saadoun is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in De Souza's half guard.
Al Saadoun tries to stand and escape but De Souza is controlling the position.
Al Saadoun drops an elbow to the side of De Souza's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Souza pushes Al Saadoun off looking to stand but Al Saadoun dives back in and keeps control.
De Souza trying to hold on to Al Saadoun's head to control him but Al Saadoun postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like Al Saadoun is going to stand back up.
Al Saadoun scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Al Saadoun has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Al Saadoun keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

De Souza looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Al Saadoun is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
De Souza misses with some strikes from the bottom.

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.
Al Saadoun landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Al Saadoun performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Al Saadoun tries to pass to full mount but De Souza defends it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Al Saadoun shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

De Souza looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Al Saadoun has picked De Souza up and slammed him! De Souza can't keep hold of the triangle and Al Saadoun manages to pass to side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Al Saadoun stalls from top position.
De Souza is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Al Saadoun's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
De Souza pushes Al Saadoun off looking to stand but Al Saadoun dives back in and keeps control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Al Saadoun tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Khalid Al Saadoun has got the better of the ground game so far.

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.
Al Saadoun is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for De Souza!

Al Saadoun has hold of De Souza's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and De Souza manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
De Souza tries to reverse the position but Al Saadoun maintains control.
De Souza wants to hold on but Al Saadoun pushes him away.
Al Saadoun lands with some vicious ground and pound - can De Souza hang on?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Al Saadoun sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khalid Al Saadoun showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Al Saadoun is trying hard to land a takedown here. De Souza sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Al Saadoun shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has De Souza pinned against the cage. De Souza gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
De Souza shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Al Saadoun but Al Saadoun pushes him off and we're back to square one.
De Souza finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Al Saadoun showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from De Souza.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

De Souza moves into the clinch successfully.
Al Saadoun wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Saadoun circles away from the clinch attempt.
De Souza misses with a takedown

and Al Saadoun counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Al Saadoun tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. De Souza just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rafael De Souza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khalid Al Saadoun.
Al Saadoun tries to score a body lock takedown but De Souza shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
De Souza has Al Saadoun pushed against the cage.

Al Saadoun gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, De Souza regains guard.
De Souza being controlled here, momentarily.
De Souza is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Souza looking to control.
Al Saadoun working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of De Souza's head.
Al Saadoun looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Al Saadoun drops back, looking for a kneebar! De Souza looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. De Souza looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from De Souza!

De Souza tries to move to mount but Al Saadoun blocks the move with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Saadoun tries to get back to half guard but can't.
De Souza misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

De Souza swings around for an armbar but Al Saadoun sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into De Souza's guard.
Al Saadoun connects with a couple of short punches.
De Souza can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Al Saadoun controls the pace.
Al Saadoun wants to pass the guard but De Souza is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Souza is trying to control the position but Al Saadoun postures up.
Al Saadoun tries to stand but De Souza is controlling from the bottom.
Al Saadoun controls from within his opponent's guard.

De Souza is looking for a triangle but Al Saadoun pushes his legs off easily.
Rafael De Souza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Khalid Al Saadoun is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

De Souza throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Khalid Al Saadoun.
I've got Al Saadoun 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 28:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khalid Al Saadoun!