PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Craig Bartholemew (ranked 6693 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdulmalek Al Saadoun (ranked 3244 p4p, 0 weight class). Craig Bartholemew has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bartholemew
vs
Al Saadoun

180 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

176 cm
25
156 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Craig Bartholemew!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Abdulmalek Al Saadoun!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, David Hoff and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bartholemew forces Al Saadoun back against the cage and clinches.

Al Saadoun manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Bartholemew won't allow Al Saadoun to get back to his feet.
Bartholemew postures up in Al Saadoun's guard and throws a big left but Al Saadoun blocks it.
Bartholemew wanted to stand there but Al Saadoun had control of the position.
Al Saadoun is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Bartholemew postures up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Al Saadoun can do anything to dispel that myth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bartholemew tries to free his leg and advance position but Al Saadoun is retaining full guard.
Bartholemew working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Bartholemew wants to get up but he can't break Al Saadoun's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Al Saadoun shoots in and bounces Bartholemew off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Al Saadoun looks winded!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bartholemew not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Al Saadoun accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Al Saadoun wants to pass the guard but Bartholemew is keeping the position.
Al Saadoun slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Bartholemew tries to improve position but can't.

Al Saadoun wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bartholemew, who protects the arm well.
Bartholemew is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Al Saadoun tries to get to his feet but Bartholemew is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Al Saadoun in his guard.
Al Saadoun controlling from the top position.
It looks like Al Saadoun might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Saadoun throws a strike but Bartholemew rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Bartholemew trying to control the position from guard on top but Al Saadoun is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Al Saadoun trying to keep a closed guard but Bartholemew is proving a slippery customer.
Bartholemew trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bartholemew with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bartholemew postures up.
Bartholemew is looking to stand up but Al Saadoun won't let him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A punch lands to the side of Al Saadoun 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Bartholemew lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Al Saadoun displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bartholemew.
Bartholemew shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Al Saadoun eats them both and turns towards Bartholemew to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Danga de danga de dang - Bartholemew scores with a four punch combination!

Al Saadoun is rocked!
Bartholemew shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Al Saadoun as he avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Bartholemew dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Bartholemew tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Al Saadoun manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Bartholemew on his heels. He'll look to pass Bartholemew's guard now, I'm sure.
Bartholemew keeping moving, preventing Al Saadoun from controlling successfully.
Bartholemew is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Al Saadoun can do to turn this around?
Bartholemew controls Al Saadoun momentarily but Al Saadoun frees himself.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Al Saadoun working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Al Saadoun wants to pass the guard but Bartholemew is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bartholemew not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bartholemew is really struggling to control Al Saadoun but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Abdulmalek Al Saadoun has got the better of the ground game so far.
Al Saadoun is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Saadoun trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bartholemew keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Bartholemew throws a leg kick

and Al Saadoun counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Bartholemew regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Al Saadoun.
Bartholemew is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Al Saadoun is controlling him.
Al Saadoun tries to free his leg and advance position but Bartholemew is retaining full guard.
Bartholemew is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Al Saadoun not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bartholemew is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Al Saadoun is aware though and is defending well.

Al Saadoun drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Bartholemew dives on top into guard.

Al Saadoun keeping full guard, as Bartholemew tries to pass.

Al Saadoun throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Bartholemew escapes and throws Al Saadoun's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Bartholemew wants to lay and pray for a moment but Al Saadoun keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bartholemew avoids the strikes from the bottom by Al Saadoun.
Al Saadoun is trying to get back to half guard.
Bartholemew wants to control but Al Saadoun is keeping him busy.
Bartholemew wants to stand but Al Saadoun has his arm trapped.

Bartholemew is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Al Saadoun has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Bartholemew wants to lay and pray for a moment but Al Saadoun keeps working.
Al Saadoun is looking for a sweep.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Bartholemew wants to stand but Al Saadoun is controlling his arm.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bartholemew displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Al Saadoun shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice sprawl there from Al Saadoun as Bartholemew shoots in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Bartholemew dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Bartholemew tries a low kick but Al Saadoun avoids it.
Al Saadoun now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Bartholemew shoots in looking for a takedown. Al Saadoun tries to sprawl out of it but Bartholemew 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.

Bartholemew has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bartholemew tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Al Saadoun smiles and moves away.

Bartholemew clinches up against the cage.
Al Saadoun takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Al Saadoun decides to pull guard.
Al Saadoun keeping full guard, as Bartholemew tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Saadoun striking from his own guard.
Al Saadoun looking for a sweep. Not yet Al Saadoun, not yet.
Al Saadoun trying to keep a closed guard but Bartholemew is proving a slippery customer.
Al Saadoun has control of Bartholemew's left arm, preventing Bartholemew from doing any damage.
Bartholemew trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Al Saadoun utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

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.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bartholemew has his takedown stuffed

and Al Saadoun moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Bartholemew. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bartholemew is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Al Saadoun pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Bartholemew wants to stall.
Bartholemew wants to break free but Al Saadoun has control.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Al Saadoun takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Al Saadoun is looking for a takedown.
Al Saadoun is trying to pull guard but Bartholemew turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Bartholemew is looking to take this one to the mat.
Bartholemew lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Al Saadoun backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bartholemew is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Al Saadoun is pressed up against the cage. Bartholemew has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Al Saadoun down to the mat. Al Saadoun avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Bartholemew drives through and clinches with Al Saadoun against the cage.
Bartholemew goes for a takedown in the clinch but Al Saadoun prevents it.
Al Saadoun is pressed up against the cage. Bartholemew has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Al Saadoun down to the mat. Al Saadoun avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Al Saadoun tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bartholemew defends well and Al Saadoun ends up having to push Bartholemew into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Al Saadoun tries to keep at a distance but Bartholemew has taken the fight into the clinch.
Bartholemew wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Al Saadoun has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bartholemew taking a breather.
Bartholemew is trying to drag Al Saadoun to the mat but Al Saadoun just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Al Saadoun has Bartholemew pressed against the cage.
Bartholemew is trying to force a seperation but Al Saadoun has the dominant position.
Al Saadoun tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Al Saadoun prevents the takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Al Saadoun fails to pull guard.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

And that's the end of the fight!
Craig Bartholemew showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bartholemew, 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Bartholemew!