PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Francesco Liberti (ranked 3695 p4p, 379 weight class) and Abdullah Sajid (ranked 6283 p4p, 505 weight class). Francesco Liberti has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Liberti
vs
Sajid

168 cm
24
156 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
156 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Powerful

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Francesco Liberti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Abdullah Sajid!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Robert Twigg and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sajid drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Liberti throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Sajid avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Liberti. No joy for Sajid on that attempt.
Some wild striking there from Liberti.

Liberti rushes Sajid and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Liberti is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Liberti gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sajid.
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!
Liberti is pressed up against the cage. Sajid has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Liberti down to the mat. Liberti avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Francesco Liberti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Abdullah Sajid.
Liberti looks to land a combination. Sajid sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
A solid body kick from Liberti.
Sajid shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Liberti sprawls well. Liberti wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sajid gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liberti scores with a kick to the body.
Sajid fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Liberti lands a glancing blow to the side of Sajid's head.
Liberti scores with a kick to the body.
Liberti keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Liberti went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Sajid tries to score a power double leg takedown but Liberti sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sajid somewhat.
Francesco Liberti is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Liberti moves into the clinch.
Liberti softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Liberti lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Liberti.
Liberti content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Liberti.
Liberti seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Liberti working Sajid over with knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Liberti scores with a shoulder strike.
Liberti lands a nice uppercut.
Liberti lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Sajid is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Liberti pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sajid wants a takedown.
Liberti lands a body punch in the clinch.
Liberti lands with a short shot to the head.
Liberti connects with a knee to the head.
Liberti putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sajid in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Liberti stalling the fight.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Liberti.
Sajid can't get the takedown.
Liberti scores with a shot to the side of Sajid's head.
Stalling in the clinch from Liberti.
Sajid is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Liberti pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liberti gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sajid.
Sajid looks winded!
Liberti gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sajid.
Liberti lands a body punch.
Liberti landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A short left from Liberti.
Knees in the clinch landing for Liberti.
Liberti leaning his opponent against the cage.
Liberti lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sajid has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Liberti is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nice elbow from Liberti.
A nice right hand lands inside from Liberti.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sajid tries for a takedown. No joy.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Liberti.
Liberti putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sajid in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Liberti crunches a lovely knee into Sajid's ribcage.
Liberti is stalling here.
Liberti scores a nice knee to the body.
Liberti just leaning against Sajid, taking a breather.
Liberti is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Liberti lands a nice uppercut.
Liberti scores with a shot to the side of Sajid's head.
Liberti lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sajid.
Liberti lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Liberti landing some nice looking knees to the body.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Nice elbow from Liberti.
Liberti connects with a knee to the head.
Liberti slows down the pace here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francesco Liberti dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Liberti leaves Sajid with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Liberti stuffs the takedown.
Liberti looks to land a combination but Sajid avoids it well.
Liberti is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sajid can do to turn this around?
Liberti bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Liberti bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sajid's head.
Sajid takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Sajid fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Francesco Liberti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Abdullah Sajid.
Sajid darts in looking for a takedown but Liberti gets double underhooks and turns Sajid into the cage.
Liberti looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Liberti misses with a series of wild punches.

Liberti closes the distance and clinches.
Liberti lands a knee to the body.
Sajid is working for takedown but Liberti is calmly controlling the position for now.
Liberti gets through Sajid's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Liberti scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sajid is breathing heavily.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Liberti lands with a short shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liberti unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Liberti stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Liberti.
Liberti is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Liberti.
A short uppercut from Liberti.
Liberti using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Liberti landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Liberti.
Knees in the clinch landing for Liberti.
Liberti lands a nice uppercut.
A bit of stalling here from Liberti.
Liberti lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sajid can't get the takedown.
Sajid tries to score a body lock takedown but Liberti shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sajid's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A shot in the inside from Liberti.
Liberti is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Liberti crunches a lovely knee into Sajid's ribcage.
A body shot lands from Liberti.
Sajid takes a shot to the head.
Liberti creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sajid's defenses.
Liberti lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sajid backwards.
Liberti slowing the pace effectively.
Still in the clinch, Liberti scores with a nice short uppercut.
Liberti with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Liberti gets through Sajid's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Liberti scores with a shoulder strike.
Liberti cracks Sajid with a nice body shot.
Sajid has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Liberti avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Liberti is pressed up against the cage. Sajid has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Liberti down to the mat. Liberti avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sajid is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Liberti.

Sajid is rocked!
Nice takedown defense from Liberti. No joy for Sajid on that attempt.
Sajid is still on wobbly legs! Can Liberti finish him?
Liberti connects with a right that clearly hurt Sajid. He's backed up against the cage with nowhere to go as Liberti proceeds to tee off with vicious combinations till Sajid collapses and taps out under the pressure!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:14 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Francesco Liberti!
An out of breath Francesco Liberti thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.