PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Saad Waseem (ranked 5214 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carl Weathers (ranked 5824 p4p, 0 weight class). Carl Weathers acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Waseem
vs
Weathers

175 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
23
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Saad Waseem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Carl Weathers!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Ackerman and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Weathers misses with a double jab.
Waseem was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Weathers throws a punch but it's blocked by Waseem.
Weathers working aggressively here.
Weathers struggles to land a body shot inside as Waseem controls his hands.
Weathers gets underhooks to prevent Waseem's takedown attempt.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Weathers tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Waseem is trying to pull guard but Weathers has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Weathers lands with a right to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Waseem's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Waseem has clasped his hands together around Weathers's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Weathers throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
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!
Weathers moves in looking to clinch but Waseem pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waseem throws a leg kick but Weathers sees it coming and moves out of range.

Weathers gets tackled into the cage by Waseem. Waseem maintains the clinch.
Weathers lands an uppercut.

Waseem jumps into guard, dragging Weathers to the mat.
Waseem is pulling down on Weathers's head. It's preventing any offense from Weathers, at least for the moment.
Weathers throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Waseem looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Waseem has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Weathers can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Waseem lands a decent shot there.

Weathers stands up and waves to Waseem to follow him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weathers cracks a nice hook into Waseem's ribs.
Waseem avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Weathers tries to clinch up.
Waseem fails with an attempt to clinch.
Waseem circles away from the clinch attempt
and Waseem counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Waseem tries to keep at a distance but Weathers has taken the fight into the clinch.
Waseem stalls.
Weathers creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Waseem's defenses.

It looks like Saad Waseem has been cut.
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!

Waseem has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Weathers regains guard immediately.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waseem tries to free his leg and advance position but Weathers is retaining full guard.
Waseem won't allow Weathers to get back to his feet.
Waseem wanted to stand there but Weathers had control of the position.
Weathers wants to stand up but Waseem is controlling him.

Waseem stands up and waves to Weathers to follow him.
Weathers tries to close the distance and clinch up but Waseem swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Weathers looks for the body kick but Waseem saw that one coming.
Weathers shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Waseem sprawls well. Waseem wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Weathers gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Weathers keeps Waseem at a distance using the push kick.
Weathers tries to clinch up.
Waseem throws a big counter combination but Weathers scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Weathers wants to clinch.
It looked like Waseem wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Waseem shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Weathers manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Carl Weathers will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Saad Waseem's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Waseem has his takedown stuffed
letting Weathers counter with a right hand.
Weathers is looking to clinch.
Weathers tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Waseem manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Waseem takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Weathers looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Weathers tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Waseem counters with a left and a right that stings Weathers.

Waseem gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee calls for Waseem to work.

Weathers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Weathers fails in his attempt to clinch.
Saad Waseem is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weathers fails in his attempt to clinch.

Waseem dives in and scores a takedown into Weathers's guard.
Weathers wants to sweep here but Waseem controlling him for the moment.
Waseem wants to stand but Weathers is controlling his posture from full guard.
Waseem wants to pass the guard but Weathers is keeping the position.
Weathers is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Weathers looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Weathers looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weathers is looking to stand back up but Waseem counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Weathers.
Weathers wants to control but Waseem is keeping busy.

Weathers pushes Waseem off and gets back to his feet.
Weathers fails with an attempt to clinch.
Weathers throws a wild body kick that Waseem sees coming a mile off.
Weathers tries to clinch but Waseem is having none of it.
Waseem circles away from the clinch attempt.

Waseem shoots in and gets a takedown into Weathers's guard.

Weathers is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Weathers misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weathers tries to stall but Waseem uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Weathers lands with a light punch inside.

Waseem is trying to trip Weathers. He has hold of a leg but Weathers is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Waseem persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Weathers is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Weathers looking to hit a scissor sweep but Waseem is one step ahead there.
Weathers is breathing heavily.
Weathers wants to stand up but Waseem is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Weathers has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Waseem can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Waseem is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Weathers is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Waseem dives into side control.
Waseem staying calm.
Waseem's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Saad Waseem will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Saad Waseem's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Weathers throws a head kick that misses.

Waseem looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Waseem seems to be looking for submissions.
Weathers is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Waseem stops Weathers from getting back to his feet.
Waseem is controlling the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waseem is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Waseem tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Weathers.
Waseem is looking to advance position but Weathers won't allow it.
Weathers is trying to get back to full guard.
Weathers pushes Waseem off looking to stand but Waseem dives back in and keeps control.
Waseem tries to stand but can't do so whilst Weathers controls his leg.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Saad Waseem overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Weathers tries to kick Waseem off but Waseem keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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.
Waseem dives in and grabs Weathers's left leg, looking for a takedown. Weathers pushes down on Waseem's head and hops out.
Weathers rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Waseem moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Waseem circles away from the clinch attempt.
Weathers wants to clinch up but Waseem keeps it at a distance.
Weathers fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Waseem looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Weathers tries to close the distance and clinch up but Waseem swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Carl Weathers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Weathers blocks a head kick by Waseem.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Waseem is working for takedown but Weathers is calmly controlling the position for now.

Waseem has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Weathers uses from the top position.
Weathers must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Weathers trying to control the position from guard on top but Waseem is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Waseem is working an open guard so Weathers takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Weathers looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Weathers fails to land with a series of punches.
Weathers is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Carl Weathers seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Waseem drives through with a takedown into Weathers's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Waseem stops Weathers from standing up.
Weathers trying to keep a closed guard but Waseem is proving a slippery customer.
Waseem stops Weathers from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Waseem sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Weathers is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Weathers controls Waseem momentarily but Waseem frees himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Weathers wants to stand up but Waseem is controlling him.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Saad Waseem showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Waseem has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Saad Waseem!