PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tahboule Alawi (ranked 2840 p4p, 3122 weight class) and Tyrann Madden (ranked 190 p4p, 206 weight class). Alawi comes to the cage accompanied by The Ruler of Everything. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Alawi
vs
Madden

170 cm
30
147
9 - 6 - 1

170 cm
26
149
8 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

NARCOS
Groove Gear

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 9 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tahboule Alawi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tyrann Madden!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Colin Fotheringham and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Madden throws a body kick that misses.
Alawi looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Alawi shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Madden is trying to defend but Alawi finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Alawi controlling the action here.
Madden felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Alawi works his foot free and advances to mount.
Alawi won't let Madden get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alawi content just to control the position here.
You get the feeling that Madden really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Alawi controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Madden is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Alawi controlling his opponent.
Alawi is looking to work his way around to Madden's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Madden can do anything to dispel that myth.
Alawi wants to control the pace but Madden is squirming around nicely.
Alawi fails to move to back control.
Madden is trying to stand up.
Alawi controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alawi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Madden is looking to escape.
Alawi controlling his opponent.
Madden wants to try and get back to his feet.
Madden is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Alawi looking to secure an arm triangle but Madden defends it well.
Madden's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alawi content just to control the position here.
Madden is trying to stand up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Alawi has control of Madden's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Madden regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Alawi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Madden is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Madden is controlling an arm, preventing Alawi from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Madden is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alawi working for a submission but Madden is keeping him at bay.
Alawi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Madden is looking to escape.
Alawi controlling from the full mount.
Madden is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Alawi controlling the pace for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alawi takes Madden's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Madden is in trouble.
Alawi is riding his opponent, not letting Madden buck him off.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tahboule Alawi dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Alawi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Alawi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Madden throws an overhand right that lands on Alawi's shoulder, as Alawi tries to avoid the shot.
Madden misses with a straight right.
Alawi thinks about countering with a head kick.
Alawi moves out of range of the strikes.
Alawi drops down looking for a counter takedown but Madden sprawls and moves away.
Madden misses the jab.
Alawi tries to counter with a takedown but Madden is quick to defend against it.
Madden misses with a straight right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alawi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Alawi feinted with a counter takedown.
Madden misses with a right hand
and Alawi counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Alawi has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Madden misses with a straight right.
Madden throws a nice inside leg kick.
Alawi shoots in for a takedown but Madden shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tahboule Alawi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Madden misses with an uppercut. Alawi saw that one coming.
Alawi drops down looking for a counter takedown but Madden sprawls and moves away.
A telegraphed right hand from Madden misses the target.

Alawi gets a double leg takedown into Madden's guard.
Alawi tries to free his leg and advance position but Madden is retaining full guard.
Alawi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Alawi slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alawi is working for a kimura but Madden is defending it quite comfortably.
Alawi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Madden is trying to stand back up but Alawi is controlling him
Alawi wants to take a breather but Madden is having none of it.
Alawi is controlling the pace.
Alawi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Madden can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alawi is trying to work for a kimura but Madden is defending well.
Madden is trying to stand up here but Alawi is controlling him well.
Alawi perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Alawi is looking to pass Madden's guard but actually Madden recovers to full guard.
Alawi is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Alawi stands and throws Madden's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Tahboule Alawi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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.

Alawi is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Madden is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Madden is pushing Alawi's head away, looking to escape. Alawi manages to hold on to the position though.
Alawi controlling the position from side mount.
Madden is not content to let Alawi control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
You can see the frustration on Madden's face as Alawi controls the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tyrann Madden will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Madden gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Alawi to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Alawi passes into half guard.

Alawi is looking for a kimura here.
Alawi wants to advance to full mount but Madden doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alawi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Alawi prevents Madden from getting back to his feet.
Alawi is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alawi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Alawi trying to control the position from guard on top but Madden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Madden wants to stand but Alawi is controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Madden works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Madden throws the left hand but Alawi avoids the punch easily.
Tyrann Madden is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Madden stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Madden wants it to stay on the feet.
Alawi tries for a takedown but Madden sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
It seemed like Madden was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Tyrann Madden seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed right hand from Madden misses the target.
Madden missing with a left hand there. Alawi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Alawi half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
A punch combination from Madden misses.
It looked like Alawi wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alawi moves out of range of the strikes.
Madden misses with a two punch combination.
Madden misses with a hook.
Alawi appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Alawi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Madden.
Alawi appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Madden misses with an uppercut. Alawi saw that one coming.
Alawi tries to counter with a takedown but Madden is quick to defend against it.
Madden tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Alawi was well out of range. Poor timing from Madden.
Madden misses with a right hand

and Alawi counters with a takedown into side control.
Alawi trying to control the position but Madden is working away.
Alawi advances nicely into full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alawi looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Madden wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Alawi moves to back control.
Madden is trying to get back to his feet but Alawi has full control of the position and if anything, Madden has just worked his way into a worse spot.
I would not like to be Madden right now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alawi tries to get the hooks in deep but Madden pushed the leg off.
Alawi biding his time, looking for the opening.
Madden is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Alawi off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Madden is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Alawi gets his way!

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 Tahboule Alawi.
I think Alawi 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!