PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tahboule Alawi (ranked 2503 p4p, 3241 weight class) and Harun Aydin (ranked 178 p4p, 218 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Alawi might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The Ruler of Everything. Aydin comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Mockingbird - Eminem kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! This should be a great matchup!

Alawi
vs
Aydin

170 cm
30
147
10 - 6 - 2

180 cm
25
156
6 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Knockaround Guys Fight 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 10 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tahboule Alawi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Harun Aydin!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alawi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Aydin lands an overhand right.
Aydin with a jab.
Aydin misses with a right hand
and Alawi counters with a left and a right that stings Aydin.
Alawi takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Alawi.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alawi wants to control but Aydin is keeping him busy.
Aydin sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Aydin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Aydin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Alawi pulls his head out easily.
Aydin is refusing to be controlled, as Alawi sits in half guard.

Aydin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Alawi pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aydin is not content to let Alawi control the position.
Aydin trying to hold on to Alawi's head to control him but Alawi postures up.
Alawi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Aydin is refusing to be controlled, as Alawi sits in half guard.
Aydin tries to roll over but Alawi keeps him under control.
Alawi is trying to control the action in half guard but Aydin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Alawi is figuring out what he wants to do next.

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.

Aydin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Alawi pulls his head out easily.

Alawi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Alawi is thwarting Aydin's attempts to control the position.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Aydin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Alawi pulls his head out easily.
Alawi with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Aydin is trying to get back to full guard.
Aydin trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Alawi manages to pass to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aydin is in all sorts of trouble here.
Aydin has given up his back.
Aydin rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Aydin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Alawi is taking a breather. Aydin says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Aydin is looking to control Alawi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Aydin avoid being mounted?
Alawi is looking to advance position but Aydin won't allow it.
Aydin wants to improve his position but Alawi is controlling well.
Alawi works his way into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aydin is trying to get back to half guard.

Alawi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Aydin is not content to let Alawi control the position.
Aydin is trying to improve his position.
Alawi is looking to take a break and control but Aydin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alawi working away.
Aydin tries to bench press Alawi off him but Alawi keeps the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tahboule Alawi dominated that round.
That's time! Alawi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Alawi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Alawi shoots in and gets a takedown into Aydin's guard.
Alawi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Aydin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Alawi wants to control from the top but Aydin keeps moving.

Aydin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Alawi defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aydin being controlled here, momentarily.
Aydin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Alawi's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alawi wants to sweep here but Aydin controlling him for the moment.
Alawi trying to control the position.
Aydin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alawi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Alawi is controlling Aydin's posture.
Alawi keeping full guard, as Aydin tries to pass.
Aydin wants to control from the top but Alawi keeps moving.
Aydin is fighting to break Alawi's control of his arms but Alawi is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

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.
Aydin trying to control but Alawi is working from the bottom.
Alawi seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Alawi controlling the position.
Aydin trying to control but Alawi is working from the bottom.

Aydin drops back looking for a leg! Alawi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Alawi manages to kick Aydin off! Aydin jumps back into Alawi's guard.
Aydin trying to control but Alawi is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Aydin throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Alawi counters with a shoot takedown. Aydin fights it but they end up in guard.
Our spies down at at Final Mile inform us that Aydin has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Aydin wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alawi wants to pass the guard but Aydin is keeping the position.
Alawi wants to control from the top but Aydin keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aydin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Aydin keeping full guard, as Alawi tries to pass.
Aydin is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Alawi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aydin is keeping the position for now.

Alawi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Aydin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Alawi has managed to get both his arms back between Aydin's legs - danger averted.
Aydin can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Alawi controls the pace.

Aydin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Aydin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Alawi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

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.

Aydin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Alawi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Alawi forces his way into half guard.
Alawi is looking to take a break and control but Aydin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Aydin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Alawi pulls his head out easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Aydin wants to control but Alawi is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tahboule Alawi dominated that second round.
That's time! Alawi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Aydin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Alawi manages to avoid it.
Aydin misses with a hook

and Alawi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Alawi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Aydin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Alawi advances position into side control!
Aydin is looking for a sweep.
Aydin is not content to let Alawi control the position.
Aydin sneaks back into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alawi wants to take a breather but Aydin is having none of it.
Alawi wants to free his trapped foot but Aydin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Alawi is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aydin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Alawi pulls his head out easily.

Aydin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Alawi passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Aydin!
Aydin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Alawi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Aydin can do to turn this around?

Alawi looking for a guillotine from mount but Aydin is having none of it.
Aydin tries to hold on but Alawi pushes him away.
Aydin is trying desperately to improve position.
Alawi controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aydin is working to get back to half guard.
Aydin tries to hold on but Alawi pushes him away.
Aydin is squirming around, avoiding Alawi's attempts to control the action.
Aydin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Alawi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Aydin is looking to escape.
Alawi content just to control the position here.
Aydin is looking to improve his position but Alawi isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aydin wants to hold on but Alawi pushes him away.
Alawi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Aydin tries to hold on but Alawi postures up.
Alawi trying to control but Aydin is having none of it.
Alawi content just to control the position here.
Aydin gets back to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Alawi in particular looking to stall.
Tahboule Alawi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aydin looking for submissions off his back.
Aydin is staying active underneath Alawi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Alawi controlling the action here.
Aydin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Aydin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Alawi pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tahboule Alawi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Alawi, 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tahboule Alawi!
After winning the bout, Tahboule Alawi thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.