PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Naser Al Shami (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike McCallum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Mike McCallum was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Al Shami
vs
McCallum

187 cm
22
255 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

190 cm
21
232 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Naser Al Shami!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mike McCallum!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Eliza Hachem and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCallum changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Al Shami tries to avoid it but McCallum manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Al Shami to the ground. Al Shami escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
McCallum has his takedown stuffed

and Al Shami counters with a takedown into side control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
McCallum is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Al Shami wants to lay and pray for a moment but McCallum keeps working.
McCallum is looking to regain half guard here but Al Shami keeps moving and retains side control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Al Shami working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
McCallum tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Al Shami wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
McCallum gets back to half guard.

Al Shami seems to be working for a kimura but McCallum defends the submission attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Al Shami passes to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Al Shami stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Al Shami moves in looking to clinch but McCallum pushes him off.
McCallum shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Naser Al Shami has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike McCallum.

Al Shami closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. McCallum did well to prevent Al Shami getting side control.
McCallum is pressing down on Al Shami's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
McCallum looking to hit a scissor sweep but Al Shami is one step ahead there.

Al Shami got a little sloppy there for a moment and McCallum has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Al Shami has managed to get both his arms back between McCallum's legs - danger averted.

Al Shami drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Al Shami jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if McCallum can do anything to dispel that myth.
McCallum keeping moving, preventing Al Shami from controlling successfully.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
McCallum is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Al Shami defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Shami trying to control but McCallum is working from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

McCallum looking for a guillotine here but Al Shami defends easily.
Al Shami wants to control from the top but McCallum keeps moving.

McCallum looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Al Shami wants to control from the top but McCallum keeps moving.
Al Shami preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Shami passes McCallum's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McCallum tries to roll over but Al Shami keeps him under control.
McCallum slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
McCallum keeping full guard, as Al Shami tries to pass.

McCallum working for submissions but it's allowed Al Shami to get to half guard.
McCallum works his way to full guard. Good work.
Al Shami pushing down on McCallum's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

McCallum looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCallum manages to get to full guard.

Al Shami thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
McCallum keeping full guard, as Al Shami tries to pass.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Al Shami has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

McCallum looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Al Shami passes into half guard.

Al Shami is sneakily working for an arm triangle but McCallum sees it coming and defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Al Shami trying to control from half guard but McCallum is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

McCallum looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Al Shami tries to clinch but McCallum is having none of it.
McCallum fails with the takedown.
McCallum circles away from the clinch attempt.

Al Shami closes the distance and clinches.

McCallum manages to break the clinch.
McCallum changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Al Shami tries to avoid it but McCallum manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Al Shami to the ground. Al Shami escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Naser Al Shami has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike McCallum.
Al Shami tries for a takedown but McCallum sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Al Shami.
McCallum fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Al Shami avoids it really well and circles away.
Al Shami shoots in looking for a takedown. McCallum tries to sprawl out of it but Al Shami keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. McCallum manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Al Shami fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCallum shoots for a takedown but Al Shami saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
McCallum defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Al Shami.
McCallum will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Al Shami is looking to clinch.
Al Shami tries to close the distance and clinch up but McCallum swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McCallum swats away the attempt to clinch by Al Shami.
McCallum tries to score a power double leg takedown but Al Shami sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McCallum somewhat.
McCallum defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Al Shami.
Al Shami looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
McCallum fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCallum shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Al Shami defends it nicely.
McCallum throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Al Shami's waist but Al Shami gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McCallum off to one side.
McCallum is breathing heavily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Al Shami.
Al Shami misses with a takedown attempt - McCallum sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
McCallum dives in and grabs Al Shami's left leg, looking for a takedown. Al Shami pushes down on McCallum's head and hops out.
Nice takedown defense from McCallum. No joy for Al Shami on that attempt.
McCallum shoots in but Al Shami avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Al Shami tries for a takedown but McCallum sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Shami shoots in for a takedown but McCallum shows good takedown defense.
Al Shami tries to clinch up but McCallum circles away and keeps his distance.
Al Shami fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
McCallum stuffs the takedown attempt from Al Shami. Al Shami gets slowly back to his feet.
McCallum throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Al Shami's waist but Al Shami gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McCallum off to one side.

Al Shami rushes McCallum and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

McCallum escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Al Shami shoots in looking for a takedown but McCallum manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Al Shami's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Al Shami gets caught napping as McCallum dives in and scores a takedown. Al Shami manages to retain guard.
McCallum works a leg free and moves into half guard.
McCallum wants to lay and pray for a moment but Al Shami keeps working.
Al Shami trying to hold on to McCallum's head to control him but McCallum postures up.
Naser Al Shami overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCallum prevents Al Shami from improving his position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McCallum is looking to take a break and control but Al Shami is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McCallum works his foot free and advances to mount.

McCallum goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Al Shami turns into him and now he's in McCallum's guard.
Al Shami is looking to stand up but McCallum won't let him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Al Shami wants to pass the guard but McCallum is keeping the position.
Al Shami is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mike McCallum will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Al Shami shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

McCallum is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Al Shami pulls his head out easily.

Al Shami is working for a kimura but McCallum is defending it quite comfortably.
Al Shami moves into full mount! McCallum won't be happy about that!

Al Shami has hold of McCallum's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and McCallum manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Al Shami working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Al Shami trying to control but McCallum is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCallum really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Al Shami is working for a guillotine from mount but McCallum frees his head quite easily.
Al Shami prevents McCallum from getting the reversal.
McCallum sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Al Shami is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCallum slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

McCallum is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Al Shami trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Al Shami passes into half guard.
McCallum won't allow Al Shami to pass to mount.

Al Shami is looking for a kimura but McCallum is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Al Shami to get the leverage.

McCallum looking for submissions off his back.

McCallum looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
McCallum takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McCallum looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
McCallum is refusing to be controlled, as Al Shami sits in half guard.

Al Shami is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
McCallum gets back to full guard.

McCallum is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Al Shami stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McCallum swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Shami sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed McCallum's guard.

Al Shami is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Al Shami looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are battling for position here. McCallum manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

McCallum is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Al Shami defends well.
Al Shami wants to pass the guard but McCallum is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Naser Al Shami showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Al Shami has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Naser Al Shami!