PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Suleman Pokong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fawaz Bin Laden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pokong
vs
Bin Laden

175 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

195 cm
21
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

The Dark Side

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Suleman Pokong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Fawaz Bin Laden!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Micheangelo Fripello and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pokong defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bin Laden.
Pokong misses with a series of wild punches.
Pokong throws a combination. Bin Laden tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Bin Laden is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Bin Laden shoots in and drives through. Pokong sprawls well.

Bin Laden closes the distance and pushes Pokong back into the ropes.
Bin Laden keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pokong's efforts to push away.
Bin Laden scores with a shoulder strike.
Bin Laden looking to throw knees to the head but Pokong is blocking nicely.
Pokong tries to pull guard but Bin Laden won't allow it.
Bin Laden tries to score a body lock takedown but Pokong shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Suleman Pokong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fawaz Bin Laden.
Bin Laden will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Pokong up against the ropes.
Bin Laden prevents Pokong from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pokong wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bin Laden has Pokong pressed against the ropes, preventing Pokong from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Bin Laden tries to pull guard but Pokong won't allow it.
Bin Laden tries to pull guard but Pokong holds him up against the ropes and eventually Bin Laden drops back down to his feet.
Bin Laden looks winded!
Bin Laden keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pokong's efforts to push away.
Pokong looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Bin Laden breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bin Laden gets a clinch.
Pokong is trying to break the clinch but Bin Laden has him pressed against the ropes.
Bin Laden tries to work over Pokong's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bin Laden is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the ropes enables Pokong to keep the fight standing.

Bin Laden breaks the clinch.
Pokong tries to clinch but Bin Laden moves out of range.
Pokong tests Bin Laden's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Pokong moves in looking to clinch but Bin Laden pushes him off.
Bin Laden uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pokong.
Pokong lands a jab to Bin Laden's midsection.
Pokong misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bin Laden.
Pokong misses with a double jab
and Bin Laden counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pokong takes a swing at Bin Laden's ribcage but misses.
Nice takedown defense from Bin Laden. No joy for Pokong on that attempt.
Bin Laden looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bin Laden slips a jab and a cross from Pokong.
Pokong ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bin Laden moves away.
Bin Laden takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Pokong fails with a takedown attempt.
Pokong tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Bin Laden paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pokong misses the shot to the body.
Pokong shoots for a double leg takedown but Bin Laden sprawls well. He's pushed Pokong's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Pokong misses with a few strikes there.
Pokong avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bin Laden takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Bin Laden takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Bin Laden avoids the body shot from Pokong.
Bin Laden tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pokong swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bin Laden slips a jab and a cross from Pokong.
Pokong throws a body punch but Bin Laden moves out of range.
Pokong misses with a two punch combination.
Pokong tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bin Laden was well out of range. Poor timing from Pokong.
Pokong swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bin Laden fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
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!
Bin Laden on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Pokong scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Pokong tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bin Laden was well out of range. Poor timing from Pokong.
Pokong swings for the body but Bin Laden moves out of range.
Pokong fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bin Laden slips a jab and a cross from Pokong.
Pokong tries to bum rush Bin Laden with a series of wild strikes but Bin Laden uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bin Laden stuns Pokong with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Bin Laden tries to bum rush Pokong with a series of wild strikes but Pokong uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nice sprawl there from Bin Laden as Pokong shoots in.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pokong. Bin Laden does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pokong looks to land a combination but Bin Laden avoids it well.
Bin Laden looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Pokong is fending him off so far but Bin Laden persists. Nope, Pokong circles away and we're back to standing.
Pokong moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Bin Laden keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Bin Laden dodges the punch combination from Pokong.
Pokong ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bin Laden moves away.
Bin Laden lands a slapping body shot.
Pokong takes a swing at Bin Laden's ribcage but misses.
Pokong moves to clinch but Bin Laden breaks away
and Bin Laden counters with a series of strikes. Pokong will be more careful next time no doubt.
Bin Laden uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pokong.
Bin Laden takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Pokong throws a lazy uppercut
letting Bin Laden counter with a right hand.
Pokong misses with a wild body shot.
Bin Laden jabs Pokong to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Pokong thows a body shot but no joy.
Pokong is looking to wear down Bin Laden with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Bin Laden moves into the clinch.
Bin Laden is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Pokong is trying to push Bin Laden away but Bin Laden has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Bin Laden tries to throw a body punch but Pokong avoids it by throwing Bin Laden back against the ropes.

Bin Laden pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pokong misses with a two punch combination.
Bin Laden shoots in for a takedown but Pokong shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A cross from Pokong lands.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Pokong ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Pokong tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Bin Laden manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pokong looks to score with a jab to the body but Bin Laden is just out of range.
Pokong jabs Bin Laden to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Bin Laden avoids the body shot from Pokong.
Pokong throws a right and a left that both miss.
Pokong just misses with a punch to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pokong. Bin Laden does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pokong thuds a left hand into Bin Laden's body.
Bin Laden shoots for a takedown but Pokong saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bin Laden takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Pokong digs a good body shot into Bin Laden's ribs.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Bin Laden on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Bin Laden fails to land the takedown.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bin Laden.
Horrible takedown by Pokong or perhaps it was just good defense by Bin Laden which made him look bad.
Suleman Pokong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bin Laden scores with a crisp jab that stopped Pokong in his tracks.
Bin Laden ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pokong ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bin Laden moves away.
Bin Laden throws a series of punches but Pokong avoids them all with ease.
Bin Laden dodges the punch combination from Pokong.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Suleman Pokong dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Pokong shoots for a double leg takedown but Bin Laden sprawls well. He's pushed Pokong's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Bin Laden takes the fight into the clinch.
Bin Laden drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pokong pulls his leg out and moves away.
Pokong stuffs the takedown.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pokong. Bin Laden does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bin Laden is breathing heavily.
Pokong swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Pokong jabs Bin Laden to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Pokong swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Pokong misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bin Laden uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pokong.
Pokong feints a jab promting Bin Laden to slip. Pokong then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Bin Laden slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Pokong scores with a hook to the body. Bin Laden takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Bin Laden dodges the punch combination from Pokong.
Pokong throws a body punch but Bin Laden moves out of range.
Bin Laden avoids the body shot from Pokong.
Pokong lands with a nice combination. Bin Laden backs away looking to recover.
Pokong misses with a straight left.
Pokong swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A slow jab from Bin Laden misses its intended target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bin Laden shoots for a takedown but Pokong saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Suleman Pokong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fawaz Bin Laden.
Pokong misses with a takedown attempt - Bin Laden sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Pokong wants to clinch up but Bin Laden keeps it at a distance.
Pokong throws a body punch but Bin Laden moves out of range.
Bin Laden takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Bin Laden has closed the distance and engaged Pokong in a clinch.
Pokong is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Bin Laden is keeping busy.
A head punch on the inside from Bin Laden fails to land.

Bin Laden's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bin Laden.
Pokong fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Pokong misses with a wild body shot.
Bin Laden avoids the body shot from Pokong.
Pokong swinging wildly here.
Pokong fails with an attempt to clinch.

Bin Laden darts in and clinches Pokong up against the ropes.
Pokong is trying to break the clinch but Bin Laden has him pressed against the ropes.

Bin Laden pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pokong throws a body punch but Bin Laden moves out of range.
Pokong throws a combination that misses

and Bin Laden moves into the clinch.
Bin Laden fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Pokong is trying to break the clinch but Bin Laden is controlling him.
Bin Laden tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Pokong looking to stall.

Bin Laden ties up his opponent against the ropes and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Bin Laden no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Pokong wants to stand but Bin Laden is controlling his posture from full guard.

Bin Laden pushes Pokong off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Bin Laden misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Pokong looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pokong just misses with a punch to the body.

Bin Laden closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Pokong to the mat! Pokong manages to get full guard.
Pokong might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bin Laden not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Fawaz Bin Laden hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Pokong wants to clinch up but Bin Laden keeps it at a distance.
Pokong takes a swing at Bin Laden's ribcage but misses.
Pokong misses with a body shot.
Pokong scores with a one two! Bin Laden had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Bin Laden fails with a takedown attempt.
Pokong throws a right and a left that Bin Laden avoids nicely.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Pokong throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Bin Laden counters with a big head kick but Pokong shrugs it off.
Pokong throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Bin Laden closes the distance and clinches.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Bin Laden as Pokong tries to tie him up.

Bin Laden breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pokong swings for the body but Bin Laden moves out of range.
Pokong throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Pokong tries for a takedown but Bin Laden sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nice sprawl there from Pokong as Bin Laden shoots in.
Pokong rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bin Laden moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Bin Laden takes the fight into the clinch.
Bin Laden keeps control of Pokong as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Bin Laden breaks from the clinch.
Pokong misses with a body shot.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Pokong!
Pokong swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Bin Laden holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Pokong wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bin Laden has him pressed against the ropes.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Bin Laden gets control of Pokong's arms and successfully pulls guard. Bin Laden will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Pokong wants to get up but he can't break Bin Laden's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Bin Laden pulls Pokong in close to his closed guard and prevents Pokong from doing any damage or advancing position.
Bin Laden working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pokong.
Bin Laden working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pokong.
Pokong trying to control the position from guard on top but Bin Laden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bin Laden is edging up against the ropes. He's using the ropes to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bin Laden is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.

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 Suleman Pokong.
I think Pokong 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight for Suleman Pokong!
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Suleman Pokong!
Judge Josh West scores the fight for Suleman Pokong!

Suleman Pokong wins by unanimous decision!