PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Drew Pugh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ahmed Abd Elmonaem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ahmed Abd Elmonaem has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pugh
vs
Abd Elmonaem

168 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

182 cm
21
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Drew Pugh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ahmed Abd Elmonaem!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Hugh Johnson and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Abd Elmonaem closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Pugh quickly recovers to half guard.
Abd Elmonaem seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Pugh might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Pugh is looking to control Abd Elmonaem's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pugh avoid being mounted?
Abd Elmonaem thows a huge punch but Pugh dodges it nicely.
Pugh wants to get back to full guard.
Pugh is looking to escape.
Pugh blocking the ground and pound attempt from Abd Elmonaem.
Abd Elmonaem looks to land a strike but Pugh avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Pugh really is a fat lump.
Pugh is trying to control the position but Abd Elmonaem postures up.
Abd Elmonaem postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Abd Elmonaem missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Abd Elmonaem in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Abd Elmonaem stands up and waves to Pugh to follow him.
Abd Elmonaem keeps the fight on the outside.

Abd Elmonaem darts in and clinches Pugh up against the cage.

Abd Elmonaem manages to break the clinch.

Abd Elmonaem scores with a takedown into Pugh's guard.
Abd Elmonaem missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Abd Elmonaem tries to free his leg and advance position but Pugh is retaining full guard.
Abd Elmonaem is looking to work some ground and pound but Pugh has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abd Elmonaem wants to control from the top but Pugh keeps moving.
Abd Elmonaem must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Abd Elmonaem throws an elbow that misses. Pugh uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Abd Elmonaem's guard. Nice move by Pugh!
Pugh throwing strikes from guard but Abd Elmonaem blocks nicely.
Pugh is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pugh throws a big right hand that misses.
Pugh in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pugh in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pugh lands a couple of elbows.
Abd Elmonaem wants to stand up but Pugh is controlling him.
Pugh stopping the sweep attempt from Abd Elmonaem.
Abd Elmonaem looking to control.

Abd Elmonaem pushes Pugh off and gets back to his feet.

Abd Elmonaem shoots in and bounces Pugh off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abd Elmonaem throws a big elbow that misses.
Pugh has control of Abd Elmonaem's left arm, preventing Abd Elmonaem from doing any damage.
Abd Elmonaem throws a strike but Pugh rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Pugh has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pugh with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmed Abd Elmonaem dominated that round.
That's time! Pugh's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Abd Elmonaem throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Pugh was covering up waiting for the punch and Abd Elmonaem finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Abd Elmonaem throws an elbow that misses. Pugh uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Abd Elmonaem's guard. Nice move by Pugh!
Pugh preventing the sweep.
Pugh postures up in Abd Elmonaem's guard and throws a big left but Abd Elmonaem blocks it.
Pugh prevents Abd Elmonaem from getting back to his feet.
Abd Elmonaem trying to keep a closed guard but Pugh is proving a slippery customer.
Abd Elmonaem pulls Pugh in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pugh prevents Abd Elmonaem from getting back to his feet.

Ahmed Abd Elmonaem has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Abd Elmonaem fails to land with a series of punches.
Drew Pugh is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pugh tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A left and a right from Pugh both land. Nice combination.
Ahmed Abd Elmonaem seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Pugh drives through with a takedown into guard.
Pugh won't allow Abd Elmonaem to sweep him here.
Abd Elmonaem is adopting a defensive guard.
Abd Elmonaem is trying to keep Pugh in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Abd Elmonaem is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pugh lands a couple of decent looking shots.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pugh accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pugh trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pugh lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Pugh postures up in Abd Elmonaem's guard and throws a big left but Abd Elmonaem blocks it.
Pugh is in close to Abd Elmonaem's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Pugh in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pugh won't allow Abd Elmonaem to get back to his feet.
Pugh postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pugh postures up.
Pugh cracks Abd Elmonaem with a solid left hand.
Pugh loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pugh chips away with some ground and pound.
Pugh missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Abd Elmonaem is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pugh is controlling him.
Abd Elmonaem wants to sweep here but Pugh controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abd Elmonaem trying to control the position.
Pugh throws a big right hand that misses.
Pugh connects with a couple of short punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pugh keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Abd Elmonaem's head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Pugh's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Drew Pugh dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Abd Elmonaem jabs Pugh right on the nose. Pugh blinks but takes it well.

Abd Elmonaem looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Abd Elmonaem thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pugh's head.
Abd Elmonaem throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Abd Elmonaem with the ground and pound but Pugh uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Abd Elmonaem postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pugh avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pugh lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Abd Elmonaem!

Pugh jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Abd Elmonaem is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Abd Elmonaem and Pugh has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abd Elmonaem is trying to buck Pugh off.
Pugh cracks Abd Elmonaem with a big right hand but Abd Elmonaem just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Pugh landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pugh working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Pugh throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Abd Elmonaem is working to avoid the ground and pound but Pugh connects with a decent elbow.
Abd Elmonaem is looking for a sweep.
Pugh throws a strike aimed at the side of Abd Elmonaem's head but Abd Elmonaem avoids it well.
Abd Elmonaem is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Abd Elmonaem is trying to work for a sweep but Pugh has mounted him!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abd Elmonaem slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Pugh lands strikes from half guard.
Pugh thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Abd Elmonaem's head.
Pugh not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Abd Elmonaem is trying to stand up here but Pugh is controlling him well.
Pugh not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Abd Elmonaem taking some punishment here, with Pugh in his half guard.
Pugh throws a strike but Abd Elmonaem avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abd Elmonaem working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pugh.
Abd Elmonaem is trying to keep Pugh in close.
Pugh trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pugh makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Pugh working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Pugh loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Abd Elmonaem is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Pugh presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Abd Elmonaem breaks from the clinch.

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 Drew Pugh.
I think Pugh 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Drew Pugh!