PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Balan Syed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdul Raziq (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Syed is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Syed
vs
Raziq

184 cm
24
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
29
175 lbs
4 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Powerful

Firebird Designs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Balan Syed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Abdul Raziq!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, John Roberts and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Syed tries a head kick but it misses.
Syed is breathing heavily.

Raziq feints and as Syed raises his hands in defense, Raziq changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Raziq wants to stand but Syed is controlling his posture from full guard.
Syed pulls Raziq in close to prevent any damage.
Raziq wants to stand but Syed is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Raziq is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Syed's half guard.
Raziq wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Syed manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Raziq wanted to stand there but Syed had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raziq preventing the sweep.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Raziq wanted to stand there but Syed had control of the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Abdul Raziq was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Raziq bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Raziq wants to stand but Syed is controlling his arm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Raziq working away.
Raziq wants to stand but Syed has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
Syed is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Midnight MMA that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Raziq wants to stand but Syed has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Syed is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Raziq is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul Raziq dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Raziq throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Syed tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Raziq is in Syed's guard.
Syed is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Raziq would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Balan Syed wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Raziq shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Raziq showed some decent athleticism there.
Syed is trying to maintain the position but Raziq is very close to passing his half guard.
Raziq wants to stand but Syed has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Abdul Raziq has got the better of the ground game so far.
Raziq wants to stand up but Syed manages to regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raziq wants to stand but Syed is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raziq won't allow Syed to sweep him here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Raziq closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Syed did well to prevent Raziq getting side control.
Raziq is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raziq tries to stand and escape but Syed actually recovers to full guard.
Syed wants to stand and escape but Raziq is having none of it.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Raziq wants to get up but he can't break Syed's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Raziq postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul Raziq showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Raziq shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Syed's guard.
Raziq trying to stand up but can't free himself from Syed's guard.
Syed is trying to control the position but Raziq postures up.
Raziq is looking to stand up but Syed won't let him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Syed gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Raziq to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Raziq has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Syed is proving hard to escape from.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Syed pulls Raziq in close to his closed guard and prevents Raziq from doing any damage or advancing position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Raziq scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Raziq is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Raziq is thwarting Syed's attempts to control the position.
Raziq wants to stand up but Syed has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Raziq looking to score a takedown here. Syed is defending well but Raziq drives through and ends up in Syed's guard.
Syed wants to stand and escape but Raziq is having none of it.
Raziq tries to stand but Syed is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Syed wants to stand up but Raziq is controlling him.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Abdul Raziq hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Raziq fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Syed sprawls well initially but Raziq persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Raziq wants to stand up but Syed is controlling the position.
Balan Syed has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Abdul Raziq was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Raziq closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Syed to the mat! Syed manages to get full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abdul Raziq comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Raziq has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abdul Raziq!
Abdul Raziq was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.