PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sean Quinn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdul Rashid Naji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Quinn
vs
Rashid Naji

173 cm
36
169 lbs
30 - 14 - 3

195 cm
30
277 lbs
17 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Alpha Male

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 14 - 3, fighting out of London, Sean Quinn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Abdul Rashid Naji!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Ackerman and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Naji tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Quinn paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Naji misses with an uppercut.
A slow jab from Quinn misses its intended target.
Naji slips under a jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Quinn misses the target.
Quinn throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Naji uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Quinn.
Quinn takes a swing at Naji's ribcage but misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Naji misses the target.
Quinn throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Naji gets a double leg takedown into Quinn's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Naji content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Quinn is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Naji is controlling him.
Naji in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Quinn keeping full guard, as Naji tries to pass.
Naji has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Naji is looking to work some ground and pound but Quinn has wrist control.
Naji wants to pass the guard but Quinn is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naji trying to control the position from guard on top but Quinn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Quinn knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Naji on the ground.
Naji trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Naji is looking to work some ground and pound but Quinn has wrist control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Naji fails with a takedown attempt.
Quinn throws an overhand right that lands on Naji's shoulder, as Naji tries to avoid the shot.
Quinn throws a shot to the body.
A swing and a miss from Quinn.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Quinn misses the shot to the body.

Naji closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Quinn's guard.
Naji stands up over Quinn, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Naji throws a big right hand that misses.
Naji trying to control but Quinn is working from the bottom.
Naji postures up.
Naji trying to control but Quinn is working from the bottom.
Quinn tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Naji trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Naji ducks under a wild hook from Quinn.
Naji uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Quinn.
Quinn swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sean Quinn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Naji shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Naji stands up over Quinn, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Naji throws a big elbow that misses.
Naji in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Naji tries to free his leg and advance position but Quinn is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul Rashid Naji dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Naji scores with a crisp jab that stopped Quinn in his tracks.
Quinn just misses with a punch to the body.

Naji rushes Quinn and presses him up against the cage.
Naji tries for a takedown. No joy.
Quinn misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Naji drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Quinn gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Quinn is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Naji's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Naji lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Quinn breaks from the clinch.
Naji looks to land a right hand but Quinn moved out of range.
Quinn throws a series of punches but Naji moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Quinn. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Quinn takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Naji fails with an attempt to clinch.
Naji uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Quinn.
Quinn walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Naji will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sean Quinn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Abdul Rashid Naji.
Naji avoids a punch combination nicely.
Quinn lands a jab to Naji's midsection.
Quinn circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naji throws a jab but it's blocked by Quinn.
Quinn misses with a looping right.
Quinn tries to move into range but Naji moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A swing and a miss from Quinn.
Naji tries for a takedown but Quinn circles away easily
and Quinn counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Naji misses with a body shot.

Naji closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Quinn's guard.
Naji trying to control the position from guard on top but Quinn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Naji is looking to work some ground and pound but Quinn has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naji trying to control the position from guard on top but Quinn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Naji in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Naji wants to pass the guard but Quinn is keeping the position.
Naji looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Naji passes Quinn's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Quinn is looking to improve his position.
Quinn is not content to let Naji control the position.
Naji thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Quinn wants to control but Naji is keeping busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Naji sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Quinn defending well though.
Naji with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul Rashid Naji showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Naji blocks a jab.
Naji throws the left hand but Quinn avoids the punch easily.
Quinn fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Naji manages to avoid it.
Naji bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Quinn's head backwards.
Naji misses with a looping right.
Naji throws a hook but Quinn avoids it easily.

Naji closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Naji lands in his opponent's guard.
Naji throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naji throws a big elbow that misses.
Naji advances position into side control!
Quinn might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Naji landing strikes.
Naji scoring with punches from side control.
Quinn defending against the ground and pound.
Naji postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Naji landing a few strikes.
Naji controlling from side mount.
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!
Naji wants to control but Quinn is keeping him busy.
Sean Quinn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naji working the head and body with strikes.
Naji misses with the ground and pound.
Naji working the ground and pound but Quinn is defending the strikes.
Sloppy strikes there by Naji.
Naji working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Naji wants to lay and pray for a moment but Quinn keeps working.
Quinn parries the strikes from Naji easily there. Naji is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Quinn to escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Quinn tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Naji wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
A lull in the action here as Naji stalls from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ground and pound from Naji seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Abdul Rashid Naji has got the better of the ground game so far.
Naji is chipping away with strikes.

Naji is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Quinn knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
An elbow from Naji crashes against the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Naji goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Quinn has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Naji but great work by Quinn.
Naji is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Quinn off and has taken his back!
Naji somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Can Quinn hold on?! Naji is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Even with his hooks in, Naji manages to miss with strikes from the back.

Naji looking for the RNC.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Naji punishes Quinn with strikes from the back mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abdul Rashid Naji comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Naji 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 26:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 26:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abdul Rashid Naji!
During a confident post fight interview, Abdul Rashid Naji thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.