PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Todd Rosario (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mukhtar Ibrahim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mukhtar Ibrahim has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Todd Rosario's chin.

Rosario
vs
Ibrahim

212 cm
24
279 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

199 cm
25
226 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Todd Rosario!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mukhtar Ibrahim!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ibrahim scores with a takedown into Rosario's guard.
Ibrahim passes into half guard.
Ibrahim is looking to advance position but Rosario won't allow it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ibrahim lands a nice short elbow.
Ibrahim keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Ibrahim scoring with strikes to the body and head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ibrahim seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rosario does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ibrahim with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Ibrahim throwing shots but Rosario is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibrahim prevents Rosario from standing back up.
Ibrahim trying to control the action but Rosario is working from the bottom.
Ibrahim thows a huge punch but Rosario dodges it nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ibrahim is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rosario looks like he's trying to stand up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Rosario has Ibrahim up against the cage in a clinch.
Ibrahim jumps guard but Rosario turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Ibrahim holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Rosario looking to slow down the pace here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Ibrahim looking for a takedown.
Ibrahim has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rosario is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Todd Rosario has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mukhtar Ibrahim.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ibrahim breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Some bone on bone action there as Rosario checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Rosario changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Ibrahim throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rosario feinted with a counter takedown.
Ibrahim fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Rosario gets caught flat footed, as Ibrahim shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rosario controls Ibrahim momentarily but Ibrahim frees himself.
Ibrahim passes into half guard.
Rosario wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibrahim content to control rather than advance.
Ibrahim is trying to control. Rosario wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rosario blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ibrahim.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ibrahim looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ibrahim stops Rosario from getting back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mukhtar Ibrahim dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ibrahim shoots in but no luck this time.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Ibrahim. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Ibrahim doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rosario connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A combination from Ibrahim does no damage.
Ibrahim keeps the fight on the outside.

Ibrahim closes the distance and clinches.

Rosario is trying to trip Ibrahim. He has hold of a leg but Ibrahim is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Rosario persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Ibrahim had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rosario defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ibrahim throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibrahim looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rosario is one step ahead there.
Ibrahim has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Ibrahim is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rosario defends well.
Rosario won't allow Ibrahim to get back to his feet.
Ibrahim is trying to hold Rosario in close to prevent damage but Rosario has managed to pass into half guard.
Ibrahim trying to control from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ibrahim can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ibrahim tries to get to full guard but Rosario has control of the leg.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ibrahim with a poor takedown
and Rosario counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Todd Rosario has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mukhtar Ibrahim.
Ibrahim is breathing heavily.
Ibrahim shoots for a double leg takedown but Rosario sprawls well. He's pushed Ibrahim's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rosario tries to clinch up.
Rosario tries to clinch but Ibrahim is having none of it.
Ibrahim avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Ibrahim shoots in and gets a takedown into Rosario's guard.
Rosario thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Ibrahim stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rosario swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rosario is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibrahim trying to control the position from guard on top but Rosario is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ibrahim stops Rosario from standing up.
Rosario trying to strike off his back.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Rosario keeping moving, preventing Ibrahim from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ibrahim dives in for a single leg takedown but Rosario sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Rosario scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Rosario just content to control the position.

Rosario decides to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibrahim tries for a takedown but Rosario sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ibrahim fails with a takedown attempt.
Rosario seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Rosario tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ibrahim manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rosario throws a low kick but Ibrahim moves out of range easily.
Ibrahim feints the counter takedown.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nice takedown defense from Rosario. No joy for Ibrahim on that attempt.
Rosario shoots for a takedown but Ibrahim saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Todd Rosario dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Ibrahim tries to clinch up but Rosario circles away and keeps his distance.
Ibrahim throws a head kick that misses.
Ibrahim is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rosario sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Ibrahim gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Ibrahim breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Ibrahim scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Rosario bucks up and tries to throw Ibrahim off but instead Ibrahim has got his back!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ibrahim is looking for the choke from the back position but Rosario is controlling his hands well.
Ibrahim takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Rosario manages to escape to his feet.

Ibrahim drives through and clinches with Rosario against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rosario is pressed up against the cage. Ibrahim has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rosario down to the mat. Rosario avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Todd Rosario is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ibrahim gets tackled into the cage by Rosario. Rosario maintains the clinch.
Rosario misses with a knee to the head.
Ibrahim is trying to stall.
Rosario blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rosario is looking to take this one to the mat.
Rosario has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ibrahim goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rosario prevents it.
Todd Rosario has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mukhtar Ibrahim.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rosario tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ibrahim blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rosario missing with knees to the body.

Ibrahim manages to break the clinch.
Ibrahim throws a series of punches but Rosario avoids them all with ease.
Ibrahim misses with a double jab

and Rosario holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rosario tries a body shot but Ibrahim blocks it.

Ibrahim has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Rosario uses from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rosario wants to control from the top but Ibrahim keeps moving.
Ibrahim wants to stand and escape but Rosario is having none of it.
Rosario distracts Ibrahim with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rosario stopping the sweep attempt from Ibrahim.
Rosario controlling from the top position.
Ibrahim is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Ibrahim working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rosario doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rosario manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Rosario has managed to clinch.

Ibrahim pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ibrahim shoots in looking for a takedown but Rosario manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ibrahim's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Rosario darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

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 Todd Rosario.
I think Rosario 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Todd Rosario!