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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Craig Bartholemew (ranked 3348 p4p, 0 weight class) and Badr Houdoe (ranked 4078 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 180 cm
25
155 lbs
4 - 3 - 0 |
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176 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong |
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BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Craig Bartholemew!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Badr Houdoe!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Bart Greer and Daniel Franklin.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Houdoe closes the distance and clinches.
Houdoe jumps guard but Bartholemew stands there with Houdoe around his waist. Houdoe gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Houdoe tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bartholemew smiles and moves away.
Houdoe is looking to clinch but Bartholemew is avoiding it.
Houdoe misses with a kick to the body
and Bartholemew counters with a single leg into guard. Houdoe didn't expect that.
Houdoe looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Houdoe is adopting a defensive guard.
Houdoe is trying to control the position but Bartholemew postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bartholemew controls from within his opponent's guard.
Houdoe looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Houdoe is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Bartholemew controlling the position for now.
Bartholemew pushes Houdoe off looking to stand but Houdoe dives back in and keeps control.
Bartholemew has a hand on Houdoe's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Houdoe takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Bartholemew is squirming around, avoiding Houdoe's attempts to control the action.
Houdoe thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houdoe controlling his opponent.
Bartholemew is working to get back to half guard.
Houdoe swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Bartholemew is now in Houdoe's guard. A big mistake from Houdoe there, giving up the dominant position!
Houdoe doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Houdoe tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Houdoe is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bartholemew defends well.
Bartholemew wants to stand but Houdoe has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houdoe tries to strike from the bottom.
Bartholemew is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Houdoe wants to control but Bartholemew passes easily into half guard.
Houdoe is trying to stand.
Houdoe moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Bartholemew passes into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Houdoe wants to control but Bartholemew is keeping busy.
Houdoe works his way to full guard. Good work.
Bartholemew tries to free his leg and advance position but Houdoe is retaining full guard.
Houdoe is trying to control the position but Bartholemew postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Houdoe has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Bartholemew is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Houdoe.
Bartholemew wants to control but Houdoe is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Craig Bartholemew will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!
Bartholemew scores with a crisp jab that stopped Houdoe in his tracks.
Houdoe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bartholemew paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Craig Bartholemew is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Houdoe misses with a jab, cross combination.
Houdoe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Danga de danga de dang - Bartholemew scores with a four punch combination!
Bartholemew shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Houdoe but Houdoe pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bartholemew throws a body kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Houdoe avoids a kick to the body.
Bartholemew tries to score a power double leg takedown but Houdoe sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bartholemew somewhat.
Bartholemew throws a head kick that misses
and Houdoe counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Bartholemew is working for takedown but Houdoe is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Bartholemew. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Houdoe successfully pulls guard.
Houdoe had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bartholemew defends it easily.
Houdoe looking for a sweep. Not yet Houdoe, not yet.
Bartholemew throws a big right hand that misses.
Bartholemew won't allow Houdoe to get back to his feet.
Bartholemew tries to stand but Houdoe is controlling from the bottom.
Houdoe working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bartholemew doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bartholemew manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bartholemew pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Houdoe is keeping the position for now.
Houdoe pulls Bartholemew in to control the position.
Houdoe looking to control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Bartholemew postures up in Houdoe's guard and throws a big left but Houdoe blocks it.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Bartholemew misses with a takedown
and Houdoe counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Bartholemew looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bartholemew avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Houdoe tries to clinch but Bartholemew is having none of it.
Bartholemew fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Houdoe shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bartholemew clinches with his opponent.
Bartholemew avoids a wild elbow strike from Houdoe.
Bartholemew tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Houdoe smiles and moves away.
Bartholemew is trying hard to land a takedown here. Houdoe sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Houdoe doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Bartholemew throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Houdoe doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Bartholemew cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Houdoe is breathing heavily.
Houdoe stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Houdoe wants it to stay on the feet.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bartholemew throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Houdoe darts in trying to clinch
and Bartholemew counters with a left and a right that stings Houdoe.
Craig Bartholemew is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bartholemew dives in and grabs Houdoe's left leg, looking for a takedown. Houdoe pushes down on Bartholemew's head and hops out.
Houdoe lands a head kick. Bartholemew smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Houdoe goes for a double leg but Bartholemew avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bartholemew continues to drive forward.
Bartholemew misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bartholemew shoots in looking for a takedown but Houdoe manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bartholemew's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Houdoe gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Craig Bartholemew will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!
Houdoe closes the distance and clinches.
Houdoe pulls guard effortlessly.
Houdoe is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Houdoe controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bartholemew wants to control but Houdoe is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Houdoe wants to control but Bartholemew is keeping him busy.
Houdoe throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bartholemew wants to control but Houdoe is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Houdoe throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Houdoe keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Bartholemew trying to hold on to Houdoe's head to control him but Houdoe postures up.
Bartholemew looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Houdoe pushes past his half guard into mount!
Bartholemew avoids a series of strikes thrown by Houdoe.
Bartholemew avoids a series of strikes thrown by Houdoe.
Houdoe trying to control but Bartholemew is having none of it.
Houdoe with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bartholemew tries to reverse the position but Houdoe maintains control.
Bartholemew tries to hold on but Houdoe postures up.
Bartholemew is squirming around, avoiding Houdoe's attempts to control the action.
Bartholemew manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Houdoe wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bartholemew keeps working.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bartholemew trying to hold on to Houdoe's head to control him but Houdoe postures up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Bartholemew avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Houdoe.
Badr Houdoe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bartholemew wants to improve his position but Houdoe is controlling well.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bartholemew looks for a takedown but Houdoe sprawls well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Houdoe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bartholemew paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bartholemew is looking to clinch but Houdoe is avoiding it.
Houdoe looks to land a combination. Bartholemew sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Houdoe goes for a double leg but Bartholemew avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bartholemew continues to drive forward.
Bartholemew drives through and clinches with Houdoe against the cage.
Bartholemew drops down looking for an ankle pick but Houdoe pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bartholemew is trying hard to land a takedown here. Houdoe sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Bartholemew. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Houdoe closes the distance and clinches.
Houdoe tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bartholemew smiles and moves away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bartholemew darts in looking for a takedown but Houdoe gets double underhooks and turns Bartholemew into the cage.
Badr Houdoe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Craig Bartholemew is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Houdoe stalks Bartholemew and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Bartholemew's face. Bartholemew staggers backwards, shaken.
And that's the end of the fight!
Badr Houdoe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bartholemew 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 David Hoff scores the fight 29:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
The fight is ruled a draw!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
33% |
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