PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kieran McArthur (ranked 233 p4p, 28 weight class) and Sarfraz Ali (ranked 794 p4p, 88 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

McArthur
vs
Ali

175 cm
25
155 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

165 cm
24
155 lbs
8 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kieran McArthur!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sarfraz Ali!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ali throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

A momentary lapse in concentration from McArthur enables Ali to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. McArthur manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
McArthur has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Ali postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McArthur has control of Ali's left arm, preventing Ali from doing any damage.
Ali wants to control from the top but McArthur keeps moving.
Ali postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ali has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ali tries to free his leg and advance position but McArthur is retaining full guard.
Ali wants to control from the top but McArthur keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali with a flurry of punches that miss.
McArthur working a defensive guard here.
Ali trying to control the position from guard on top but McArthur is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McArthur has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
McArthur continues to stall.
Ali stays in close to McArthur's body and controls the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
McArthur is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
McArthur keeps Ali at a distance using the push kick.
Ali throws an overhand right that lands on McArthur's shoulder, as McArthur tries to avoid the shot.
McArthur misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ali.
Ali lands a nice looking body shot.
Ali throws a lazy uppercut
and McArthur makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Ali really felt that one!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ali moves in looking to clinch but McArthur pushes him off.
A big right from Ali misses.
Ali throws a body shot but no joy.
A little feinted left hand from McArthur on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
McArthur wants to slow Ali down by chopping away at his legs.
Ali blocks a leg kick.
Sarfraz Ali seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McArthur slips under a jab from Ali.
Ali blocks a leg kick.
Ali throws an overhand right that lands on McArthur's shoulder, as McArthur tries to avoid the shot.
Ali closes this distance looking for a takedown but McArthur circles away.
McArthur throws a right hand that misses
and Ali counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ali changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Ali defending well as McArthur loads up on a big left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by McArthur.
Ali missing with a left hand there. McArthur was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ali tries to score with a low kick but McArthur moves his leg out of the way.
McArthur doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
McArthur keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ali looks to score with a jab to the body but McArthur is just out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Ali as he connects with a hook.
McArthur swings widly with a right hand
and Ali counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
McArthur seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
McArthur avoids the body shot from Ali.
McArthur throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Ali counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ali misses with a hook.
Ali works McArthur's body with a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali misses with an uppercut. McArthur saw that one coming.
Ali bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Ali scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McArthur lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Ali misses the jab.
McArthur fires out a quick counter leg kick but Ali just manages to avoid it.
Ali swings for the body but McArthur moves out of range.
McArthur is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
McArthur throws a leg kick which misses Ali's front leg but catches the back leg as Ali tries to avoid it.
Ali lands a jab.
McArthur takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Nice jab there from McArthur.
McArthur slips under a jab from Ali.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sarfraz Ali dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ali ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McArthur moves away.
McArthur cracks Ali with a good jab.
Nice defenses there by McArthur.
As Ali backs away, McArthur returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Ali is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McArthur.
Ali moves in looking to clinch but McArthur pushes him off.
Ali swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sarfraz Ali seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McArthur moves out of range as Ali strikes.
Ali tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McArthur was well out of range. Poor timing from Ali.
Ali blocks the body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

McArthur drops Ali with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Ali looks back up at him and smiles so McArthur waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Ali is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ali misses with a hook. McArthur ducked under it nicely.
As Ali looks to move away, McArthur throws a big counter combo but Ali just gets out of the way.
Ali is still on wobbly legs! Can McArthur finish him?
McArthur misses with a body kick.
Ali seems to have recovered his senses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McArthur misses with a kick to the body.
Ali throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McArthur sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McArthur looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Ali throws an overhand right that lands on McArthur's shoulder, as McArthur tries to avoid the shot.
Ali misses with a hook. McArthur ducked under it nicely.
Ali throws a head kick but McArthur moves out of range.
McArthur throws a big shot that misses.
McArthur blocks a leg kick.
Ali throws a hook to the side of McArthur's head but McArthur sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ali lands a high kick!
Ali fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McArthur manages to avoid it.
A counter left hand to the body from McArthur misses its target.
Ali slips under a jab from McArthur.
Ali has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McArthur walks into a straight right hand from Ali.
The fighters circling - Ali throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
McArthur lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nice jab there from McArthur.
McArthur waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ali.
McArthur misses with a low kick as Ali jumps back.
Ali jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McArthur does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Ali looks to land a left hand but McArthur moved out of range nicely.
Ali works McArthur's body with a nice hook.
Ali fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ali throws a jab when McArthur was well out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali throws a hook but McArthur blocks it.
Ali fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
McArthur walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
McArthur takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Ali listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
McArthur lands an overhand right.
Ali scores with a hook to the body. McArthur takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
McArthur looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
McArthur defending well as Ali loads up on a big left hand.
Ali is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McArthur.
McArthur thinks about countering with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McArthur buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ali just misses with a punch to the body.
Ali throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ali misses with a hook.
Ali jabs McArthur to the body, keeping him at a distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McArthur ducks under a wild hook from Ali.
It appears McArthur was looking to counter with a kick there.
McArthur bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Ali throws a leg kick that misses.
McArthur moves out of range as Ali strikes.
Ali lands a body shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ali scores with a shot to the side of McArthur's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sarfraz Ali will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ali tries a low kick but McArthur avoids it.
Ali digs a good body shot into McArthur's ribs.
Ali punishes McArthur's body with a nice straight punch.
McArthur cracks Ali with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
The fighters circling - McArthur throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
McArthur keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
McArthur ducks under a wild hook from Ali.
Ali ducks under a wild hook from McArthur.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McArthur takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Ali lands a jab to the nose.
McArthur keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ali lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali looks to land a right hand but McArthur moved out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from McArthur misses the target.
Ali moves out of range of the strikes.
McArthur scores with a kick to the body.
Ali pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McArthur throwing a counter right hand but Ali manages to avoid it.
McArthur steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Ali. That one must have hurt.
A big left from Ali misses.
McArthur thuds a left hand into Ali's body.
Ali tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McArthur was well out of range. Poor timing from Ali.
Ali swings and misses with a shot to the body
and McArthur counters with a nice body shot.
Ali does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
McArthur connects with a leg kick. Ali looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
McArthur is looking to land body kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ali misses with a body shot.
It looked like McArthur was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Ali.

McArthur tries to keep at a distance but Ali has taken the fight into the clinch.

Ali jumps into guard, dragging McArthur to the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ali is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Ali looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ali takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McArthur slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Ali keeping full guard, as McArthur tries to pass.
McArthur forces his way into half guard.
Ali is looking for a sweep. McArthur is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
McArthur trying to pass the guard but Ali defending well.
Ali wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McArthur looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ali trying to control but McArthur postures up.
McArthur wants to pass to mount but Ali is defending the position.

Ali looking for submissions off his back.
McArthur sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Ali is looking to improve his position.

Ali looking for submissions off his back.

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.

Ali looking for submissions off his back.
McArthur is taking a breather. Ali says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ali is looking to improve his position.

Ali actively working from the bottom here.
Ali wants to improve his position but McArthur is controlling well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McArthur looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ali wants to improve his position but McArthur is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Sarfraz Ali just about did enough to take it.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ali pulls out of a head kick attempt.
It looked like McArthur wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ali swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling McArthur to counter with a crisp jab.
Ali takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ali jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ali darts in looking for a takedown but McArthur gets double underhooks and turns Ali into the cage.
McArthur throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Ali to counter with a crisp jab.
McArthur throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
McArthur misses with a right hand
and Ali counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McArthur swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ali throws a leg kick which misses McArthur's front leg but catches the back leg as McArthur tries to avoid it.
Ali misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McArthur fakes the leg kick and cracks Ali in the body.
Ali is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Ali takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

McArthur cracks Ali with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Ali looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can McArthur finish him?
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ali, right into the meat.
and McArthur counters with a massive uppercut that badly hurts Ali! He's just covering up as McArthur starts to tee off till the referee steps in and stops the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:35 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kieran McArthur!
Kieran McArthur retains his featherweight title!
A less than humble Kieran McArthur misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.