PBP Commentary

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

Ali
vs
Coleman

190 cm
22
265 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

194 cm
18
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Improved boxing
Big heart

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hamza Ali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Erick Coleman!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ali scores with a nice head shot.
Ali pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ali connects with a single shot there.

Coleman closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Coleman lands in his opponent's guard.

Ali looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

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

Ali looking for a guillotine here but Coleman defends easily.
Coleman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Coleman won't allow Ali to sweep him here.
Ali could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Ali is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ali is looking for a triangle here but Coleman uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Coleman controlling the position from side mount.
Coleman works to advance to full mount. Ali defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Coleman tries to control but Ali wriggling away.
Coleman prevents Ali from getting the reversal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Coleman working away from the top, dropping strikes.

It looks like Hamza Ali has been cut.
Coleman prevents Ali from getting the reversal.
Coleman postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Ali looks a forlorn figure.

Ali is rocked!
Coleman looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ali tries to reverse the position but Coleman maintains control.
Coleman controlling from the full mount.
Ali tries to improve his position but instead Coleman has taken his back!
Coleman is hanging on to Ali's back as he tries to escape.
cage is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Ali.
Ali holding both Coleman 's hands and preventing any damage.
Ali tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali breaks Coleman's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Ali tries to free his leg and advance position but Coleman is retaining full guard.

Ali is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Coleman is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Coleman has escaped and now he's on top!

Ali is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Ali looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ali is wriggling around but Coleman manages to pass to half guard.

Ali is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Coleman pulls his head out easily.
Coleman has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ali is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Coleman controlling the position easily from mount.
Ali sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Ali tries to roll over but Coleman keeps him under control.
Coleman lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ali wants to get back to full guard.
Coleman really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ali. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Ali looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Coleman is looking to take a break and control but Ali is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erick Coleman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hamza Ali's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Coleman gets a takedown into half guard.
Coleman is nestled in close to Ali, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Coleman is keen to just control but Ali is a slippery customer.
Ali regains full guard. Nicely done.

Ali looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Ali working for submissions but it's allowed Coleman to get to half guard.
Coleman trying to control the action but Ali is working from the bottom.
Ali tries to get to full guard but Coleman has control of the leg.
Coleman is pressing down on Ali's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ali is holding on for now.
Coleman prevents Ali from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ali looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Coleman moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Ali.
Ali tries to buck Coleman off but Coleman is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ali is working hard here to advance position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Coleman changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ali looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Coleman is breathing heavily.
Coleman is looking to take a break and control but Ali is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ali is looking for a sweep.
Ali gets back to half guard.
Coleman tries to pass to full mount but Ali defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coleman prevents Ali from improving his position.
Coleman throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ali wants to improve his position but Coleman is controlling well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ali cracks Coleman with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Ali throws a hook but Coleman avoids it easily.
Ali looks to land a right hand but Coleman moved out of range.
Coleman on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Coleman shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Coleman moves away from the strike by Ali.
Ali lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Ali connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Coleman's hands.
Coleman has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Coleman there as he acknowledges the shot.
Ali tries a head kick but it misses.
Coleman walks into a stiff left hand from Ali.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Coleman shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Ali slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Ali tries to get to full guard but Coleman has control of the leg.
Coleman wants to pass the guard but Ali is defending well.
Ali is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ali wants to control but Coleman is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Ali looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Ali looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Coleman seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ali throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Coleman sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ali misses with a straight right.
Ali will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ali is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Coleman clinches up against the cage.
Ali wants to break free but Coleman has control.

Coleman pulls Ali into guard.
Coleman throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Coleman working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ali doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ali manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Coleman has control of Ali's left arm, preventing Ali from doing any damage.

Ali drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ali jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erick Coleman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hamza Ali's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Coleman bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Coleman feints and as Ali raises his hands in defense, Coleman changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Coleman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Coleman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Coleman pushes down on Ali's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Coleman looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ali has hold of Coleman's hands but Coleman slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Erick Coleman has got the better of the ground game so far.

Ali actively working from the bottom here.

Ali looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ali tries to get to full guard but Coleman has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coleman controlling the pace.

Ali looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ali throws a strike from the bottom but Coleman passes into side control!
Ali takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Ali being controlled for a moment.
Ali looks to move to half guard but instead Coleman has passed into mount! Damn!
Ali regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ali is trying to get back to full guard.
Ali makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ali.
Ali looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Coleman trying to control the position from guard on top but Ali is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Coleman controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Coleman takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Ali is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ali is trying to control the position but Coleman postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coleman thows a huge punch but Ali dodges it nicely.
Ali wants to get back to full guard.
Coleman is keen to just control but Ali is a slippery customer.
Coleman works his way into full mount!
Ali is trying to escape the mount.
Coleman manages to capitalize on a mistake by Ali to take his back!

Coleman has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Ali has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Ali breaks Coleman's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Ali preventing the sweep.
Coleman striking from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Coleman keeping moving, preventing Ali from controlling successfully.
Ali tries to free his leg and advance position but Coleman is retaining full guard.
Coleman keeping moving, preventing Ali from controlling successfully.
Coleman throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Coleman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ali is one step ahead there.
Coleman is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hamza Ali has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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

Coleman drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Ali keeping moving, preventing Coleman from controlling successfully.
Coleman is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Coleman's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Ali looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erick Coleman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Coleman winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erick Coleman!