PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Momo Badawi (ranked 4765 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Naumov (ranked 4684 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Badawi
vs
Naumov

183 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Momo Badawi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alexander Naumov!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Steve Smith and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Badawi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Naumov sprawls well. Naumov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Badawi gets slowly back to his feet.
Badawi shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Naumov eats them both and turns towards Badawi to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

It looks like Alexander Naumov has been cut.
Badawi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Naumov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Badawi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Badawi lands a damaging elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Badawi drags the fight down to the ground.
Naumov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Naumov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naumov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Let's hope that Naumov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Naumov won't allow Badawi to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Naumov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Naumov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Naumov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Naumov shoots in for a takedown but Badawi shows good takedown defense.
Naumov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Badawi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Naumov's guard.

Naumov pushes Badawi off and scrambles back to his feet.
Badawi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Badawi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Naumov defends well and Badawi ends up having to push Naumov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Momo Badawi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Badawi avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Badawi.
Naumov works over Badawi's head and body with a nice combination.

Badawi looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Naumov trying to control but Badawi postures up.
Badawi has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Naumov works to full guard.
Badawi would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naumov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Naumov controlling the pace.
Badawi is looking to control Naumov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Badawi avoid being mounted?
Naumov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Naumov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alexander Naumov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alexander Naumov'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.

Badawi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Badawi closes the distance and clinches.
Naumov tries to pull guard but Badawi won't allow it.
Badawi misses with a body punch.
Naumov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Naumov is trying to pull guard but Badawi turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Naumov just leaning against Badawi, taking a breather.
Naumov is trying to force a seperation but Badawi has the dominant position.
Badawi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Naumov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Badawi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Badawi is looking to take this one to the mat.
Naumov is trying to pull guard but Badawi turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Momo Badawi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Naumov.
Badawi jumps guard but Naumov stands there with Badawi around his waist. Badawi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naumov wants a takedown.

Badawi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Badawi tries to clinch but Naumov is having none of it.
Naumov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Badawi doesn't manage to clinch there - Naumov circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Badawi.
Naumov wants to counter the offense by Badawi and move into the clinch position.

Badawi shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Naumov has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Badawi is on him like a limpet, forcing Naumov back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Badawi jumps guard and drags Naumov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Naumov controls from within his opponent's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Badawi is on top in guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Badawi preventing the sweep.
Badawi throwing strikes but missing.
Naumov working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naumov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Badawi's guard.

Badawi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Naumov on the ground.

Badawi is looking for a triangle but Naumov pushes his legs off easily.

Naumov stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Naumov shoots in but no luck this time.
Badawi fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Naumov shoots in looking for a takedown but Badawi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Naumov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Badawi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Naumov's waist but Naumov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Badawi off to one side.
Naumov throws a fast counter high kick but Badawi manages to duck under it in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naumov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Badawi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Naumov shoots for a takedown but Badawi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Naumov shoots for a double leg takedown but Badawi sprawls well. He's pushed Naumov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Naumov tries to clinch there but Badawi circles away.

Badawi gets a takedown into half guard.

Naumov kicks Badawi off and gets back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Badawi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Naumov.
Naumov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Badawi has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Naumov finds it's way round the side to connect with Badawi's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alexander Naumov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Alexander Naumov's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Badawi closes the distance and clinches.
Badawi gets through Naumov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Badawi trying to stall but Naumov improves his position.
Naumov missing with knees to the body.
Naumov is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Badawi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Naumov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Badawi's waist but Badawi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Naumov off to one side.
Naumov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Badawi pinned against the cage. Badawi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Naumov throws a lazy head kick
and Badawi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Naumov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Naumov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Badawi as he jumps to the side.
Badawi half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Momo Badawi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Naumov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Badawi keeps Naumov at a distance using the push kick.
Momo Badawi is winning the standup battle so far.
Naumov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Momo Badawi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Badawi has managed to clinch.
Badawi avoiding damage.
Badawi scores a nice knee to the body.

Badawi pulls guard.
Badawi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Naumov is one step ahead there.

Badawi is working an open guard so Naumov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naumov blocks a head kick by Badawi.
Badawi shoots in for a takedown but Naumov shows good takedown defense.
Naumov tries to counter with a clinch but Badawi shakes him off and moves away.

Naumov darts in and clinches Badawi up against the cage.

Badawi breaks from the clinch.
Naumov misses with a head kick.
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!
Naumov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Badawi avoids it really well and circles away.
Naumov shoots in for a double leg but Badawi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Badawi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Naumov takes a jab right on the kisser.

Badawi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Badawi lands in his opponent's guard.
Naumov keeping moving, preventing Badawi from controlling successfully.
Badawi pushing down on Naumov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Naumov tries to get to full guard but Badawi has control of the leg.
Badawi trying to advance position but Naumov counters by regaining guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Naumov looking for a guillotine here but Badawi defends easily.
Naumov has a closed guard, preventing Badawi from standing up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Naumov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
Momo Badawi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Naumov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Douchet scores the fight for Momo Badawi!
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight for Momo Badawi!
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight for Momo Badawi!

Momo Badawi wins by unanimous decision!