Randy Mboyo vs Mostafa Hanife

Randy was first to the cage.

Closely followed by Mostafa.

Two well respected gyms. Mboyo 0, 2 and a draw from Manchester Top Team against Hanife, making his amateur MMA debut, representing Middlesbrough Fight Academy. Mostafa, the shorter and more physical fighter, started brightly.

Randy with the taller and thinner frame kept relaxed and moved well. Hanife found a home for his quality stiff left jab.

Mboyo was able to maintain the distance with good front leg kicks to the body.

Mostafa initiated a clinch against the fence, but Randy rotated away and kept his hips back. He has good footwork and is able to just avoid much of Hanife’s work. More striking, but off a low kick Mostafa was able to get a single leg into a body lock takedown.

Randy carried Mostafa’s weight for a time, but was able to get back to his feet. Mostafa never let go of the bodylock grip and maintained the controlling position, landing knees, until the horn sounded.

Round two. Randy, tall and rangy, wanted a striking battle.

Mostafa charged and secured a takedown, he had seatbelt control, but was high. In the scramble he converted it to a figure four grip and looked for a kimura shoulder lock. In front of his corner team, Randy was able to survive and wind up in top guard.

From here it took a while but he was able to get through Mostafa’s defences and start landing some heavy ground strikes. With ten seconds to go in the round the action was stopped. Hanife, whilst attempting to escape the position, had pushed away with his feet. One foot caught a grounded Mboyo in the face! After a warning from the referee, the fight resumed again just before the horn.

Round three. The experienced Randy did look more composed, but Hanife was still in the fight. Even on the feet. Randy shook off a tired takedown attempt from Mostafa. Landing more strikes Randy shot his first double leg. Mostafa sprawled out of danger and locked up a tight anaconda choke.

Randy escaped and powered out of it. Both guys are well versed on the ground. Hanife lost position chasing another submission. Randy took full mount, but was put back into guard before he could land anything meaningful. Mostafa, nearing exhaustion and trapped against the fence, survived to hear the horn.

A great fight, a monumental effort from both competitors. Two judges gave it to Randy the third judge had it as a draw. A majority decision was given to Randy Mboyo.