PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Al Koholic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phineas Aboonabbi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Koholic kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Distance by Cake. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Koholic
vs
Aboonabbi

165 cm
19
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
190 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Rivers Edge Nutrition

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 Hilo, Al Koholic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Phineas Aboonabbi!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Koholic fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Aboonabbi, pushing him back against the cage.
Aboonabbi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Koholic lands a left hand.
Aboonabbi jumps guard but Koholic stands there with Aboonabbi around his waist. Aboonabbi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Koholic throws a knee to the head but misses.
Aboonabbi is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Aboonabbi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Koholic smiles and moves away.
Al Koholic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phineas Aboonabbi.
Koholic is looking to clinch.

Koholic clinches up with Aboonabbi and pushes him back against the cage.
Koholic lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Aboonabbi backwards.
Koholic gets underhooks to prevent Aboonabbi's takedown attempt.
Koholic lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Aboonabbi or not.
Aboonabbi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Koholic.
Koholic looking to throw knees to the head but Aboonabbi is blocking nicely.
Koholic keeps control of Aboonabbi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Koholic wants the takedown. Aboonabbi is fighting it off but Koholic persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Aboonabbi's guard against the cage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aboonabbi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Koholic controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koholic seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Aboonabbi for as long as he can get away with.
Koholic works over Aboonabbi with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Aboonabbi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Koholic controlling from the top position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Al Koholic just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Koholic avoids the body shot from Aboonabbi.
Aboonabbi takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Koholic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Koholic misses with some punches.
Aboonabbi tries to pull guard but Koholic won't allow it.
Aboonabbi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Koholic lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Koholic prevents a takedown attempt there.

Koholic has hold of one of Aboonabbi's legs. Aboonabbi is fighting the takedown attempt but Koholic gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aboonabbi being controlled here, momentarily.
Koholic might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Aboonabbi is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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.
Koholic not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Koholic's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Koholic looking to pass the guard.
Koholic controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Al Koholic just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Aboonabbi 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.

Al Koholic 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.

Aboonabbi moves in looking to clinch but Koholic pushes him off.
Al Koholic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Koholic wants to clinch.
Koholic tries to clinch up
and Aboonabbi counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Aboonabbi circles away from the clinch attempt.

Koholic takes the fight into the clinch.
Aboonabbi tries to pull guard but Koholic holds him up against the cage and eventually Aboonabbi drops back down to his feet.
Koholic lands an uppercut.
Aboonabbi lands a knee to the body.
Koholic working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Aboonabbi lands a shot to the body.

Koholic works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aboonabbi keeping moving, preventing Koholic from controlling successfully.
Aboonabbi wants to stand but Koholic is controlling the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Aboonabbi looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aboonabbi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Koholic is controlling him.
Koholic seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Koholic has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Koholic works over Aboonabbi with some ground and pound from guard.

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.
Koholic passes into half guard.
Koholic throwing shots but Aboonabbi is blocking nicely.
Koholic with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Koholic looks to land a strike but Aboonabbi avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Aboonabbi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Koholic doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Koholic manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Aboonabbi controls Koholic momentarily but Koholic frees himself.
Koholic controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Koholic throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aboonabbi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koholic sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Koholic stops Aboonabbi from standing up.
Koholic showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Al Koholic just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Koholic tries to clinch but Aboonabbi moves out of range.

That's four 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.
Koholic is looking to clinch but Aboonabbi is avoiding it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Aboonabbi.

Koholic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Koholic.
Aboonabbi jumps guard but Koholic stands there with Aboonabbi around his waist. Aboonabbi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Al Koholic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phineas Aboonabbi.
Koholic wants to break free but Aboonabbi has control.
Koholic wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Aboonabbi has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Koholic avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Koholic is pushing Aboonabbi up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Aboonabbi.
Koholic works on Aboonabbi's body with a couple of short punches.
Aboonabbi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Koholic smiles and moves away.

Koholic shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Aboonabbi's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Al Koholic dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Koholic wants to clinch
and Aboonabbi counters with a two punch combo.

Aboonabbi rushes Koholic and presses him up against the cage.
Aboonabbi is trying to stall.
Koholic slowing the pace effectively.
Aboonabbi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Koholic.
Aboonabbi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Koholic really is a fat lump.
Koholic throws a punch but it's blocked by Aboonabbi.
Aboonabbi stops a takedown attempt from Koholic.
Aboonabbi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Aboonabbi wants a takedown but no success here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aboonabbi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Koholic fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Aboonabbi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Al Koholic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phineas Aboonabbi.
Aboonabbi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aboonabbi fails with the takedown.
Aboonabbi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Koholic clinches up with Aboonabbi and pushes him back against the cage.
Koholic works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Koholic lands a right hand that snaps the head of Aboonabbi backwards.
Koholic fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Aboonabbi's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Aboonabbi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Aboonabbi is looking to break free of the clinch but Koholic has double underhooks.
Aboonabbi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Koholic smiles and moves away.

Koholic clinches up with Aboonabbi and pushes him back against the cage.
Aboonabbi drops down looking for an ankle pick but Koholic pulls his leg out and moves away.
Aboonabbi fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aboonabbi tries to clinch up.
Aboonabbi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Aboonabbi wants to clinch.
Aboonabbi misses with a body kick.
Aboonabbi lands with a slapping head kick.
Aboonabbi keeps the fight on the outside.
Aboonabbi tries to clinch but Koholic is having none of it.

Koholic moves into the clinch.
Koholic working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Aboonabbi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Aboonabbi taking a breather.
Koholic lands with a right to the head.
A short left from Koholic.
Koholic lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aboonabbi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Koholic keeps control of Aboonabbi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A short left from Koholic.
Koholic throws a knee to the head but misses.

Koholic gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Koholic controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koholic working Aboonabbi over with strikes.
Aboonabbi trying to control here.
Aboonabbi is looking to improve his position.
Aboonabbi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Aboonabbi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Koholic's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Al Koholic.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Koholic, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Al Koholic!