PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Butch Cassidy (ranked 2344 p4p, 2778 weight class) and Mohammed Abul (ranked 294 p4p, 354 weight class). Abul has chosen Stone The Crows as his entrance music. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Cassidy
vs
Abul

180 cm
19
175
2 - 2 - 0

184 cm
19
177
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

HELLBENT
New Standard

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
New Standard

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Butch Cassidy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mohammed Abul!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Tiny Johnson and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cassidy tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Abul was well out of range. Poor timing from Cassidy.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Abul! But no joy.
Cassidy misses with a wild body shot.
Cassidy looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Abul keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cassidy.
A countering left hand to the body from Abul misses.
Cassidy avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cassidy moves out of range as Abul strikes.
Cassidy swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Abul on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Cassidy throws a jab when Abul was well out of range.
Abul misses with a wild body shot.
A clash of legs there as Abul blocks the low kick.
Cassidy takes a swing at Abul's ribcage but misses.
Cassidy connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Abul momentarily.
Abul looks to land a left hand but Cassidy moved out of range nicely.
Abul bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Abul throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cassidy sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cassidy dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheers as Abul lands an impressive looking overhand right. Cassidy doesn't seem phased though.
Abul displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cassidy throws out the jab.
Cassidy throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Cassidy tried to score with a low kick but Abul checks it.
Abul just misses with a punch to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Abul checks a leg kick.
Cassidy throws an overhand right that lands on Abul's shoulder, as Abul tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cassidy thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cassidy loads up on a big right hand but Abul slips the punch.
Cassidy is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Abul.
Abul staying out of range there.
Abul ducks under a wild hook from Cassidy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cassidy. Abul does a little dance to reset his feet.
Abul throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Abul smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Abul misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cassidy.
Cassidy throws a one two combo.
Abul takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Abul misses with a straight right.
Abul doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Abul misses the shot to the body.
Cassidy ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A counter left hand to the body from Cassidy misses its target.
Cassidy misses with a wild body shot.
Abul keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Abul ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Abul takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Cassidy looks to score with a jab to the body but Abul is just out of range.
Abul scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cassidy doesn't seem bothered though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Abul. Cassidy does a little dance to reset his feet.
It looked like Cassidy wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Abul throws a hook but Cassidy blocks it.
Cassidy lands with a thumping leg kick.
Cassidy just misses with a punch to the body.
Cassidy lands with a nice body punch.
Abul swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Abul misses with a straight right.
Cassidy scores with a jab.
Abul sizes up Cassidy with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Cassidy with a jab.
Cassidy looks to score with a jab to the body but Abul is just out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Abul! But no joy.
Abul scores with a nice strike.
Cassidy throws a nice outside leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Abul misses the target.
Abul uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cassidy.
Cassidy goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Abul throws a hook but Cassidy avoids it easily.
Cassidy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Abul connects with the punch.
Cassidy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Abul fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Abul catches Cassidy right on the button with a cross.
Cassidy fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Abul manages to avoid it.
Cassidy throws a jab when Abul was well out of range.
A jab from Cassidy finds it's way through Abul's defenses.
Abul throws a body punch but Cassidy moves out of range.
Cassidy is looking to wear down Abul with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Cassidy misses with a straight right.
Abul lands with a good body shot.
Abul connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Cassidy's hands.
Donk. Abul catches Cassidy right on the button with a cross.
Abul throws a jab but it's blocked by Cassidy.
A swing and a miss from Abul.
Cassidy staying out of range there.
Abul scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cassidy doesn't seem bothered though.
Abul is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Cassidy had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cassidy. Abul does a little dance to reset his feet.
Abul misses with a straight left.
Cassidy blocks a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Good work by Cassidy as he checks the leg kick.
Cassidy stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Cassidy throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cassidy throws a leg kick but Abul sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cassidy throws a body shot but no joy.
Cassidy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Abul.
Cassidy steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Abul.
Cassidy throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A big right from Abul misses.
Cassidy ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
It looked like Cassidy wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Abul misses with a wild body shot.
Cassidy keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Abul.
Cassidy lands a body shot.
Cassidy connects with a leg kick.
Cassidy blocks a jab.
Abul has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Cassidy misses with a two punch combination.
Butch Cassidy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice shot by Abul.
Abul slips a straight right by Cassidy.
Abul staying out of range there.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Abul uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cassidy.
Abul throws a jab but it's blocked by Cassidy.
Cassidy appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Abul throws a body punch but Cassidy moves out of range.
Cassidy is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Abul.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Abul checks a leg kick.
Abul appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Butch Cassidy will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

A shot to the liver by Abul. Beautiful body shot.
Cassidy ducks under a wild hook from Abul.
Cassidy fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Abul looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Abul moves out of range of the strikes.
Cassidy misses with a body shot.
Cassidy digs a good hook to Abul's body.
Cassidy is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Abul jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Abul jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cassidy turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Cassidy throws a lazy right hand but Abul sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Abul throws a body punch but Cassidy moves out of range.
Cassidy showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Abul.
Abul moves away from the strike by Cassidy.
Cassidy throws a hook but Abul blocks it.
Butch Cassidy is winning the standup battle so far.
Cassidy jabs at Abul's body.
Abul takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
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!
Cassidy scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Abul defending well as Cassidy loads up on a big left hand.
Abul throws a lazy right hand but Cassidy sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cassidy misses with a body shot.
Cassidy uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Abul.
Abul looks to score with a jab to the body but Cassidy is just out of range.
Cassidy appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Cassidy is looking to chop away at Abul's legs.
Abul misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cassidy.
A punch lands to the side of Abul 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Cassidy throws a body punch but Abul moves out of range.
Cassidy slips under a jab.
Abul scores with a nice right hand.
Abul is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cassidy.
Cassidy throws a lazy right hand but Abul sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cassidy digs a good body shot into Abul's ribs.
Abul throws a shot from downtown. Cassidy moves away and avoids it.
Cassidy throws a chopping leg kick but Abul manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Abul looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Abul checks a leg kick.
Cassidy throws an off balance right hand
and Abul counters with a straight right hand.
Cassidy throws a body shot but no joy.
Cassidy ducks under a wild hook from Abul.
Abul fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cassidy manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abul avoids the head kick by Cassidy.
Abul loads up on a big right hand but Cassidy slips the punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cassidy throws a solid leg kick but Abul takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Cassidy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Abul. Cassidy does a little dance to reset his feet.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Abul checks a leg kick.
Cassidy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cassidy has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Cassidy there as he acknowledges the shot.
Abul throws a hook but Cassidy avoids it easily.
Abul misses with an uppercut. Cassidy saw that one coming.
Abul misses with a straight right.
Cassidy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Abul.
Abul takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Cassidy just misses with a punch to the body.
Cassidy ducks under a wild hook from Abul.
Cassidy's corner calls for a 1-2. Cassidy obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Abul is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cassidy.
Cassidy waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Abul.
Abul throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cassidy sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A quick step to the side and Cassidy tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cassidy steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Abul.
Cassidy fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Abul on the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abul pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A swing and a miss from Cassidy.
Cassidy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Abul walks into a stiff left hand from Cassidy.
Cassidy throws a hook but Abul blocks it.
A little jabbing left from Abul on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cassidy rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Abul moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cassidy connects with a right hand. Abul shakes it off.
Abul takes a swing at Cassidy's ribcage but misses.
Cassidy throws an overhand right that lands on Abul's shoulder, as Abul tries to avoid the shot.
Cassidy walks into a left hand.
Abul connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Cassidy momentarily.
Abul wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Abul swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Abul throws a shot from downtown. Cassidy moves away and avoids it.
Cassidy keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Abul.
Abul getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cassidy scores with a crisp jab that stopped Abul in his tracks.
Cassidy lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Abul circles away quickly and effectively.
Abul throws out a counter right but Cassidy avoids it with no problem.
Cassidy moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cassidy dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cassidy with a jab.
Cassidy misses with a lunging right hand
and Cassidy takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cassidy throws a body shot but no joy.
Abul waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cassidy.
Cassidy fires out a quick counter leg kick but Abul just manages to avoid it.
Cassidy uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Abul.
A slow jab from Cassidy misses its intended target.
A big left from Abul misses.
Abul ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Cassidy bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Abul's head.
A solid leg kick lands there for Cassidy.
Cassidy keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Abul.
Cassidy displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Abul throws out the jab.
A big right from Cassidy misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cassidy will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Abul waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cassidy.
Abul throws a looping overhand right but Cassidy ducks down to avoid it.
Cassidy throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Abul sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Butch Cassidy will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cassidy throws a series of punches but Abul avoids them all with ease.
Cassidy steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Abul.
Abul misses the shot to the body.
Abul jabs at Cassidy's body.
Cassidy tries to land a front kick but Abul steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Abul steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cassidy.
Abul throws a big shot that misses.
Abul dodges the punch combination from Cassidy.
Cassidy throws a jab when Abul was well out of range.
Cassidy looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Cassidy misses with a straight left.
Abul swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cassidy lands a nice hook to Abul's body. Abul takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cassidy just misses with a punch to the body.
Cassidy uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Abul.
A jab from Abul misses.
Cassidy closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Good work by Abul as he checks the leg kick.
Cassidy throws a right hand that Abul ducks under and follows up with a left that Abul also avoids with ease.
A nice side step and Abul releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abul swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cassidy ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cassidy throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cassidy tries a head kick but it misses.
Abul avoids the head kick by Cassidy.
A telegraphed right hand from Abul misses the target.
Abul pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cassidy will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Cassidy waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Abul.
Cassidy swings for the body but Abul moves out of range.
Cassidy throws a leg kick that misses.
Abul is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Abul throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Abul throws a hook to the side of Cassidy's head but Cassidy sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cassidy throws out a powerful jab.
Abul looks to score with a jab to the body but Cassidy is just out of range.
Cassidy lands a body shot.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cassidy.
Cassidy throws a quick inside leg kick.
Cassidy fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Mohammed Abul has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abul avoids the body shot from Cassidy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cassidy. Abul does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cassidy ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A big left from Abul misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Cassidy misses the target.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Abul misses with a body shot.
Cassidy fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Abul manages to avoid it.
Abul tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cassidy was well out of range. Poor timing from Abul.
Cassidy displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Abul throws out the jab.
Cassidy throws the kick towards the body but Abul avoids it.
Cassidy throws a body punch but Abul moves out of range.
Abul moves out of range of the strikes.
Cassidy lands a jab.
Abul pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Abul throws a jab when Cassidy was well out of range.
A big left from Abul misses.
Abul slips under a jab from Cassidy.
Abul looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Cassidy ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Left hook, right uppercut from Cassidy.
Cassidy misses with a low kick.
Abul throws out a counter right but Cassidy avoids it with no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Abul misses its intended target.
Cassidy swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Cassidy wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Good shot there by Abul.
Abul dodges the punch combination from Cassidy.
Abul throws the left hand but Cassidy avoids the punch easily.
Abul scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Abul uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cassidy.
Butch Cassidy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A left lands for Abul.
Cassidy takes a swing at Abul's ribcage but misses.
A swing and a miss from Abul.
Cassidy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Abul.
Cassidy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Abul moves away.
Cassidy misses with a looping right.
Cassidy lunges at Abul with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Abul's hand.
Cassidy throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
The fighters circling - Abul throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Abul keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Abul lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Cassidy at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Cassidy uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Abul.
A quick step to the side and Cassidy tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cassidy looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Cassidy misses with a leg kick
and Abul counters with a straight right hand.
Abul has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Abul displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cassidy throws out the jab.
Cassidy looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cassidy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Abul! But no joy.
Abul throws a hook to the side of Cassidy's head but Cassidy sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Donk. Abul catches Cassidy right on the button with a cross.
Abul tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Abul throws a body punch but Cassidy moves out of range.
Abul looks to score with a jab to the body but Cassidy is just out of range.
Cassidy blocks a jab.
Cassidy uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Abul.
Cassidy just misses with a punch to the body.
Abul moves out of range of the leg kick from Cassidy.
Abul thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cassidy throws a right hand that misses
and Abul counters with a straight right hand.
Cassidy scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Abul doesn't seem bothered though.

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 Butch Cassidy.
Well Cassidy has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Butch Cassidy!
A relieved looking Butch Cassidy thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.