PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between David Abbott (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruno Knuckles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Abbott
vs
Knuckles

183 cm
22
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
23
230 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, David Abbott!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bruno Knuckles!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shirou Masuda and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab lands there for Abbott.
Knuckles shoots in but Abbott avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Abbott lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Knuckles looks gassed!
Knuckles scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Abbott tries to close the distance and clinch but Knuckles swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Knuckles slips a jab and a cross from Abbott.
Abbott swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Abbott closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Abbott softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Abbott lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Knuckles blocks the elbow strike.
Abbott softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Abbott pushes off an throws an elbow but Knuckles leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Abbott looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Abbott tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Abbott lands a shoulder strike.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Knuckles pulls guard effortlessly.

Abbott decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abbott lands a body shot.
Donk. Abbott catches Knuckles right on the button with a cross.
Abbott tries to close the distance and clinch up but Knuckles swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Abbott tries to clinch up.
Abbott lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Abbott gets in close and instigates a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Abbott wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Knuckles has him pressed against the cage.
Abbott tries to circle away but Knuckles has him pinned against the cage.

Abbott's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Abbott wants to clinch up but Knuckles keeps it at a distance.
Knuckles fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Abbott closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Knuckles did well to prevent Abbott getting side control.
Abbott wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Abbott stands up and beckons Knuckles to join him on the feet.
Abbott is looking to clinch but Knuckles is avoiding it.
Knuckles throws a right and a left that both miss.
Knuckles throws a hook but Abbott avoids it easily.
Abbott throws a combination. Knuckles tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Knuckles gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Knuckles throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Abbott escapes and throws Knuckles's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Abbott decides to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles tries to clinch up
and Abbott counters with a lovely straight right hand!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Knuckles.
David Abbott has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruno Knuckles.
Knuckles circles away from the clinch attempt
and Knuckles counters with a nice body kick.

Abbott has Knuckles up against the cage in a clinch.
Knuckles tries for a takedown but Abbott manages to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Knuckles goes for a takedown attempt but Abbott pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Abbott goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Knuckles with a poor takedown

and Abbott counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Knuckles!

Abbott stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Abbott tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Knuckles counters with a nice body kick.
Knuckles avoids the body shot from Abbott.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Abbott wants to clinch

and Knuckles counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Abbott is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Abbott dominated that round.
That's time! Abbott's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Abbott shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Knuckles's guard.
Abbott would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Knuckles trying to control the position.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Abbott stands and steps away. Knuckles gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Knuckles closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Knuckles lands in his opponent's guard.
Abbott wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Knuckles manages to pass to side control.
Knuckles takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abbott is looking to escape.
Knuckles looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Abbott pushes Knuckles off looking to stand but Knuckles dives back in and keeps control.
Knuckles looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Horrible takedown by Knuckles or perhaps it was just good defense by Abbott which made him look bad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Knuckles shoots for a double leg takedown but Abbott sprawls well. He's pushed Knuckles's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Abbott closes the distance looking to clinch

and Knuckles moves into the clinch.
Knuckles is trying to break the clinch but Abbott is controlling him.
Knuckles is trying to drag Abbott to the mat but Abbott just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
David Abbott has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruno Knuckles.
Knuckles goes for a takedown in the clinch but Abbott prevents it.
Abbott wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Knuckles has Abbott pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Abbott manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Knuckles prevents Abbott from breaking the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Abbott takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abbott trying to stall but Knuckles improves his position.
Knuckles jumps guard but Abbott stands there with Knuckles around his waist. Knuckles gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Knuckles jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Abbott walks away with a smile on his face. Knuckles gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A head kick from Knuckles lands but Abbott takes it in his stride.
Abbott swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Knuckles counters with a big head kick but Abbott shrugs it off.
Knuckles is looking to clinch.
Abbott closes the distance looking to clinch
and Knuckles counters with a thumping low kick.
Knuckles misses with a takedown
and Abbott counters with a three punch combo that has Knuckles backing up. Knuckles nods at Abbott to acknowledge the strikes.
Abbott closes the distance looking to clinch

and Knuckles counters with a shoot takedown. Abbott fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles won't allow Abbott to get back to his feet.
Abbott can't keep his opponent in guard - Knuckles advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Abbott is trying to stand back up but Knuckles is controlling him
Knuckles passes to side control.
The referee asks Knuckles politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Knuckles prefers to stall for the moment though.
Knuckles is looking to take a break and control but Abbott is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Abbott is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruno Knuckles showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Knuckles dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Abbott. That did some damage!

Abbott closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Abbott dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Abbott's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Knuckles tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Abbott just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nice body punch from Abbott.
Abbott scores with a shot to the side of Knuckles's head.
Abbott lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Abbott has a couple of punches blocked by Knuckles.
Abbott digs a right hand underneath Knuckles's ribcage. Knuckles let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Knuckles manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knuckles is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
David Abbott overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Abbott stands up from Knuckles's guard - Abbott perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knuckles tries for a takedown but Abbott circles away easily

and Abbott counters with a shoot takedown. Knuckles fights it but they end up in guard.
Abbott won't allow Knuckles to sweep him here.
Abbott wants to stand and escape but instead Knuckles has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Knuckles trying to control but Abbott is working from the bottom.
Knuckles landing some decent shots from guard.
Abbott is looking to stand back up but Knuckles counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Abbott.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abbott is trying to stand up here but Knuckles is controlling him well.
Knuckles is trying to control. Abbott wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Knuckles wants to pass to mount but Abbott is defending the position.
Abbott is trying to stand up here but Knuckles is controlling him well.
Knuckles is looking to take a break and control but Abbott is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Abbott tries to clinch

and Knuckles moves into the clinch.
Abbott tries to land knees in the clinch but Knuckles avoids the damage to the body.
Abbott wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Knuckles tries for a takedown but Abbott manages to get underhooks.
David Abbott has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruno Knuckles.
Knuckles is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Abbott gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abbott with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Abbott creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Abbott prevents the takedown attempt.
Abbott lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Knuckles wants a takedown.

Knuckles escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Abbott tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Knuckles paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Abbott throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Knuckles was covering up waiting for the punch and Abbott finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Knuckles has a closed guard, preventing Abbott from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knuckles bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Abbott's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abbott wants to get back to his feet but Knuckles is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Abbott keeping moving, preventing Knuckles from controlling successfully.
Knuckles trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Knuckles wants to stand but Abbott has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Abbott wants to stand up but Knuckles is controlling him.
Knuckles wants to control from the top but Abbott keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Abbott showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Abbott 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Abbott!