PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ahmad Abdallah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Clooten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Abdallah kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is California Love. Clooten is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Hot Ride by The Prodigy. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Abdallah
vs
Clooten

179 cm
25
178 lbs
6 - 4 - 1

180 cm
26
182 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 6 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Ahmad Abdallah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matt Clooten!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Ian Loll and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abdallah has a takedown stuffed.
Abdallah throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Clooten's waist but Clooten gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Abdallah off to one side.
Clooten ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Abdallah moves away.
Clooten throws a nice outside leg kick.
Clooten tries to land a front kick but Abdallah steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Clooten misses with a jab, cross combination.

Abdallah darts in and clinches Clooten up against the cage.
Abdallah using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Abdallah taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Abdallah tries for a takedown but Clooten manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ahmad Abdallah. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short uppercut from Clooten.
Abdallah holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Abdallah's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Clooten gets underhooks to prevent Abdallah's takedown attempt.
Abdallah taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Abdallah tries for a takedown but Clooten manages to get underhooks.
Abdallah tries to land a knee to the head but Clooten blocks with his arms.
Abdallah wants a takedown but no success here.
Abdallah fails to pull guard.
Abdallah trying to land knees to the body.
Abdallah is breathing heavily.
Clooten scores with a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clooten stalling in the clinch.
Clooten avoiding damage as Abdallah throws knees to the body.
Come on Clooten - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Abdallah utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Clooten as Abdallah tries to tie him up.
Clooten is struggling to control the position.
Clooten lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Clooten misses with a knee strike.
Nice body punch from Clooten.
Abdallah tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Abdallah stalling in the clinch but Clooten improves position.
Clooten is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Abdallah trying to control the position but instead, Clooten has worked for underhooks and has pushed Abdallah into the cage.
Clooten lands with a left to the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Clooten trying to land knees to the body.
Abdallah has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Clooten avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Abdallah has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Clooten is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clooten cracks Abdallah with a nice body shot.
Clooten lands a body shot.
Clooten landing knees to the head.
Clooten pushes Abdallah back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Clooten's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Abdallah tries to pull guard but Clooten holds him up against the cage and eventually Abdallah drops back down to his feet.
Clooten makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Clooten lands a hook to the side of the head.
Abdallah struggles to land a body shot inside as Clooten controls his hands.
Clooten throws an elbow that misses.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Clooten obliges.
Abdallah takes an elbow to the temple.
Clooten stalling the fight.
Clooten lands with a right to the head.
Clooten lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Clooten unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A short right from Clooten on the inside.
Abdallah misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abdallah is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Clooten gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Abdallah on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Clooten lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Abdallah backwards.
Clooten lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Nice body punch from Clooten.
Stalling in the clinch from Clooten.
Clooten scores with a hook to the body.
The referee calls for Clooten to work.
Clooten lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Clooten managing to block the knees to the body from Abdallah.
Clooten lands a nice elbow.
Clooten lands a right hand.
Clooten landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Clooten stalling.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Clooten.
Clooten lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Clooten pushes Abdallah back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Abdallah is trying to stall.
Clooten lands a left hand.
Clooten throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Abdallahs head.
Abdallah stalling in the clinch but Clooten improves position.
Clooten will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Abdallah up against the cage.
Clooten receives a warning from the referee for stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abdallah throws a knee to the head but misses.
Clooten lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Abdallah throws a knee to the head but misses.
Clooten prevents the takedown attempt.
Abdallah is trying to stall.
Clooten stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Abdallah missing with knees to the body.
Clooten cracks Abdallah with a nice body shot.
Clooten lands an uppercut.
Clooten is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Clooten scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Clooten holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Clooten scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Abdallah tries to stall but Clooten uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Clooten is pushing Abdallah 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 right hook to the body lands for Clooten.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Clooten dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Abdallah misses with a takedown attempt - Clooten sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Clooten misses with a low kick.
Abdallah takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Clooten will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Abdallah is looking to clinch but Clooten is avoiding it.
Ahmad Abdallah seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Clooten scores with a punch to the head.
Nice sprawl there from Clooten as Abdallah shoots in.
Abdallah tries to close the distance and clinch up but Clooten swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Clooten scores with a hook to the body. Abdallah takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Abdallah looks to land a right hand but Clooten moved out of range.
Clooten lands a head kick. Abdallah smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Clooten lands a nice leg kick that just misses Abdallah's sensitive parts.
Good leg kick by Clooten there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clooten throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Abdallah.
Clooten jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Clooten misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Clooten connects with the punch.
Abdallah fails in his attempt to clinch.
Clooten scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Abdallah doesn't seem bothered though.
Clooten lands a nice looking kick to the body. Abdallah takes a step back to recover.
A nice leg kick lands there from Clooten.
Clooten clobbers Abdallah with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Abdallah tries to clinch there but Clooten circles away.
Clooten scores with a jab to the head.
Abdallah sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Clooten tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Clooten scoring well with a low kick there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abdallah takes a jab right on the kisser.
Clooten misses with the combination.
A head kick misses from Clooten.
Abdallah takes a jab right on the kisser.
Abdallah closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Clooten throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Abdallah.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ahmad Abdallah. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clooten connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Abdallah's hands.
A left lands for Clooten.
Clooten lands a nice hook to Abdallah's body. Abdallah takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Clooten scores with a body shot.
Clooten throws a head kick but Abdallah moves out of range.
Clooten lands with a good body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clooten connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Clooten with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Abdallah ducks right into an uppercut from Clooten.
Clooten getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Clooten misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Clooten lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Matt Clooten is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Abdallah looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Abdallah takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Clooten scoring well with a low kick there.
Clooten scores with a hook.
Clooten fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Abdallah on the side of the head.
Clooten throws a head kick but Abdallah moves out of range.
Clooten throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Clooten.
Matt Clooten seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Abdallah throws a shot from downtown. Clooten moves away and avoids it.
Abdallah tries to clinch but Clooten moves out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Clooten.
Abdallah fails in his attempt to clinch.
Clooten lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Clooten darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Abdallah looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Abdallah takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Clooten connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Abdallah. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Clooten connects with a nice looking jab.
Clooten lands a two punch combo.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Clooten connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Clooten connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Abdallah moves in looking to clinch but Clooten pushes him off.
Clooten thuds a left hand into Abdallah's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Clooten showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Clooten stalks Abdallah and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Abdallah's face. Abdallah staggers backwards, shaken.
Abdallah shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Clooten defends it nicely.
Clooten darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Abdallah takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Abdallah tries to clinch up.
A combination from Clooten does no damage.
Abdallah shoots for a takedown but Clooten saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Clooten stuns Abdallah with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Clooten dips to his left and cracks Abdallah with an uppercut!
Clooten misses with a two punch combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Abdallah throws a sloppy head kick
and Clooten counters with a series of strikes. Abdallah will be more careful next time no doubt.
Clooten smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Clooten lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdallah wants to clinch but Clooten slips to the side
enabling Clooten to counter with a crisp jab.
Abdallah tries a head kick but it misses.
Clooten misses with a body kick.
Clooten scores with a body shot.
Clooten connects with a right hand. Abdallah shakes it off.
Clooten misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Clooten fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Abdallah on the side of the head.
Abdallah takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Clooten throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Clooten with a hook.
Clooten fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Clooten darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Clooten connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Abdallah rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Clooten moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Clooten throws a head kick but Abdallah moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Clooten.
A punch lands to the side of Abdallah 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Abdallah on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A left lands for Clooten.
Clooten connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Clooten lands a nice hook to Abdallah's body. Abdallah takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Clooten lands with a hook. Abdallah tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Abdallah tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Clooten counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Abdallah takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Abdallah wants to clinch
and Clooten counters with a good low kick that Abdallah was not able to check.
Clooten cracks a nice hook into Abdallah's ribs.
Clooten buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abdallah has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Clooten finds it's way round the side to connect with Abdallah's head.
A head kick misses from Clooten.
Abdallah takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Clooten cracks Abdallah with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Clooten moves out of range of the body kick.
Clooten dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Danga de danga de dang - Clooten scores with a four punch combination!
Matt Clooten is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Clooten buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Clooten pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Clooten lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Abdallah backs up against the cage.
Abdallah takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Clooten dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Clooten lands a body shot.
A nice inside leg kick there by Clooten. That's going to slow Abdallah down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abdallah takes one to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Abdallah takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Clooten paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Abdallah misses with a takedown attempt
and Clooten counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ahmad Abdallah. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clooten swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Abdallah.
Clooten throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Abdallah stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Clooten cracks Abdallah with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Abdallah is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Clooten lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Abdallah backs up against the cage.
Clooten jabs Abdallah right on the nose. Abdallah blinks but takes it well.
Both fighters circling a little - Clooten finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Clooten scores with a shot to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Clooten lunges at Abdallah with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Abdallah's hand.
Clooten throws a shot to the body.
Ahmad Abdallah has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Clooten scores with a jab to the body.
Clooten has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Clooten lands a right hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Clooten comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Clooten has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 25:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 25:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Clooten!