PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between nafees abbas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for nafees abbas has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

abbas
vs
Smith

190 cm
19
187 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

180 cm
19
185 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, nafees abbas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Smith!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
abbas circles away from the clinch attempt.
abbas circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
abbas throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Smith steps to the side to avoid the strikes from abbas.
Smith defending well as abbas loads up on a big left hand.
Smith is looking to clinch but abbas is avoiding it.
nafees abbas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
abbas jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
A swing and a miss from abbas.
Smith tries to clinch there but abbas circles away.
Smith uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from abbas.
A jab from Smith misses.
abbas shoots for a takedown but Smith saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
abbas keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - abbas circles away.

abbas feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Smith sprawling to the canvas! Smith rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can abbas finish him?!
Smith moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Smith is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith ducks under a wild hook from abbas.
Smith is still on wobbly legs! Can abbas finish him?

Smith closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Smith tries to score a body lock takedown but abbas shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Smith seems to have recovered his senses.
Smith jumps guard but abbas stands there with Smith around his waist. Smith gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Smith keeps control of abbas as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries to pull guard but abbas holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.
nafees abbas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Smith.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
A jab from abbas misses.

Smith throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. abbas was covering up waiting for the punch and Smith finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as abbas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
abbas is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

abbas has his feet on Smith's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
abbas looks to land a right hand but Smith moved out of range.
Smith defending well as abbas loads up on a big left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith slips under a jab from abbas.
abbas throws a shot from downtown. Smith moves away and avoids it.
Smith wants to clinch.
Smith is looking to clinch but abbas is avoiding it.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but abbas paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Smith changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. abbas looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Smith in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Smith looks gassed!
abbas avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Smith.
Smith wants to control but abbas is keeping him busy.
abbas is pushing Smith's head away, looking to escape. Smith manages to hold on to the position though.
abbas avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
abbas is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Jab, jab by abbas - just one landing.
Smith will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Smith avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
abbas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
No luck for abbas with that takedown attempt.
Smith misses with the combination.
Smith fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Smith gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and abbas counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

abbas uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
abbas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
abbas scores with a crisp jab that stopped Smith in his tracks.
abbas moves into range and connects with a jab.
Smith drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
abbas takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
abbas keeps the fight on the outside.
abbas swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Smith.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith tries to clinch up but abbas circles away and keeps his distance.
abbas scores with a hook.

Smith closes the distance and pushes abbas back into the cage.
Smith wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

nafees abbas 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.

Smith walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Smith misses with a takedown
and abbas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Smith wants to clinch
and abbas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
abbas throws a jab when Smith was well out of range.
Smith staying out of range there.
Joe Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
abbas throws an overhand right that lands on Smith's shoulder, as Smith tries to avoid the shot.
Jab from Smith.
Smith throws a wild body kick that abbas sees coming a mile off.
abbas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
abbas tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smith swivels and escapes.

Smith scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Smith prevents abbas from standing back up.
Smith throwing shots but abbas is blocking nicely.
abbas is trying to stand up here but Smith is controlling him well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith tries to stand and escape but abbas is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

abbas kicks Smith off and gets back to his feet.
Nice defenses there by Smith.
abbas throws a jab when Smith was well out of range.
A jab from abbas misses.
abbas lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Smith lands a head kick!
abbas pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
abbas waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Smith.
Smith looks to clinch
and abbas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Smith misses with the combination.
abbas looks to land a right hand but Smith moved out of range.
abbas is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Smith tries to clinch up but abbas circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as abbas throws out the jab.

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.
abbas scores with a jab. Smith acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Smith throws a combination but it was largely blocked by abbas.

Smith shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. abbas manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

abbas wriggles free and stands up.
abbas avoids a punch combination nicely.
abbas lands a lovely overhand right.
abbas throws a shot from downtown. Smith moves away and avoids it.

abbas shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Smith pushes abbas off and gets back to his feet.
abbas connects with a looping right hand.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up but abbas swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
abbas lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
abbas jabbing away but nothing is landing.
abbas stuffs the takedown.
Smith keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from abbas.

Smith closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smith lands in his opponent's guard.
Smith lands a couple of decent looking shots.

abbas pushes Smith off and gets back to his feet.

Smith fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. abbas sprawls well initially but Smith persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
abbas is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joe Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Smith throwing shots but abbas is blocking nicely.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed abbas's head.
abbas looks like he's trying to stand up.

abbas has one foot on Smith's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
abbas scores with a nice right hand.
abbas misses the jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
abbas connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
abbas misses with a hook. Smith ducked under it nicely.
Smith tries to clinch but abbas is having none of it.
abbas waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Smith.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that nafees abbas will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

abbas throws a hook but Smith avoids it easily.

Smith darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

abbas kicks Smith off and gets back to his feet.
abbas throws an overhand right that lands on Smith's shoulder, as Smith tries to avoid the shot.
Smith wants to clinch
enabling abbas to counter with a crisp jab.
abbas shoots in for a double leg but Smith sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
abbas throws a big shot that misses.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Smith prevents abbas from getting back to his feet.
abbas keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Smith gets to his feet - abbas follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. abbas sprawls well initially but Smith persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Smith stops abbas from getting back to his feet.
Smith thows a huge punch but abbas dodges it nicely.
abbas is staying active underneath Smith, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Smith is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
abbas avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smith.
abbas avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smith.
abbas wants to get back to his feet.

Smith looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

abbas gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Smith to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Smith stands up from abbas's guard - Smith perhaps looking for a knockout.
Nice shot lands for abbas.
abbas doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Smith counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of abbas is proving hard to escape from.

abbas pushes Smith off and gets back to his feet.
Smith slips under a jab.
abbas throws a big shot that misses.
Smith walks into a straight right hand from abbas.
Smith slips under a jab.
A jab from abbas does it's job there.
Smith avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
abbas lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
nafees abbas is winning the standup battle so far.
abbas throws a jab when Smith was well out of range.
Smith walks into a jab.
Smith tries to clinch but abbas moves out of range.

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.
abbas throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
abbas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Smith sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Smith tries to clinch up but abbas circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Smith moves forwards but abbas connects with a nice, crisp jab.
abbas throws a lazy right hand but Smith sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Smith throws a series of punches but abbas avoids them all with ease.
abbas lands the left hand.
abbas misses with a looping left.
Smith bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

abbas gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Smith to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith is looking to stand up but abbas won't let him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think abbas has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Suge Night scores the fight for Joe Smith!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Joe Smith!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Joe Smith!

Joe Smith wins by unanimous decision!