PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roshdy Abaza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wes Wesler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Abaza
vs
Wesler

180 cm
21
188 lbs
2 - 1 - 2

180 cm
19
184 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 2, fighting out of London, Roshdy Abaza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Wes Wesler!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Sam Margolis and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Abaza or perhaps it was just good defense by Wesler which made him look bad.

Wesler rushes Abaza and presses him up against the cage.
Abaza is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Wesler pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Abaza is trying to stall.
Wesler tries to pull guard but Abaza won't allow it.
Abaza jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Wesler walks away with a smile on his face. Abaza gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roshdy Abaza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wesler drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

It looks like Wes Wesler has been cut.
Abaza pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Wesler with a lazy takedown attempt

and Abaza counters with a shoot takedown. Wesler fights it but they end up in guard.
Wesler tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Wesler working a defensive guard here.
Abaza wants to get up but he can't break Wesler's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Wesler working for a triangle but Abaza defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wesler is trying to hold Abaza in close to prevent damage but Abaza has managed to pass into half guard.

Abaza wants to work for an arm triangle but Wesler is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Wesler is trying to stand back up but Abaza is controlling him

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Wesler decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Wesler throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Abaza actively working from the bottom here.
Abaza is breathing heavily.
Wesler with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Wesler wants to get back to his feet.
Wesler thows a huge punch but Abaza dodges it nicely.
Wesler perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Wesler lands a nice short elbow.
Abaza trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wesler prevents Abaza from improving his position.

Wesler decides to stand and escape the position.
Wesler lands with a kick to the ribs.

Wesler darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Wesler sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Wesler is trying to control. Abaza wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wesler is looking to advance position but Abaza won't allow it.
Abaza is trying to stand up here but Wesler is controlling him well.
Wesler is trying to control. Abaza wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Wesler decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Wesler closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Wesler goes for a takedown attempt but Abaza pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wes Wesler dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Wes Wesler's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Abaza tries to score a power double leg takedown but Wesler sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Abaza somewhat.
Abaza throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Wesler shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Wesler shoots in for a takedown but Abaza shows good takedown defense.

Abaza moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abaza fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Wesler turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Wesler is looking to take a break and control but Abaza is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wesler wants to take a breather but Abaza manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Wesler.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abaza is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Wesler is trying to control but Abaza manages to pass to mount!
Wesler really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Wesler tries to hold on but Abaza postures up.
Wesler is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Wesler is wriggling around trying to escape.
Wesler is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wesler tries to hold on but Abaza pushes him away.
Poor strikes thrown by Abaza there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Wesler really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Wesler tries to lock up and control but Abaza gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Wesler can't escape the position.
Abaza tries to control but Wesler wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Wesler tries to hold on but Abaza pushes him away.
Wesler really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Wesler is squirming around, avoiding Abaza's attempts to control the action.
Abaza can't control as he wanted to and Wesler manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wesler pushes Abaza off looking to stand but Abaza dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Wes Wesler will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Wes Wesler's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Wesler throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
The fight stays on the outside here - Abaza looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Wesler closes this distance looking for a takedown but Abaza circles away.
Abaza throws a leg kick but Wesler checks it.
Wesler tries to clinch up

and Abaza counters by moving into the clinch.
Wesler lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Wesler breaks from the clinch.
Abaza stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Abaza wants it to stay on the feet.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Wesler, right into the meat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Wesler shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wesler trying to move into half guard but instead Abaza has managed to sweep!
Wesler trying to keep a closed guard but Abaza is proving a slippery customer.
Abaza stops Wesler from standing up.
Wesler looking to control.

Wesler is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Abaza is aware though and is defending well.

Wesler had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Abaza defends it easily.
Wesler tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Abaza slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Wesler gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Abaza counters with a nice double leg into side control. Wesler won't be happy with that.
Roshdy Abaza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wes Wesler.
Wesler struggling a bit here.
Wesler is trying to get back to his feet.
A lull in the action here.
Wesler tries to improve position but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abaza wants to control but Wesler is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Wesler's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Wesler is trying to get back to his feet.
Wes Wesler has got the better of the ground game so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Abaza drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Abaza throws a big right hand that misses.
Wesler pulls Abaza in close to prevent any damage.
Wesler really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Abaza. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abaza won't allow Wesler to get back to his feet.
Wesler 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.
Abaza won't allow Wesler to get back to his feet.
Wesler looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Abaza looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Abaza with a nice head shot there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roshdy Abaza showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Wesler has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Wes Wesler!