PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Papy Abedi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benny Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Papy Abedi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Abedi
vs
Johnson

181 cm
18
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
KO power

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp (95% quick laundry)

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Papy Abedi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Benny Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Johnson. Those never looked like landing.
Abedi misses with a hook

and Johnson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Abedi's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson is stalling in the full guard.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Abedi is retaining full guard.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Abedi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Abedi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Benny Johnson.
Abedi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Abedi circles away easily
and Abedi counters with a left to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson 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.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.

Johnson darts in and clinches Abedi up against the cage.
Johnson gets underhooks to prevent Abedi's takedown attempt.
Johnson wants to break the clinch but can't.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.

Abedi closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Johnson's guard.
Abedi is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abedi looking to pass the guard.
Abedi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Abedi seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Johnson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Johnson throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Abedi escapes and throws Johnson's legs to the side, diving into side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Abedi content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson manages to get back to half guard.
Abedi looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Johnson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Johnson is trying to control but can't.
Johnson is pressing down on Abedi's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Abedi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Johnson trying to keep a closed guard but Abedi is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Papy Abedi.
Abedi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Abedi tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Johnson is able to avoid easily.
Johnson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Johnson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Abedi throws a head kick that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Abedi stuffs the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benny Johnson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Johnson tries to clinch but Abedi moves out of range.
Johnson throws the kick towards the body but Abedi avoids it.
Abedi shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Johnson shoots and misses

and Abedi counters with a takedown into side control.
Abedi working away.
Abedi just content to control the position.
Benny Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.

Abedi decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Johnson with a poor takedown
and Abedi counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abedi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Abedi shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Abedi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Johnson trying to control here.
Abedi keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Abedi circles away.
Johnson throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Johnson with a poor takedown

and Abedi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Papy Abedi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benny Johnson.
Abedi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Abedi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Papy Abedi wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Abedi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt

and Abedi counters with a single leg into guard. Johnson didn't expect that.

Abedi gets to his feet - Johnson follows without any prompting.
Johnson throws out a loose jab but Abedi uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Abedi pushes him off.
Johnson fails with the takedown
and Abedi counters with a solid body kick.
Johnson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Abedi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Johnson won't be happy with that.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Abedi content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Johnson sneaks back into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Abedi wants to stand up but Johnson has a hold of him and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Papy Abedi dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Johnson misses with a wild combination.
Abedi misses with a looping left.
Johnson shoots and misses
and Abedi counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Abedi throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Johnson slips a jab from Abedi.
Johnson misses with the combination.
Benny Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson fails with the takedown

and Abedi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Abedi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Johnson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Abedi has managed to get both his arms back between Johnson's legs - danger averted.
Abedi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Papy Abedi has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Abedi ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Abedi circles away.
Abedi comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Abedi misses with an attempted mid kick.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Abedi circles away easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Papy Abedi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benny Johnson.
Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Abedi throws a head kick that misses.
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!
Abedi throws a lazy uppercut

and Johnson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Abedi's guard.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abedi has his hands on Johnson's head, controlling the position.
Abedi is looking to stand up but Johnson isn't so interested in that idea.
Abedi is pulling down on Johnson's head. It's preventing any offense from Johnson, at least for the moment.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Papy Abedi just wasn't active enough.
Abedi misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Johnson is defended easily by Abedi.
Johnson moves out of range of the leg kick from Abedi.
Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Abedi pushes him off.
Johnson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Abedi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Johnson won't be happy with that.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson is looking for a sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Papy Abedi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Abedi 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Papy Abedi!