PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Seraphim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abed Nadir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Seraphim's entrance music is Two Steps From Hell - Archangel. A fine choice. Nadir has chosen M.A.S.H Theme as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Seraphim
vs
Nadir

189 cm
23
208 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
19
217 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Michael Seraphim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Abed Nadir!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice combination there by Nadir.

It looks like Michael Seraphim has been cut.
Seraphim throws a head kick but Nadir moves out of range.
Nadir shoots in but Seraphim avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nadir avoids the head kick by Seraphim.

Nadir clinches with his opponent.
Seraphim is pressed up against the cage. Nadir has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Seraphim down to the mat. Seraphim avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Seraphim tries to clinch up but Nadir circles away and keeps his distance.
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!
Seraphim pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nadir takes one on the button.
Nadir blocks a head kick by Seraphim.
Seraphim closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nadir circles away.

Seraphim shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Nadir napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Nadir is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nadir is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Seraphim has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nadir is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Seraphim's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Nadir is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Michael Seraphim just wasn't active enough.
Seraphim lunges at Nadir with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Nadir's hand.
Nadir is looking to clinch.
Seraphim tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nadir paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Seraphim keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Michael Seraphim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Abed Nadir.
Seraphim fails with an attempt to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nadir is defended easily by Seraphim.
Seraphim moves in looking to clinch but Nadir pushes him off.
Nadir closes the distance and clinches up with Seraphim, looking for a takedown. Nadir pushes Seraphim against the cage but Seraphim circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nadir looks gassed!
Sloppy strikes from Nadir. Those never looked like landing.
A nice combination there by Seraphim.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nadir tries to clinch but Seraphim moves out of range.
Seraphim misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Seraphim closes the distance and pushes Nadir back into the cage.
Seraphim tries to throw a body punch but Nadir avoids it by throwing Seraphim back against the cage.
Nadir tries a knee to the head but Seraphim blocks it.
Seraphim wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Seraphim misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nadir.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nadir.

Nadir tightens his grip and picks Seraphim up, before dumping him to the ground. Seraphim manages to land in guard.
Seraphim manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nadir manages to get himself to full guard.
Seraphim is looking to stand up but Nadir won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Seraphim trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Seraphim being controlled here momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Abed Nadir.
Seraphim misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nadir keeps the fight on the outside.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nadir is defended easily by Seraphim.
Nadir moves in looking to clinch but Seraphim pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michael Seraphim will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Michael Seraphim's cut.
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.

Nadir clinches with his opponent.
Nadir lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Seraphim backwards.
Seraphim tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Seraphim is trying to stall.

Seraphim breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nadir wants to clinch.
Nadir circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nadir closes the distance looking to clinch
and Seraphim counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Seraphim.
A head kick misses from Seraphim.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Seraphim tries to clinch up but Nadir circles away and keeps his distance.
Michael Seraphim is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Seraphim tries to clinch up

and Nadir counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nadir's corner is telling him to maintain position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Let's hope that Nadir has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Abed Nadir wasn't active enough on the ground.
Nadir shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Seraphim as he avoids it easily.
Seraphim tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Nadir gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Nadir manages to break the clinch.
Nadir tries to clinch up but Seraphim circles away and keeps his distance.
Seraphim throws a series of punches but Nadir moves out of range.
Seraphim fails with an attempt to clinch.
Left hook, right uppercut from Seraphim.
Abed Nadir seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nadir gets the takedown into side control.
Nadir controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Abed Nadir has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Nadir changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Seraphim tries to avoid it but Nadir manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Seraphim to the ground. Seraphim escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Nadir scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Seraphim is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Nadir controlling from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Seraphim parries the strikes from Nadir easily there. Nadir is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Seraphim to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abed Nadir showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Michael Seraphim's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Nadir rushes Seraphim and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nadir tries to land a knee to the head but Seraphim blocks with his arms.
Nadir holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Seraphim obliges.
Nadir landing knees to the head.
Nadir misses with a hook from the clinch.
Seraphim tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Nadir smiles and moves away.
Nadir tries to clinch but Seraphim moves out of range.
Michael Seraphim is winning the standup battle so far.
Nadir lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Seraphim circles away quickly and effectively.

Seraphim rushes Nadir and presses him up against the cage.

Seraphim pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Danga de danga de dang - Seraphim scores with a four punch combination!
Seraphim slaps away a takedown attempt from Nadir, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nadir takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nadir tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Seraphim manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Seraphim cracks Nadir with a right hand to the side of the head.
Seraphim shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nadir sprawls well. Nadir wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Seraphim gets slowly back to his feet.
Nadir swats away the attempt to clinch by Seraphim.
Nadir swats away the attempt to clinch by Seraphim.
A punch combination from Seraphim misses.
Seraphim closes the distance and clinches up with Nadir, looking for a takedown. Seraphim pushes Nadir against the cage but Nadir circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Seraphim. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Nadir closes the distance and clinches.
Nadir wants to take the fight to the mat but Seraphim manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Seraphim tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Nadir lands a takedown into guard.
Nadir controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Abed Nadir has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Nadir shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Seraphim fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nadir.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Seraphim rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nadir moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Nadir moves into the clinch successfully.
Seraphim tries to work over Nadir's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Seraphim tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Seraphim wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nadir lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nadir stalling.
Seraphim creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Nadir's defenses.
Nadir looking to throw knees to the head but Seraphim is blocking nicely.
Nadir holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Nadir using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Seraphim has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Seraphim goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Seraphim breaks from the clinch.

Nadir clinches with his opponent.
Nadir tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Seraphim is trying to pull guard but Nadir turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Abed Nadir seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Nadir lands a nice knee to the body.

Seraphim's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Nadir has closed the distance and engaged Seraphim in a clinch.

Seraphim breaks the clinch.
Seraphim scores with a kick to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Nadir closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nadir lands a knee to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Seraphim looking to slow down the pace here.
Seraphim is trying to push Nadir away but Nadir has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Abed Nadir.
I think Nadir 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abed Nadir!
During a confident post fight interview, Abed Nadir thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.