PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Lilburne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paula Abdul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lilburne comes to the ring accompanied by You'll never walk alone. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Lilburne
vs
Abdul

188 cm
24
218 lbs
21 - 6 - 0

177 cm
30
183 lbs
15 - 14 - 1

Decent wrestler
Great elbows
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Granite 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 21 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Lilburne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Paula Abdul!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abdul avoids the body shot from Lilburne.
Lilburne throws the left hand but Abdul avoids the punch easily.
Abdul keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lilburne works Abdul's body with a nice hook.
Abdul blocks a head kick by Lilburne.
Abdul takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Lilburne scores with a kick to the body.
Abdul slips under a jab from Lilburne.
Lilburne throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Abdul stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Abdul. Lilburne does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lilburne tried to score with a low kick but Abdul checks it.
Abdul misses with a two punch combination.
Lilburne ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Abdul moves away.
Lilburne throws a shot from downtown. Abdul moves away and avoids it.
Abdul lands a two punch combo.
Lilburne pivots, looking for a leg kick but Abdul is out of range and Lilburne settles back down.
Abdul ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lilburne moves away.
Lilburne swings for the body but Abdul moves out of range.
Abdul throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lilburne sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lilburne keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Abdul on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Abdul ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lilburne moves away.
Lilburne takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Lilburne throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nice defenses there by Abdul.
Lilburne goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Lilburne ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Abdul moves away.
Lilburne throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Abdul misses with the combination.
Abdul connects with a body shot.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Lilburne.
Lilburne keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Abdul takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lilburne tries a low kick but Abdul avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Lilburne.
Lilburne moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Abdul throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Abdul paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Abdul tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lilburne was well out of range. Poor timing from Abdul.
Abdul ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lilburne moves away.
Abdul lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Lilburne at a distance.
Abdul jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Abdul throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lilburne sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Abdul lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Lilburne throws a head kick that misses.
A combination from Abdul does no damage.
Lilburne looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lilburne takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Nice body punch from Abdul.
Lilburne throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Lilburne connects with a solid leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lilburne takes one to the chin there.
Lilburne thows a left - swing and a miss!
Abdul is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Lilburne rather than just go for the knockout.
Lilburne lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Abdul throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Abdul scores with a hook.
Lilburne avoids the body shot from Abdul.
A big left from Lilburne misses.
Abdul jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lilburne attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Lilburne misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Abdul.
Lilburne throws a body kick that misses.
Lilburne misses with an uppercut
and Abdul counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Abdul fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Lilburne looks for the body kick but Abdul saw that one coming.
Lilburne misses with a body kick.
Abdul throws a body punch but Lilburne moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abdul thuds his right hand into Lilburne's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A punch lands to the side of Abdul 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Lilburne misses the shot to the body.
Lilburne misses with a kick to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Lilburne there.
Abdul lands a really nice looking cross but Lilburne seems unphased.
Lilburne misses the shot to the body.
Lilburne takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Abdul throws a jab but it's blocked by Lilburne.
Abdul closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Abdul lands with a good body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A solid body kick from Lilburne.
Lilburne looks to score with a jab to the body but Abdul is just out of range.
Lilburne looks to land a body kick but Abdul moved away.
Lilburne throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Lilburne dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Abdul cracks Lilburne with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
A big left from Abdul misses.
Abdul looks to throw the jab but Lilburne is out of range.
Abdul avoids a kick to the body.
Abdul connects with a body shot that sends Lilburne's belly button to the back.
Good work by Abdul as he checks the leg kick.
Abdul throws a series of punches but Lilburne moves out of range.
Abdul misses with a looping left.
Lilburne tries a head kick but it misses.
Lilburne tries a head kick but it misses.
Abdul fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lilburne misses with an uppercut. Abdul saw that one coming.
John Lilburne is winning the standup battle so far.
Abdul moves out of range of the body kick from Lilburne.
Lilburne delivers a nice body kick.
Abdul dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Abdul misses with a looping left.
Abdul swings for the body but Lilburne moves out of range.
John Lilburne seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lilburne misses with an attempted mid kick.
No joy there for Lilburne, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lilburne swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Abdul 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.
A big left from Lilburne misses.
Lilburne misses with a body kick.
Abdul just misses with a punch to the body.
Lilburne throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Abdul throws a right and a left that Lilburne avoids nicely.
Lilburne misses with a looping left.
Abdul throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lilburne.
Abdul misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lilburne throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Abdul lands with a nice body punch.
Lilburne swings for the body but Abdul moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lilburne paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Abdul lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lilburne circles away quickly and effectively.
Lilburne motions for Abdul to come forward. Lilburne throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Abdul has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Lilburne.
Abdul connects with a nice looking jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Abdul scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Lilburne connects with a leg kick. Abdul looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Lilburne misses with an attempted mid kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Abdul as he connects with a hook.
Lilburne misses with an attempted mid kick.
Abdul looks to score with a jab to the body but Lilburne is just out of range.
Lilburne lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Lilburne looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Lilburne throws a right hand that misses
and Abdul counters with a left to the body.
Abdul takes a swing at Lilburne's ribcage but misses.
Lilburne misses with a kick to the body
and Abdul counters with a right hand to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lilburne just misses with a punch to the body.
Lilburne swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Abdul.
Lilburne throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A big left from Lilburne misses.
Lilburne misses with an uppercut.
Abdul defending well as Lilburne loads up on a big left hand.
Abdul jabs at Lilburne's body.
Lilburne throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Lilburne needs to keep his hands up - Abdul had a free shot at his head there.
Lilburne swings widly with a right hand
and Abdul connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Abdul moves out of range of the body kick.
Lilburne connects with a high kick.
Lilburne misses the shot to the body.
Abdul misses with a wild body shot.
Lilburne throws a low kick, looking for Abdul's leg but Abdul calmly moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lilburne tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Lilburne is looking to score with low kicks.
Lilburne misses with an attempted mid kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Abdul checks a leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Abdul dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lilburne delivers a nice body kick.
Abdul ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Lilburne feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Abdul's calf.
Lilburne is looking to clinch but Abdul is avoiding it.
Abdul misses with a hook.
Abdul fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lilburne manages to avoid it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Abdul moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Abdul connects with a jab.
Paula Abdul is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Abdul misses with a straight left.
Lilburne looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Abdul punishes Lilburne's body with a nice straight punch.
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 John Lilburne will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lilburne tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lilburne goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Lilburne misses with a hook.
Abdul misses the jab.
Lilburne tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lilburne throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Abdul moves into range and connects with a jab.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Lilburne.
Abdul scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Abdul ducks under a wild hook from Lilburne.
Abdul misses with a wild combination.
Abdul chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Lilburne can pounce on him.
Abdul thows a body shot but no joy.
Lilburne takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Abdul throws a nice looking combination but Lilburne bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdul defending well as Lilburne loads up on a big left hand.
Lilburne throws a shot from downtown. Abdul moves away and avoids it.
Abdul swinging wildly here.
Lilburne lands with a kick to the temple. Abdul shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Lilburne throws a nice head kick!
Abdul moves out of range as Lilburne throws a body kick.
Lilburne lets loose with a powerful body kick. Abdul will feel that in the morning.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lilburne cracks Abdul with a right hand to the side of the head.
Abdul lands with a good body shot.
Abdul throws a right hand that Lilburne ducks under and follows up with a left that Lilburne also avoids with ease.
Abdul looks to throw the jab but Lilburne is out of range.
Abdul slips a jab from Lilburne.
Abdul gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Lilburne.
Lilburne slips a straight right by Abdul.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abdul moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
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!
Abdul avoids the body shot from Lilburne.
Abdul ducks under a wild hook from Lilburne.
Abdul takes a swing at Lilburne's ribcage but misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Lilburne.
Lilburne feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Abdul's calf.
Lilburne lands a front kick.
Lilburne tried to score with a low kick but Abdul checks it.
Lilburne takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Lilburne takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Lilburne lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Lilburne throws a sloppy head kick and Abdul moves out of range easily.
Lilburne misses with a body shot.
Lilburne clobbers Abdul with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Paula Abdul has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lilburne throws a head kick that Abdul semi-blocks.
Lilburne throws a head kick that misses.
Lilburne throws a looping overhand right but Abdul ducks down to avoid it.
Lilburne takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Lilburne takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Lilburne looks to throw the jab but Abdul is out of range.
Lilburne connects with a looping right hand.
Lilburne ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Abdul moves away.
Abdul lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Lilburne at a distance.
Lilburne throws a leg kick but Abdul moved away.
Abdul lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Abdul uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Abdul avoids a kick to the body.
Lilburne attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Abdul tries to bum rush Lilburne with a series of wild strikes but Lilburne uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lilburne misses with a head kick.
Lilburne missing with a left hand there. Abdul was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Abdul avoids the head kick by Lilburne.
Abdul looks to throw the jab but Lilburne is out of range.
Lilburne swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lilburne avoids the body shot from Abdul.
Abdul dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Lilburne.
Lilburne misses with a looping left.
Abdul ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lilburne moves away.
Lilburne avoids a punch combination nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A looping hook to the body misses from Abdul. Lilburne does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lilburne swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Abdul makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
John Lilburne is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lilburne looks to land a body kick but Abdul moved away.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Lilburne showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lilburne has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Lilburne!
An out of breath John Lilburne thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.