PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Graham Frost (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Abaroa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Frost
vs
Abaroa

223 cm
24
178 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Graham Frost!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rafael Abaroa!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Abaroa instigates a clinch.
Abaroa has Frost pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Frost manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Frost manages to break the clinch.
Abaroa changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Frost tries to avoid it but Abaroa manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Frost to the ground. Frost escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Frost closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Frost tries to pull guard but Abaroa holds him up against the cage and eventually Frost drops back down to his feet.
Abaroa has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Frost after a bit of a struggle.
Graham Frost has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Abaroa.
Abaroa drops down looking for an ankle pick but Frost pulls his leg out and moves away.

Frost closes the distance and clinches.
Frost really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Abaroa is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Abaroa works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Abaroa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Frost trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Abaroa looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Abaroa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Frost throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Frost looking for a sweep. Not yet Frost, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Frost looking for a guillotine here but Abaroa defends easily.
Frost has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Abaroa avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Frost looking to hit a scissor sweep but Abaroa is one step ahead there.
Abaroa slips nicely into half guard.
Abaroa is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Frost reverses the position - he's now on top in Abaroa's guard.
Frost trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abaroa has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Frost has passed into side control.
Abaroa is looking to regain half guard here but Frost keeps moving and retains side control.

Frost looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Abaroa is looking to reverse the position.
Abaroa manages to get back to half guard.
Abaroa wants to get back to his feet.

Frost stands up from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abaroa fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Frost stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Frost wants it to stay on the feet.
Abaroa looks winded!
Abaroa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Frost is fending him off so far but Abaroa persists. Nope, Frost circles away and we're back to standing.

Frost gets a clinch.
Frost is working for takedown but Abaroa is calmly controlling the position for now.
Abaroa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Frost decides to pull guard.
Abaroa is looking to work some ground and pound but Frost has wrist control.
Abaroa throws a big elbow that misses.
Abaroa advances to half guard.

Frost makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Abaroa fails with a takedown attempt.
Abaroa fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Frost fails with the takedown.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Abaroa fails with the takedown
and Frost counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Abaroa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nice sprawl there from Abaroa as Frost shoots in.
Frost is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Frost changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Abaroa tries to avoid it but Frost manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Abaroa to the ground. Abaroa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice takedown defense from Frost. No joy for Abaroa on that attempt.
Abaroa tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Frost defends well and Abaroa ends up having to push Frost into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Abaroa tries to pull guard but Frost forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rafael Abaroa will probably get the nod.
That's time! Frost's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Abaroa slips a jab and a cross from Frost.
Abaroa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Frost is fending him off so far but Abaroa persists. Nope, Frost circles away and we're back to standing.
Abaroa misses with a takedown attempt - Frost sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Abaroa closes the distance and clinches up with Frost, looking for a takedown. Abaroa pushes Frost against the cage but Frost circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Graham Frost has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Abaroa.
Frost displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Abaroa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Abaroa shoots in but no luck this time.
Abaroa closes the distance and clinches up with Frost, looking for a takedown. Abaroa pushes Frost against the cage but Frost circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Frost shoots in looking for a takedown but Abaroa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Frost's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Abaroa shoots for a takedown but Frost saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Frost lands a head kick. Abaroa smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Abaroa tries to keep at a distance but Frost has taken the fight into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Abaroa is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abaroa is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Abaroa is pressed up against the cage. Frost has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Abaroa down to the mat. Abaroa avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Abaroa.
Frost scores with a jab.
Graham Frost is winning the standup battle so far.
Abaroa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Frost sprawls well. Frost wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Abaroa gets slowly back to his feet.
Frost throws a head kick that Abaroa semi-blocks.
Abaroa misses with a takedown attempt
and Frost counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Frost shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Abaroa as he jumps to the side.
Frost misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abaroa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Abaroa dives in and grabs Frost's left leg, looking for a takedown. Frost pushes down on Abaroa's head and hops out.
Frost shoots for a takedown but Abaroa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Frost gets caught napping as Abaroa dives in and scores a takedown. Frost manages to retain guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Abaroa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Frost works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Abaroa passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Abaroa working the ground and pound but Frost is defending the strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Frost is trying to improve his position.
Abaroa lands a few punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Abaroa is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Frost is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Abaroa working the strikes but Frost uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

Abaroa is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Frost to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Abaroa with a flurry of punches that miss.

Frost manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Frost stops a takedown attempt from Abaroa.
Frost is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Abaroa is defending well.
Abaroa tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Frost has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Abaroa after a bit of a struggle.
Abaroa is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Frost is defending well.
Abaroa is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Frost to keep the fight standing.
Abaroa takes a shot to the head.

Frost manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Frost will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Abaroa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Abaroa passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Abaroa working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Abaroa lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Frost down.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Frost wants to control but Abaroa postures up.
Frost is working to avoid the ground and pound but Abaroa connects with a decent elbow.
Frost regains half guard.
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 Graham Frost will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Abaroa shoots for a double leg takedown but Frost sprawls well. He's pushed Abaroa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Abaroa feints and as Frost raises his hands in defense, Abaroa changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Frost is pulling down on Abaroa's head. It's preventing any offense from Abaroa, at least for the moment.
Frost bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Abaroa's guard.
Abaroa looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Frost puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Frost is trying to control the action in half guard but Abaroa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rafael Abaroa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Frost is taking a breather. Abaroa says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Abaroa wants to get back to full guard but Frost has passed into side control.
Abaroa is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abaroa looking for a sweep but Frost has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Abaroa tries to reverse the position but Frost maintains control.
Frost takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Frost throwing strikes here but Abaroa is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Frost is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Abaroa to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Abaroa shrugs it off.
Abaroa is trying to escape the mount.
Abaroa looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Frost tries to keep control of the position but Abaroa is staying busy.

Frost has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Abaroa has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Abaroa breaks Frost's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Abaroa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Abaroa would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Abaroa lands a couple of digs.
Abaroa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abaroa looking to pass the guard.
Frost throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Frost avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Abaroa throws a big elbow that misses.
Abaroa throwing strikes from guard but Frost blocks nicely.
Frost wants to sweep but no luck.
Abaroa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Frost is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abaroa passes Frost's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Frost wants to get back to full guard.
Abaroa passes the guard and advances to mount!
Frost taking shots to the head.
Abaroa in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The referee warns Frost that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Abaroa putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Frost sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Abaroa sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Frost defending well though.
Frost wants to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Abaroa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Abaroa 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

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