PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Oliveira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Salam Abdulrahim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Oliveira comes to the cage accompanied by Pregador Luo - Apaga mais não bate. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Salam Abdulrahim was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Oliveira
vs
Abdulrahim

166 cm
25
144 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
21
143 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Oliveira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Salam Abdulrahim!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Luis Engracia and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oliveira gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Abdulrahim counters with a nice double leg into side control. Oliveira won't be happy with that.
Oliveira wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Who's going to make the next move?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Oliveira is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Abdulrahim has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Oliveira regains half guard.
Oliveira is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdulrahim trying to pass the guard but Oliveira defending well.
Oliveira is trying to stand up here but Abdulrahim is controlling him well.

Oliveira looking for subs from the bottom but Abdulrahim mounts him!
Abdulrahim fails to take his opponent's back.
Oliveira is looking to improve his position but Abdulrahim isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira tries to hold on but Abdulrahim postures up.
Oliveira is trying to escape the mount.
Oliveira regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abdulrahim wants to lay and pray for a moment but Oliveira keeps working.
Oliveira wants to improve his position but Abdulrahim is controlling well.
Abdulrahim seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Salam Abdulrahim was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Oliveira gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Abdulrahim counters with a takedown into side control.
Oliveira is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abdulrahim working away.
Oliveira is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Abdulrahim is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Abdulrahim can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Oliveira is looking to escape.
Oliveira is just holding on here. Abdulrahim manages to take his back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Abdulrahim controlling from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salam Abdulrahim dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Oliveira looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Abdulrahim is fending him off so far but Oliveira persists. Nope, Abdulrahim circles away and we're back to standing.
Abdulrahim displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Oliveira.
Oliveira misses with a takedown attempt

and Abdulrahim counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Oliveira's guard now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Oliveira. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Oliveira has an active guard here but Abdulrahim has managed to pass into half guard.
Oliveira tries to roll over but Abdulrahim keeps him under control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Oliveira is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Abdulrahim pulls his head out easily.
Abdulrahim has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Steel Penn - Elite Training. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliveira has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Abdulrahim is working away from the top position though.
Abdulrahim is trying to control the action in half guard but Oliveira is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Oliveira trying to control here.
Oliveira is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Abdulrahim is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Abdulrahim is looking to advance position but Oliveira won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Oliveira actively working from the bottom here.
Abdulrahim is looking to advance position but Oliveira won't allow it.
Abdulrahim passes to side control.
Abdulrahim trying to control the position but Oliveira is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abdulrahim scoring with punches and elbows.
Abdulrahim is looking to take a break and control but Oliveira is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Abdulrahim working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abdulrahim wants to control but Oliveira is keeping him busy.
Oliveira controls the position for a moment.
Oliveira is trying to get back to half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Oliveira looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Abdulrahim is fending him off so far but Oliveira persists. Nope, Abdulrahim circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salam Abdulrahim showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Oliveira with a lazy takedown attempt

and Abdulrahim counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Abdulrahim.
Abdulrahim trying to control the position from guard on top but Oliveira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Oliveira isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Abdulrahim stacks Oliveira on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Abdulrahim!
Oliveira is trying to control Abdulrahim's posture but Abdulrahim avoids it.
Abdulrahim trying to control the action but Oliveira is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliveira sneaks back into half guard.
Oliveira is looking for a sweep. Abdulrahim is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Abdulrahim moves nicely into side control.
Oliveira is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abdulrahim working away.
Abdulrahim wants to control but Oliveira is keeping him busy.
Salam Abdulrahim has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Oliveira sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Salam Abdulrahim is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abdulrahim prevents Oliveira from improving his position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Salam Abdulrahim was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Oliveira swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Abdulrahim counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Oliveira!
Abdulrahim is looking to take a break and control but Oliveira is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Abdulrahim is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira is looking to reverse the position.
Abdulrahim tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Abdulrahim working away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Antonio Oliveira has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Oliveira with a lazy takedown attempt

and Abdulrahim counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Oliveira!

And that's the end of the fight!
Salam Abdulrahim comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Abdulrahim winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Salam Abdulrahim!
Antonio Oliveira was interviewed post fight and said 'infelizmente não deu,um nojento'.