PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Asano Arai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abed Nadir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arai's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Fantastic Baby - BIG BANG. The crowd seem to be enjoying Nadir's choice of entrance music: M.A.S.H Theme. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Arai
vs
Nadir

200 cm
26
225 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

188 cm
28
217 lbs
12 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Asano Arai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Abed Nadir!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nadir tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Arai.
Arai misses with an attempted mid kick.
Arai takes one to the side of the head.
Arai misses with an uppercut.
Arai uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nadir.
Arai fails to land the takedown.
Arai tries for a takedown but Nadir sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Good work by Arai as he checks the leg kick.
Arai tries for a takedown but Nadir sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Asano Arai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nadir keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nadir throws a jab when Arai was well out of range.
Nadir looks to land a combination but Arai avoids it well.
Arai lands a nice looking body shot.
Arai avoids a punch combination nicely.
Arai throws a sloppy head kick and Nadir moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nadir swings for the body but Arai moves out of range.
Nadir lands a nice shot to the body.
Nadir misses with the combination.
Nadir goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Nadir wants to clinch.
Arai scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nadir fails with the takedown.
Nadir tries to work over Arai's front leg with a kick but Arai checks it.
Nadir takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Arai has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
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!
Arai lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nadir throws a hook but Arai blocks it.
Arai is looking to slow Nadir down with leg kicks.
Nadir throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Arai on the side of the head.
A head kick by Arai misses
and Nadir counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Arai misses with a double jab.
Abed Nadir seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arai throws a body punch but Nadir moves out of range.
Nadir tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Arai counters with a flying knee. Nice.
A head kick by Arai misses

and Nadir counters with a shoot takedown. Arai fights it but they end up in guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Arai pulls Nadir in close to his closed guard and prevents Nadir from doing any damage or advancing position.
Nadir working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Arai tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nadir trying to control the position from guard on top but Arai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Nadir working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arai wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Arai utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Arai manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nadir manages to get himself to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Arai accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nadir manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Nadir tries to control but Arai wriggling away.
Arai tries to hold on but Nadir pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arai is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Arai is in all sorts of trouble here.
Arai takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Nadir trying to control but Arai is having none of it.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Arai 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.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nadir frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Nadir looking to ground and pound but Arai is blocking nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nadir lands a big shot there that rocks Arai but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Nadir with shots to the head and body - Arai looks very uncomfortable down there.

Arai is rocked!
Arai is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Ceiba Video Games, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Arai tries to lock up and control but Nadir gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abed Nadir dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Arai fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nadir feints and then cracks Arai's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Arai down.
Nadir scores with a hook to the body. Arai takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Arai tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nadir was well out of range. Poor timing from Arai.
Nadir connects with an inside leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Arai. Nadir does a little dance to reset his feet.
Abed Nadir seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nadir fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Arai has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Nadir comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Nadir gets a takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Arai is controlling Nadir's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Nadir throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nadir scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arai is refusing to be controlled, as Nadir sits in half guard.
Nadir missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Arai is trying to get back to full guard.
Nadir scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nadir connects with a nice short shot to Arai's temple.
Oh Arai is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Arai taking some punishment here, with Nadir in his half guard.
Nadir is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nadir scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Arai is looking to improve his position.
Nadir not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Arai is doing well to control the position and prevent Nadir from advancing to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nadir thows a huge punch but Arai dodges it nicely.
The fighters are battling for position here. Arai manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Nadir trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nadir slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Arai seems to have got his legs back now.
Nadir in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nadir trying to control the position from guard on top but Arai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Arai is on top in guard.
Arai wants to control from the top but Nadir keeps moving.
Arai stopping the sweep attempt from Nadir.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arai throws a strike but Nadir rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Nadir with a flurry of punches that miss.
Nadir trying to control but Arai is working from the bottom.
Arai wants to sweep but no luck.
Arai keeping moving, preventing Nadir from controlling successfully.
Nadir lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nadir wants to pass the guard but Arai is keeping the position.
Arai pulls Nadir in close to prevent any damage.
Arai not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nadir being controlled here momentarily.
Nadir wants to control from the top but Arai keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Arai avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Arai just misses with a punch to the body.
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.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nadir shoots in but no luck this time.
Arai takes one to the chin there.
Nadir throws a right hand that misses
and Arai counters with a straight right hand.
Arai ducks under a wild hook from Nadir.
Nadir throws a low kick, looking for Arai's leg but Arai calmly moves out of range.
Abed Nadir is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nadir throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Arai just misses with a punch to the body.
Nadir lands a body shot.
Nadir tests Arai's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nadir takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Arai getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Nadir digs a good body shot into Arai's ribs.
Arai misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nadir takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nadir stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Arai.
Nadir lands a nice hook to Arai's body. Arai takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Arai throws a leg kick but Nadir sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Nadir fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nadir motions for Arai to come forward. Nadir throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Arai tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Arai throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Arai walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nadir shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Arai but Arai pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Asano Arai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Abed Nadir.
Arai throws a head kick but Nadir moves out of range.
Nadir throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A slapping leg kick lands for Nadir.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nadir throws a hook to the side of Arai's head but Arai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nadir walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Arai checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Arai misses with a looping right.
Arai keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nadir.
Nadir waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Arai.
Arai shoots in for a takedown but Nadir shows good takedown defense.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nadir goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Arai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nadir.
Nadir lands with a straight right. Arai didn't see that one coming.
Nadir tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Arai was well out of range. Poor timing from Nadir.
Arai thuds a left hand into Nadir's body.
Arai gets clipped by a big right hand and goes down spinning to the canvas! Nadir gets the back mount and begins to drop bombs on his rocked foe! Arai is too out of it to defend against the strikes and the referee jumps in to save him from the beatdown!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). 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.