PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Abdullah Al Abulbul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Congo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Congo is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Al Abulbul
vs
Congo

165 cm
26
140 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

160 cm
20
135 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Abdullah Al Abulbul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joe Congo!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Al Abulbul swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Congo has his takedown stuffed

and Al Abulbul counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Congo working for submissions but it's allowed Al Abulbul to get to half guard.
We've been hearing that Al Abulbul has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Al Abulbul frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Al Abulbul working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Congo tries to lock up and control but Al Abulbul gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Al Abulbul cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Congo slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Al Abulbul thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nice strikes from Al Abulbul there.
Ground and pound from Al Abulbul.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Congo trying to hold on to Al Abulbul's head to control him but Al Abulbul postures up.
Al Abulbul works his foot free and advances to mount.
Congo wants to hold on but Al Abulbul pushes him away.
Al Abulbul trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Al Abulbul is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Congo can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Congo is squirming around, avoiding Al Abulbul's attempts to control the action.
Al Abulbul scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Abulbul landing strikes from the mount and Congo is in trouble!
Al Abulbul connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Congo tries to hold on but Al Abulbul postures up.
Al Abulbul controlling the pace for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Al Abulbul landing strikes, looking to finish!
Congo is working to get back to half guard.
Al Abulbul takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Al Abulbul trying to control but Congo is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Abulbul is landing with some decent strikes but Congo is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Congo is looking to get to half guard.
Al Abulbul breaks from Congo's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Al Abulbul unloading with bombs!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Abulbul can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Congo is looking to escape.
Al Abulbul scoring with strikes but Congo is staying in there.
Al Abulbul scoring with strikes but Congo is staying in there.
Al Abulbul raining down shots from the mount!
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.
Al Abulbul lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Al Abulbul in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdullah Al Abulbul dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Congo shoots and misses

and Al Abulbul counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Al Abulbul drops an elbow to the side of Congo's head.
Nice strikes from Al Abulbul there.
Al Abulbul not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Al Abulbul trying to mount his opponent but Congo defends it.
Congo is looking to control Al Abulbul's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Congo avoid being mounted?
Al Abulbul controlling the pace.
Congo won't allow Al Abulbul to pass to mount.
Congo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Al Abulbul.
Congo gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Abulbul wants to pass the guard but Congo is keeping the position.
Al Abulbul trying to control but Congo is working from the bottom.
Al Abulbul sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Congo's guard.
Al Abulbul trying to pass the guard but Congo defending well.

Congo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Al Abulbul is trying to control. Congo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Al Abulbul is really struggling to control Congo but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Abulbul lands with a punch from half guard.
Abdullah Al Abulbul overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Al Abulbul wants to pass to mount but Congo is defending the position.
Al Abulbul thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Congo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Al Abulbul pulls his head out easily.
Congo is trying to maintain the position but Al Abulbul is very close to passing his half guard.
Al Abulbul tries to pass the half guard into mount. Congo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Al Abulbul is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Congo is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Abulbul with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Al Abulbul trying to control the action but Congo is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Congo is looking to control Al Abulbul's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Congo avoid being mounted?
Al Abulbul is trying to control the action in half guard but Congo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joe Congo was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Congo misses with a takedown

and Al Abulbul counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Al Abulbul trying to control the position from guard on top but Congo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Abulbul forces his way into half guard.
Al Abulbul is pressing down on Congo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Congo is holding on for now.
Al Abulbul scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Al Abulbul thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
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!
Congo is looking to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Al Abulbul wants to lay and pray for a moment but Congo keeps working.

Al Abulbul is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdullah Al Abulbul dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Congo scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Congo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Al Abulbul swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Congo.
Joe Congo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Al Abulbul misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Congo.
Congo with a poor takedown

and Al Abulbul counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Al Abulbul 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Al Abulbul accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Al Abulbul scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Al Abulbul tries to free his leg and advance position but Congo is retaining full guard.
Al Abulbul trying to control the position from guard on top but Congo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Abulbul preventing the sweep.
Congo keeping full guard, as Al Abulbul tries to pass.
Congo looking for a sweep. Not yet Congo, not yet.
Al Abulbul trying to control but Congo is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Abdullah Al Abulbul.
Congo shoots and misses

and Al Abulbul decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Congo's guard.
Abdullah Al Abulbul has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Congo.
Congo keeping full guard, as Al Abulbul tries to pass.

Congo has his foot on Al Abulbul's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Al Abulbul works his way back into a safe position though.
Abdullah Al Abulbul is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Congo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Abulbul controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Al Abulbul looking to pass the guard.
Al Abulbul trying to control but Congo is working from the bottom.
Congo being controlled here, momentarily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Al Abulbul wants to pass the guard but Congo is keeping the position.
Al Abulbul not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Abdullah Al Abulbul has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Congo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Al Abulbul counters with a nice double leg into side control. Congo won't be happy with that.

Al Abulbul wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Congo, who protects the arm well.
Al Abulbul lands an elbow.
Al Abulbul is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Joe Congo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Al Abulbul advances to full mount.
Al Abulbul looking to control but Congo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Abulbul is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Congo can do to turn this around?
Al Abulbul controlling the pace for now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Al Abulbul is landing with some decent strikes but Congo is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abdullah Al Abulbul showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Al Abulbul, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abdullah Al Abulbul!
A very excited looking Abdullah Al Abulbul made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.