PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Burer Mutant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdullah Al Abulbul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mutant
vs
Al Abulbul

178 cm
32
135 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

165 cm
27
140 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

GREEN!160
Modern Wear Apparel

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 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Burer Mutant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Abdullah Al Abulbul!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yuuki Gou and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Left hook, right uppercut from Mutant.

It looks like Abdullah Al Abulbul has been cut.
Mutant wants to clinch up but Al Abulbul keeps it at a distance.
Al Abulbul takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Sloppy strikes from Mutant. Those never looked like landing.
Mutant throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Al Abulbul counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mutant won't be happy with that.
Mutant on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mutant tries to get out of the position.
Mutant is trying to get back to half guard.
Mutant stops Al Abulbul from passing to mount.
Mutant is holding Al Abulbul down, trying to stall.
Al Abulbul wants to control but Mutant is keeping him busy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mutant prevents Al Abulbul from moving into mount.
The strikes coming from Al Abulbul are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Abulbul tries to score with some ground and pound. Mutant controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Al Abulbul working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Al Abulbul postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Al Abulbul working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Al Abulbul in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Al Abulbul wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mutant, who protects the arm well.
You can see the frustration on Mutant's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Al Abulbul tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Mutant tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Al Abulbul wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Abulbul sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Mutant is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The ground and pound from Al Abulbul seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Al Abulbul works to advance to full mount. Mutant defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

Al Abulbul is working for a guillotine from mount but Mutant frees his head quite easily.
Al Abulbul trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mutant wants to control but Al Abulbul is having none of it.
Al Abulbul controlling his opponent.
Al Abulbul working Mutant over with strikes here.
Mutant knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Al Abulbul on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mutant in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Al Abulbul throwing strikes here but Mutant is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Al Abulbul has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mutant is looking to improve his position but Al Abulbul isn't that keen on the idea.
Mutant is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Mutant is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Al Abulbul is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Al Abulbul looking to control but Mutant is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Mutant is wriggling around trying to escape.
Al Abulbul trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mutant is bucking up trying to escape but Al Abulbul cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mutant tries to hold on but Al Abulbul postures up.
Al Abulbul connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Al Abulbul avoids the attempt from Mutant to control.
Mutant doing his best to control the position. Can he escape?
Al Abulbul throwing strikes here but Mutant is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Mutant wants to hold on but Al Abulbul pushes him away.
Al Abulbul looking to finish with strikes here!
Mutant 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdullah Al Abulbul dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Abdullah Al Abulbul's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mutant fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Al Abulbul manages to avoid it.
Mutant avoids the body shot from Al Abulbul.
Mutant scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Al Abulbul stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Mutant.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Al Abulbul.
Al Abulbul lands a few punches from side control.
Mutant can't do much from the bottom here.
Mutant is looking for a sweep.
Al Abulbul has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mutant trying his best to control but Al Abulbul has mounted 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!
Al Abulbul working Mutant over with strikes here.
Mutant is in a horrible position here. Al Abulbul smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mutant is looking to improve his position but Al Abulbul isn't that keen on the idea.
Al Abulbul with shots to the head and body - Mutant looks very uncomfortable down there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Al Abulbul misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Al Abulbul with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Al Abulbul landing strikes, looking to finish!
Mutant avoids a series of strikes thrown by Al Abulbul.
Mutant is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Al Abulbul lands with some strikes.
Al Abulbul landing strikes from the mount and Mutant is in trouble!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mutant tries to hold on but Al Abulbul pushes him away.
Al Abulbul raining down hammerfists from mount.
Mutant tries to lock up and control but Al Abulbul gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Mutant is squirming around, avoiding Al Abulbul's attempts to control the action.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Al Abulbul postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Mutant looks a forlorn figure.
Al Abulbul lands with some strikes.
Al Abulbul tries to control but Mutant wriggling away.
Mutant really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Al Abulbul is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Mutant is surviving well by controlling Al Abulbul's body position as best he can.
Al Abulbul thowing shots but they're missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mutant wants to control but Al Abulbul is having none of it.
Al Abulbul trying to control but Mutant is having none of it.
Al Abulbul throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Mutant is squirming around, avoiding Al Abulbul's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Al Abulbul lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Al Abulbul looking to control but Mutant is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Abdullah Al Abulbul has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mutant working to try and regain half guard.
Al Abulbul with a couple of short strikes.
Mutant taking shots to the head.
Al Abulbul looking to finish Mutant with some ground and pound. This is bad for Mutant!
Al Abulbul unloads with some shots from mount but Mutant bucks and avoids them well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdullah Al Abulbul showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Abdullah Al Abulbul's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Al Abulbul shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mutant sprawls well. Mutant wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Al Abulbul gets slowly back to his feet.
Mutant lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Mutant throws a right hand that Al Abulbul ducks under and follows up with a left that Al Abulbul also avoids with ease.
Mutant throws a body shot but no joy.
Al Abulbul shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Al Abulbul throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Abulbul shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mutant as he avoids it easily.
Burer Mutant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Abdullah Al Abulbul.
Al Abulbul fails with a takedown attempt.
Al Abulbul showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mutant.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Abulbul shoots in for a double leg but Mutant sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A left lands for Mutant.
Al Abulbul looks to land a right hand but Mutant moved out of range.
Mutant swinging wildly here.
Al Abulbul tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Burer Mutant seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Al Abulbul throws a shot from downtown. Mutant moves away and avoids it.

Al Abulbul shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Al Abulbul trying to control but Mutant is working from the bottom.
Mutant being controlled here, momentarily.
Mutant preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Abdullah Al Abulbul is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mutant pulls Al Abulbul in close to prevent any damage.
Al Abulbul distracts Mutant with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Al Abulbul trying to control the position from guard on top but Mutant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Al Abulbul is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Al Abulbul won't allow Mutant to sweep him here.
Mutant working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mutant scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Al Abulbul looking to score a takedown here. Mutant is defending well but Al Abulbul drives through and ends up in Mutant's guard.
Mutant pulls Al Abulbul in to control the position.
Al Abulbul trying to control but Mutant is working from the bottom.
Al Abulbul trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Al Abulbul postures up.
Al Abulbul looking to pass the guard.
Mutant is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Al Abulbul won't allow Mutant to sweep him here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mutant looks to land a combination. Al Abulbul sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Mutant slips a straight right by Al Abulbul.
Mutant tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Al Abulbul paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Al Abulbul drives through with a takedown into guard.
Burer Mutant has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Al Abulbul trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Al Abulbul with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Al Abulbul sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Al Abulbul looking to pass the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Al Abulbul trying to control but Mutant is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Burer Mutant.
I think Al Abulbul 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29

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