PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abraham Safforn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Kelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kelly comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Black Belt Jones Theme Song, you Jive Turkey! kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Safforn
vs
Kelly

205 cm
34
279 lbs
19 - 12 - 0

182 cm
43
281 lbs
33 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Abraham Safforn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jim Kelly!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Kenichi Hosakawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Safforn misses with a body shot.
Kelly swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Safforn counters with a leg kick.
Kelly attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Safforn tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kelly was well out of range. Poor timing from Safforn.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Safforn!

It looks like Jim Kelly has been cut.
Safforn looks to land a body kick but Kelly moved away.
Jab from Safforn.
Safforn tries to clinch but Kelly is having none of it.
Safforn scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Safforn misses with an uppercut
and Safforn takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Abraham Safforn has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kelly looks to land a right hand but Safforn moved out of range.

Kelly gets caught flat footed, as Safforn shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Safforn throws an elbow that misses. Kelly uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Safforn's guard. Nice move by Kelly!

Kelly really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Safforn. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Safforn controlling the position.

Safforn has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kelly can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Safforn 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.
Kelly tries to stand but Safforn is controlling from the bottom.
Safforn has his hands on Kelly's head, controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kelly looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Safforn looking for a sweep. Not yet Safforn, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Safforn throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
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.
Kelly stopping the sweep attempt from Safforn.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Safforn works the jab nicely.
Safforn throws an overhand right that lands on Kelly's shoulder, as Kelly tries to avoid the shot.
Safforn tries to land a front kick but Kelly steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Safforn throws a series of punches but Kelly moves out of range.
Safforn lands an overhand right.

That has opened up Jim Kelly's cut even more.
Safforn lands a high kick!
Kelly throws a wild body kick that Safforn sees coming a mile off.
Safforn blocks a head kick by Kelly.
That kick from Safforn tenderised Kelly's leg. Kelly is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kelly jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Safforn is defended easily by Kelly.
Safforn listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Safforn is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Some wild striking there from Safforn.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Safforn keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Safforn scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Safforn shoots in for a double leg but Kelly sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kelly appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abraham Safforn dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Safforn's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Safforn will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Safforn misses the shot to the body.
Kelly lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Safforn misses with a leg kick
and Kelly finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Safforn fails with the takedown
and Kelly counters with a stiff right hand.
Kelly cracks a nice hook into Safforn's ribs.
Kelly thumps Safforn with a low kick.
Safforn looks to land a right hand but Kelly moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kelly dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kelly connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Abraham Safforn's cut is getting worse.
Kelly looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Safforn tries to clinch but Kelly moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly slips under a jab.

Safforn changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kelly looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Safforn lands a few punches from side control.
Kelly wants to control but Safforn postures up.
Kelly parries the strikes from Safforn easily there. Safforn is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Kelly to escape.
Safforn working the ground and pound but Kelly is defending the strikes.
Safforn sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Kelly is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Safforn is trying to ground and pound but Kelly uses the momentary lack of control by Safforn to regain half guard.
Safforn throwing shots but Kelly is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelly blocking the ground and pound attempt from Safforn.
Safforn will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Safforn with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Safforn trying to pass the guard but Kelly defending well.
Safforn lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Safforn thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kelly trying to hold on to Safforn's head to control him but Safforn postures up.
Safforn thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kelly lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Safforn circles away quickly and effectively.
Safforn misses with a takedown attempt
and Kelly counters with a low kick, right behind Safforn 's knee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Safforn changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kelly looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kelly takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Kelly is looking to regain half guard here but Safforn keeps moving and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kelly is not content to let Safforn control the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kelly can do anything to dispel that myth.
Safforn passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Kelly!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Kelly showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kelly stuffs the takedown attempt from Safforn. Safforn gets slowly back to his feet.
A slapping leg kick lands for Safforn.
Safforn scores with a hook to the body. Kelly takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Abraham Safforn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kelly throws a right hand that Safforn ducks under and follows up with a left that Safforn also avoids with ease.
Safforn misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jab by Safforn.
Kelly lands with a kick to the ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kelly with a nice cross.
Kelly throws an overhand right that lands on Safforn's shoulder, as Safforn tries to avoid the shot.
Safforn fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kelly is out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kelly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Safforn looks to land a right hand but Kelly moved out of range.
Safforn darts in looking for a takedown but Kelly gets double underhooks and turns Safforn into the cage.
Jim Kelly is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kelly uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Safforn.
Safforn throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kelly counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Safforn thinking.
Safforn avoids the head kick by Kelly.
Safforn tries to clinch there but Kelly circles away.
Kelly takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Safforn is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kelly throws a good cross that connects.

Abraham Safforn's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Abraham Safforn is winning the standup battle so far.
Safforn throws a hook to the side of Kelly's head but Kelly sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kelly scores with a spinning back kick!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kelly.
Safforn keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelly is looking to score with low kicks.
Kelly throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Safforn stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Kelly lands a big head kick that sends Safforn tumbling to the mat! Kelly takes a step backwards and waves Safforn back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Safforn is rocked!

Jeez, Abraham Safforn's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Abraham Safforn's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Jim Kelly!
Jim Kelly bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.