PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Caspar Creel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdul Hai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Creel
vs
Hai

197 cm
25
203 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

190 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Intelligent

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Caspar Creel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Abdul Hai!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, David Hoff and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Creel pushes Hai up against the cage in a clinch.
Hai keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Creel's efforts to push away.
Creel looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Creel pulls guard successfully.
Hai controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hai stops Creel from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hai is pushing down on Creel's leg trying to pass to half guard. Creel is fighting to maintain full guard but Hai has managed to sneak the leg through.
Hai wants to free his trapped foot but Creel is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hai is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hai looks winded!
Creel manages to get to full guard.

Creel has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hai can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hai sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hai pushing down on Creel's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Creel is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hai scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hai trying to pass the guard but Creel defending well.
Hai is keen to just control but Creel is a slippery customer.

Creel is defending against the submission attempts here by Hai.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hai wants to take a breather but Creel is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hai looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Creel is looking to control Hai's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Creel avoid being mounted?
Hai tries to pass to full mount but Creel defends it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Hai gets caught flat footed, as Creel shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hai wants to sweep but no luck.
Hai pulls Creel in to control the position.
Creel content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Creel wants to control from the top but Hai keeps moving.
Creel advances to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Creel is just content to waste time from the top position. Hai takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Caspar Creel will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hai shoots in looking for a takedown but Creel manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hai's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Creel throws a big counter combination but Hai scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Hai takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
We've been told by Creel's head coaches at Cozad The Island that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Caspar Creel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Creel shoots in and gets a takedown into Hai's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hai can do anything to dispel that myth.

Creel has gone for a leg lock! Hai slips out almost immediately though and dives into Creel's guard.

Creel wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hai trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hai passes Creel's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hai looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hai tries to pass the half guard into mount. Creel knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hai trying to control the action but Creel is working from the bottom.
Abdul Hai has got the better of the ground game so far.
Creel is pressing down on Hai's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hai trying to control the position from guard on top but Creel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hai tries to free his leg and advance position but Creel is retaining full guard.
Hai looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's two 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.
Creel throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Creel wants to stand but Hai is controlling the position.
Hai stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Creel swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hai preventing the sweep.
Hai looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No joy there for Creel, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Creel tries to clinch but Hai is having none of it.
Hai tries to counter with a clinch but Creel shakes him off and moves away.
Creel wants to clinch up but Hai keeps it at a distance.

Hai closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hai lands in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hai tries to free his leg and advance position but Creel is retaining full guard.
Creel keeping moving, preventing Hai from controlling successfully.

Creel pushes Hai off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Creel shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hai manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Creel trying to control but Hai is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Creel is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hai is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Creel content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Hai has locked up a guillotine! Hai's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Creel is holding on here and Hai must be using up a lot of energy. Creel has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Hai gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Abdul Hai!