PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Anders Andersson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ibrahim Abai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Ibrahim Abai was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Andersson
vs
Abai

180 cm
23
180 lbs
7 - 5 - 1

167 cm
23
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Experienced

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anders Andersson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ibrahim Abai!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Reed Andrews and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abai throws a leg kick

and Andersson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Andersson is stalling in the full guard.
Andersson throwing strikes from guard but Abai blocks nicely.
Andersson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Andersson tries to free his leg and advance position but Abai is retaining full guard.
Abai keeping moving, preventing Andersson from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Andersson tries to free his leg and advance position but Abai is retaining full guard.
Andersson trying to control but Abai is working from the bottom.
Andersson looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andersson prevents Abai from getting back to his feet.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
We've been hearing that Andersson has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Abai closes the distance and pushes Andersson back into the cage.
Abai missing with knees to the body.
Abai throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Anderssons head.
Abai prevents a takedown attempt there.
Abai throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Abai throws an elbow but it misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Abai throws an elbow but misses.
Andersson goes for a takedown attempt but Abai pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Andersson circles away from the clinch attempt.

Andersson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Abai napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Andersson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Abai is trying to buck Andersson off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Andersson moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Andersson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Andersson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Abai wants to get back to his feet.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Andersson trying to control the action but Abai is working from the bottom.
Andersson prevents Abai from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Andersson controls the position from side control.

Andersson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Abai is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Abai wants to get back to his feet.
Abai prevents Andersson from improving position.

Andersson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Andersson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Andersson tries to move to mount but Abai blocks the move with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Check out the look on Andersson's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Abai is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Andersson has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Andersson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Abai taking a bit of punishment here - Andersson scoring with strikes.
Andersson tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Abai wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Andersson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Abai, who protects the arm well.

Abai sneaks out the side door and pushes Andersson away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anders Andersson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Abai gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Abai creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Andersson's defenses.
Abai gets underhooks to prevent Andersson's takedown attempt.
A nice left hand lands by Abai.
Abai lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Andersson has Abai pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Abai manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Andersson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Abai pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anders Andersson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Andersson blocks an elbow strike.
Andersson blocks an elbow strike.
Abai misses with an elbow strike.
Andersson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Abai avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Andersson blocks an uppercut.
Abai throws an elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Abai just misses with a elbow thrown towards Andersson's brow.
With the fighters up against the cage, Abai throws an elbow but misses.
Andersson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Abai throws an elbow but it misses.

Abai has Andersson pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Abai pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Andersson tumbling to the mat - Abai dives into Andersson's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Andersson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Andersson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Abai defends it easily.
Andersson trying to keep a closed guard but Abai is proving a slippery customer.
Abai scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Anders Andersson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Abai is working Andersson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Andersson trying to control the position.
Andersson pulls Abai in close to prevent any damage.
Andersson looking for a sweep. Not yet Andersson, not yet.
Andersson working a defensive guard here.

Andersson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Abai is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abai keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Andersson's head.
Andersson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Abai throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Andersson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Andersson has momentary wrist control but Abai slips an elbow through the middle.
Abai throws a big right hand that misses.
Abai loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Abai throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Andersson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Abai throws an elbow that misses. Andersson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Abai's guard. Nice move by Andersson!

Abai is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Andersson is controlling him.
Andersson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Andersson wants to control from the top but Abai keeps moving.
Abai is looking to stand up but Andersson isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Andersson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Andersson won't allow Abai to get back to his feet.
Andersson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Andersson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Andersson trying to control the position from guard on top but Abai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Abai wants to get back to his feet but Andersson passes into half guard.
Abai pushes Andersson off looking to stand but Andersson dives back in and keeps control.
Abai is staying active underneath Andersson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four 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.
Andersson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Abai with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Abai is not content to let Andersson control the position.
Andersson controlling the action here.
Abai is staying active underneath Andersson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Abai on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Andersson trying to control the action but Abai is working from the bottom.
Abai looks like he's trying to stand up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Andersson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Abai sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Andersson somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ibrahim Abai 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. This is the final round!

Andersson scores with a jab.
Anders Andersson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Abai stuffs the takedown attempt from Andersson. Andersson gets slowly back to his feet.
Abai closes the distance looking to clinch

and Andersson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Abai manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Abai fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Abai tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Andersson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Andersson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Andersson throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abai stops Andersson from passing to mount.
Andersson trying to control the position but Abai is working away.
Andersson looks up at the clock and then as Abai takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Andersson smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Abai is trying to buck Andersson off.
Andersson working the ground and pound.
Andersson working the ground and pound but Abai is defending the strikes.
Andersson prevents Abai from escaping the position.
Andersson is looking to take a break and control but Abai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Andersson tries to advance to mount but Abai denies him.
You can see the frustration on Abai's face as Andersson controls the position.
Andersson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Abai defending against the ground and pound.
Abai is trying to buck Andersson off.
Abai takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Abai trying to remain calm as Andersson controls from the top position.
Abai dodges the ground and pound from Andersson.
Andersson working the ground and pound but Abai is defending the strikes.
Andersson lands some shots froms side control.

Abai is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Andersson trying to control the position but Abai is working away.
Abai is trying to get back to his feet.

Andersson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Andersson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Abai pushes Andersson away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Andersson gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Andersson trying to control the position but Abai is working away.
Abai is trying to get back to his feet.
Sloppy strikes there by Andersson.
Andersson controls the position.
Abai is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Andersson is controlling him well.
Andersson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Abai keeps working.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Andersson throws a shot to the body.
Anders Andersson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Abai instigates a clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Abai.
With the fighters up against the cage, Abai throws an elbow but misses.
Abai misses with an elbow strike.
Abai throws an elbow but it misses.
Abai is defending well against a takedown attempt.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Abai creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Abai misses with an elbow strike.
Andersson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Abai after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anders Andersson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Andersson dodges an elbow strike from Abai.
Andersson blocks an elbow strike.
Abai gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Andersson is working for takedown but Abai is calmly controlling the position for now.
Abai pushes off an throws an elbow but Andersson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Andersson avoids a wild elbow strike from Abai.

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 Anders Andersson.
I think Andersson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Anders Andersson!
An out of breath and clearly excited Anders Andersson thanked Voodoo Nutrition for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).