PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Russell Bell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kabal Labak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Bell
vs
Labak

188 cm
27
210 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

180 cm
27
198 lbs
14 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Russell Bell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kabal Labak!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Phil Schofield and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Labak avoids a kick to the body.
Labak looks for the body kick but Bell saw that one coming.
Bell gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Bell takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bell throws a wild body kick that Labak sees coming a mile off.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Bell checks a leg kick.
It looked like Bell was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Labak lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Labak looks to land a left hand but Bell moved out of range nicely.
That kick from Labak tenderised Bell's leg. Bell is trying to keep his angry face on.
Labak tries to land a leg kick but Bell saw it coming and moves away.
Labak misses with a leg kick.
Bell lands with a nice body punch.
Bell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Labak! But no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bell misses with a kick to the body.
Bell uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Labak.
Bell thows a leg kick but Labak checks it
letting Labak counter with a right hand.
Bell digs a good body shot into Labak's ribs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bell looks to score with a jab to the body but Labak is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bell moves out of range of the leg kick from Labak.
Labak shoots for a takedown but Bell saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Labak needs to keep his hands up - Bell had a free shot at his head there.
Bell jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Labak lands a nice looking body shot.
Labak is looking to clinch.
Bell swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Bell scores with a body shot.
Bell just misses with a punch to the body.
Labak fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Bell.
Bell lands with a thumping leg kick.
Bell throws out a powerful jab.
Bell is looking to wear down Labak with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Labak darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Labak is looking for a kimura here.
Bell is staying active underneath Labak, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Labak working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Bell controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Labak moves into full mount! Bell won't be happy about that!
Bell is squirming around, avoiding Labak's attempts to control the action.
Labak putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Labak scoring with strikes but Bell is staying in there.
Labak wants to control the pace but Bell is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Labak throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Bell working to try and regain half guard.
Bell sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Bell is looking to improve his position.
Labak not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Labak is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nice strikes from Labak there.
Bell desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Bell is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Labak not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Labak is working for a kimura but Bell is defending it quite comfortably.
Labak missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nice strikes from Labak there.

Labak is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bell is just riding it out for now. Labak eventually gives up the hold.
Bell gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kabal Labak dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bell checks a low kick from Labak.
Labak misses the shot to the body.
Bell looks to land a right hand but Labak moved out of range.
Labak fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Bell looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Labak fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nice takedown defense from Bell. No joy for Labak on that attempt.
Bell just misses with a punch to the body.
A good leg kick by Bell.
Russell Bell is winning the standup battle so far.
Bell lands with a nice body punch.
Bell throws a quick inside leg kick.
Bell keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bell throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Labak avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Labak defending well as Bell loads up on a big left hand.
Labak avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Bell lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Labak at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Labak with a hook.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Labak crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Bell - the referee stops the clock and Labak gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Bell. Labak manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Bell doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Labak scores with a hook to the body. Bell takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Labak tries to clinch up but Bell circles away and keeps his distance.
Labak pivots, looking for a leg kick but Bell is out of range and Labak settles back down.
A chopping leg kick lands by Labak.
Labak lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Bell throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bell slips a straight right by Labak.
A chopping leg kick lands by Bell.
Labak is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bell.
Labak connects with a leg kick. Bell looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Bell tests Labak's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Labak gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bell slips under a jab from Labak.
Labak misses with a wild body shot.
Labak lands a leg kick that knocks Bell off balance momentarily.
Bell lands a lovely overhand right.
Bell misses with a body shot.
Bell avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bell half committed to a counter leg kick.
Bell throws a leg kick but Labak sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A slow jab from Labak misses its intended target.
A quick step to the side and Bell tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bell stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bell wants it to stay on the feet.
A quick step to the side and Bell tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bell misses with a kick to the body.
Labak connects with a solid leg kick.
Labak fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Bell has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Labak misses the jab.
Labak looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Labak throws out a loose jab but Bell uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Labak misses with a body kick.
Bell is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Labak looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Bell throws a body shot but no joy.
Labak throws a solid leg kick but Bell takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Labak.
Russell Bell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Labak throws a jab when Bell was well out of range.
Bell moves out of range of the body kick from Labak.
Labak thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bell with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Bell lands a head shot.
Bell on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Labak throws a push kick but Bell slaps the foot to one side.
Labak turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Labak. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Bell cracks the inside of Labak's front leg.
Bell scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Labak doesn't seem bothered though.
Bell misses with a leg kick
and Labak counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Labak is looking to slow Bell down with leg kicks.
Bell swats away the attempt to clinch by Labak.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A punch combination from Labak misses.
Bell attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Labak misses the shot to the body.
Nice defenses there by Bell.
Bell keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Labak misses with a body kick.
Labak throws a looping overhand right but Bell ducks down to avoid it.
As Labak backs away, Bell returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Bell bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Labak misses the jab.
Labak tries to land a body kick
and Bell counters with a nice body shot.
Bell moves out of range as Labak throws a body kick.
Bell scores with a punch to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kabal Labak will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Bell misses with a body shot.

Labak gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bell looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Bell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Labak tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bell defends well and Labak ends up having to push Bell into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Bell missing with a left hand there. Labak was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bell tries to move into range but Labak moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Labak tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bell manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bell ducks under a wild hook from Labak.
Bell is looking to counter punch.
Labak looks to land a body kick but Bell moved away.
Nice defenses there by Bell.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Labak tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bell paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Labak wants to clinch.
Bell scores with a leg kick.
Bell is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Labak lands with a hook. Bell tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Labak fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Bell checks it well.

Labak looking to score a takedown here. Bell is defending well but Labak drives through and ends up in Bell's guard.
Labak throwing strikes from guard but Bell blocks nicely.
Bell keeping moving, preventing Labak from controlling successfully.
Labak is working Bell over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bell is on top in guard.

Labak not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kabal Labak has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bell looking to pass the guard.
Bell trying to control the position from guard on top but Labak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Labak is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bell is aware though and is defending well.
Russell Bell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kabal Labak is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bell preventing the sweep.
Labak trying to control the position here.
Labak controls Bell momentarily but Bell frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bell is looking to stand up but Labak won't let him.

Bell got a little sloppy there for a moment and Labak has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bell has managed to get both his arms back between Labak's legs - danger averted.
Bell trying to control the position from guard on top but Labak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Labak wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Labak misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bell.
Labak misses with a hook. Bell ducked under it nicely.
A little feinted left hand from Bell on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Labak keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bell throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bell takes one on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bell misses with a body shot.
Labak moves out of range of the leg kick from Bell.
Labak throws a body shot but no joy.
Labak thumps Bell with a low kick.
Labak misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Labak blocks a jab.
Labak is looking to land body kicks.
Labak throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Bell misses with a low kick.
Bell fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Labak checks it well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Labak lands a jab.
Labak with a nice cross.
Labak dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kabal Labak comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Labak has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kabal Labak!
A very excited looking Kabal Labak 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.