PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Papy Abedi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andy Rothschild (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.

Abedi
vs
Rothschild

181 cm
38
182 lbs
23 - 13 - 0

180 cm
23
183 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 23 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Papy Abedi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andy Rothschild!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Cecil Peabody and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rothschild with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rothschild. Abedi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Abedi swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Abedi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Abedi.
Abedi slips under a jab.
Papy Abedi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Abedi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rothschild sprawls well. Rothschild wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Abedi gets slowly back to his feet.
Abedi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abedi darts in looking for a takedown but Rothschild gets double underhooks and turns Abedi into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Papy Abedi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rothschild throws a body punch but Abedi moves out of range.
Rothschild stuffs the takedown.

Abedi looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Rothschild!
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!
Rothschild manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rothschild tries to roll over but Abedi keeps him under control.
Abedi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rothschild avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Abedi.
Abedi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rothschild does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rothschild taking some punishment here, with Abedi in his half guard.
Rothschild works his way to full guard. Good work.
Abedi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rothschild bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Abedi's guard.

Abedi controls Rothschild momentarily but Rothschild frees himself.
Rothschild stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Abedi swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rothschild is fighting to break Abedi's control of his arms but Abedi is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Rothschild looking to sit in guard and control but Abedi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Abedi throwing strikes from guard but Rothschild blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rothschild is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Abedi content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Abedi chips away with some ground and pound.
Rothschild is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Rothschild looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Abedi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rothschild is looking to stand up but Abedi isn't so interested in that idea.
Abedi throwing strikes but missing.
Abedi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rothschild works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Abedi won't allow Rothschild to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abedi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Abedi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rothschild pulls Abedi in close to prevent any damage.
Rothschild looking for a sweep. Not yet Rothschild, not yet.
Abedi passes Rothschild's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Abedi with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Rothschild keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Abedi landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
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 Papy Abedi will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Abedi just misses with a punch to the body.
Rothschild looks for the body kick but Abedi saw that one coming.
Rothschild leaves Abedi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A lazy body kick from Rothschild
and Abedi counters with a leg kick.
Abedi wants to slow Rothschild down by chopping away at his legs.
Rothschild throws a body shot but no joy.
Abedi feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Abedi connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rothschild's hands.
Rothschild dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Abedi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rothschild is fending him off so far but Abedi persists. Nope, Rothschild circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abedi avoids the body shot from Rothschild.
Abedi fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rothschild on the side of the head.

Rothschild gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Rothschild pushes Abedi off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Rothschild is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Abedi rather than just go for the knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rothschild misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Abedi scores with a shot to the body.
Abedi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rothschild defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Papy Abedi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Abedi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rothschild but Rothschild pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nice sprawl there from Rothschild as Abedi shoots in.
Rothschild lands with a kick to the temple. Abedi shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Papy Abedi has been cut.
An inside leg kick lands from Rothschild.
Rothschild swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Horrible takedown attempt by Abedi or perhaps it was just good defense by Rothschild, which made it look bad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rothschild swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Abedi catches Rothschild with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Abedi throws a hook but Rothschild blocks it.
Rothschild is looking for the big counter here.
Abedi scores with a three punch combo!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Abedi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Rothschild fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Abedi manages to avoid it.
Rothschild dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Abedi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Abedi tests Rothschild's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rothschild throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Abedi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rothschild lands a nice looking body shot.
Abedi looks to land a combination but Rothschild avoids it well.
Abedi fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rothschild getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Abedi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rothschild did well to prevent Abedi getting side control.
Rothschild wants to get back to his feet.
Papy Abedi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rothschild manages to get to full guard.
Abedi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Abedi trying to control but Rothschild is working from the bottom.
Abedi 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rothschild pulls Abedi in close to prevent any damage.
Abedi is pushing down on Rothschild's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rothschild is fighting to maintain full guard but Abedi has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rothschild is trying to stand back up but Abedi is controlling him
Abedi is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rothschild is trying to stand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rothschild is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Rothschild felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rothschild tries to get to full guard but Abedi has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Andy Rothschild will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Papy Abedi's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Abedi fails with a takedown attempt.
Abedi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Abedi fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Papy Abedi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Abedi lunges at Rothschild with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rothschild's hand.

Rothschild gets caught napping as Abedi dives in and scores a takedown. Rothschild manages to retain guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rothschild kicks Abedi off and gets to his feet.
Abedi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Abedi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rothschild but Rothschild pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Abedi backing away here, and Rothschild unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abedi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rothschild avoids it really well and circles away.
Andy Rothschild is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Abedi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rothschild circles away.
Rothschild looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Abedi scores with a leg kick.
Abedi shoots in for a double leg but Rothschild sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Abedi shoots in and drives through. Rothschild sprawls well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Abedi's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Rothschild connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Abedi scrambles back to his feet.
Rothschild changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Rothschild moves out of range of the leg kick from Abedi.
Rothschild scores with a body shot.
Rothschild scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Abedi doesn't seem bothered though.
Abedi misses with a takedown attempt - Rothschild sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abedi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rothschild but Rothschild pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rothschild scores with a punch to the head.
Abedi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rothschild throws out the jab.
Rothschild throws a lazy right hand but Abedi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rothschild lets loose with a powerful body kick. Abedi will feel that in the morning.
Andy Rothschild seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rothschild lands with an overhand left.
Abedi shoots in and drives through. Rothschild sprawls well.
Abedi takes one on the button.
Rothschild lands a nice hook to Abedi's body. Abedi takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rothschild lands a nice looking body shot.
Abedi lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rothschild lands a jab to Abedi's midsection.
Abedi shoots in for a takedown but Rothschild shows good takedown defense.
Abedi takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Abedi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rothschild sprawls well. Rothschild wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Abedi gets slowly back to his feet.
Rothschild scores with a shot to the body.
Rothschild stuffs the takedown attempt from Abedi. Abedi gets slowly back to his feet.
Rothschild is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Abedi with a body shot.

Abedi shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Abedi showed some decent athleticism there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rothschild is trying to get back to full guard.

Rothschild manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Abedi keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
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!
Abedi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Abedi slows down the pace here.
Abedi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rothschild misses with some punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andy Rothschild comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rothschild 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 George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Andy Rothschild!