PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between CJ Saaim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Papy Abedi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saaim comes into the arena with Chelsea Dagger blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Saaim
vs
Abedi

182 cm
26
187 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

181 cm
38
182 lbs
23 - 14 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, CJ Saaim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Papy Abedi!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Abedi closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Saaim to the mat! Saaim manages to get full guard.
Abedi stopping the sweep attempt from Saaim.
Saaim pulls Abedi in close to his closed guard and prevents Abedi from doing any damage or advancing position.

Saaim looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Abedi passes into half guard.
Saaim wants to get back to full guard.
Abedi working the head and body with strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abedi takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Saaim is holding on to half guard well.
Abedi is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Saaim on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abedi looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Saaim with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Abedi content to control rather than advance.
Abedi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Saaim moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Saaim can't keep his opponent in guard - Abedi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Abedi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Saaim has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Abedi is working away from the top position though.
Saaim is not content to let Abedi control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abedi working Saaim over with strikes.
Abedi tries to pass to full mount but Saaim defends it.
Abedi controlling the pace.
Abedi passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Saaim!

Abedi looking to secure an arm triangle but Saaim defends it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saaim is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Abedi with shots to the head and body - Saaim looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saaim is in all sorts of trouble here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Abedi is landing with some decent strikes but Saaim is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Saaim tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Abedi unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Saaim wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Abedi celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Papy Abedi!
Papy Abedi spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.
The defeated CJ Saaim had this to say: 'I tripped on my shoelace, I'll tie them and i'll be back better than ever'.