PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jaan Jalgratas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rahkim Abdullah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jalgratas
vs
Abdullah

190 cm
32
185 lbs
12 - 12 - 0

190 cm
34
198 lbs
23 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
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 12 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jaan Jalgratas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rahkim Abdullah!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, John Kavanagh and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abdullah takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Jalgratas has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Abdullah, as that shot connected.
Jalgratas goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Jalgratas bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Jalgratas throws a body kick that misses.
Jalgratas lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Abdullah looks to throw the jab but Jalgratas is out of range.
Jalgratas's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Abdullah connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Jalgratas scrambles back to his feet.
Jalgratas takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jalgratas tries to clinch but Abdullah moves out of range.
Jalgratas takes a swing at Abdullah's ribcage but misses.
Abdullah drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Jalgratas defends it well.
Abdullah jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Jalgratas was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Abdullah walks forward, straight into a front kick from Jalgratas.
Jalgratas lands a nice looking body shot.
Abdullah pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Jalgratas fires out a quick counter leg kick but Abdullah just manages to avoid it.
Nice uppercut lands for Abdullah. That snapped Jalgratas's head back.
Jalgratas throws a right hand that Abdullah ducks under and follows up with a left that Abdullah also avoids with ease.
Jalgratas throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A head kick misses from Jalgratas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdullah throws a poor cross that misses
and Jalgratas counters with a left to the body.
Jalgratas slips a jab and a cross from Abdullah.
Abdullah ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jalgratas moves away.
Abdullah swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Abdullah has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

Abdullah dives in and scores a takedown into Jalgratas's guard.
Abdullah with a flurry of punches that miss.
Abdullah throwing strikes but missing.
Jalgratas keeping moving, preventing Abdullah from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jalgratas is trying to control the position but Abdullah postures up.
Abdullah trying to control but Jalgratas is working from the bottom.
Jalgratas working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abdullah throws an elbow that misses. Jalgratas uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Abdullah's guard. Nice move by Jalgratas!

Abdullah being controlled here, momentarily.
Abdullah looking to control.
Abdullah is controlling Jalgratas's posture.
Abdullah preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abdullah has Jalgratas pulled in close to control his posture.
Jalgratas stopping the sweep attempt from Abdullah.
Jalgratas content to stall in guard here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Jalgratas works over Abdullah with some ground and pound from guard.
Jalgratas is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Abdullah is pulling down on Jalgratas's head to control his posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Jalgratas thuds a left hand into Abdullah's body.
Abdullah takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Nice shot lands for Jalgratas.
Jalgratas throws the kick towards the body but Abdullah avoids it.
And Abdullah tries to counter it with a takedown but Jalgratas pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Abdullah smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Jalgratas takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Abdullah lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Jalgratas moves out of range as Abdullah strikes.
Abdullah cracks Jalgratas with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Jalgratas throws a sloppy head kick and Abdullah moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from Jalgratas.
Jalgratas tries a head kick but it misses.
A cross from Abdullah lands.
Jalgratas throws a front kick aimed at Abdullah's knee but Abdullah avoids it well.
Jalgratas looks to score with a jab to the body but Abdullah is just out of range.
Abdullah misses with a hook.
Jalgratas was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rahkim Abdullah will probably get the nod.
That's time! Jalgratas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Jalgratas defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Abdullah.
Abdullah keeps the fight on the outside.
Jalgratas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Abdullah slips a straight right by Jalgratas.
Abdullah throws a hook to the side of Jalgratas's head but Jalgratas sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Jalgratas takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Jalgratas throws a hook but Abdullah blocks it.
Abdullah steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Jalgratas.
Abdullah might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

Jalgratas shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jalgratas content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jalgratas thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Abdullah manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Abdullah tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jalgratas controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Abdullah bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Jalgratas's guard.

Jalgratas 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abdullah throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jalgratas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Jalgratas looking to control.
Jalgratas 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.
Abdullah is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Abdullah wants to control from the top but Jalgratas keeps moving.
Jalgratas working a defensive guard but Abdullah manages to pass into side control anyway.
Jalgratas is working to avoid the ground and pound but Abdullah connects with a decent elbow.
Jalgratas is looking for a sweep.
Jalgratas regains half guard there - taking advantage of Abdullah's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jalgratas trying to hold on to Abdullah's head to control him but Abdullah postures up.
Abdullah throwing shots but Jalgratas is blocking nicely.
Abdullah landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Jaan Jalgratas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Abdullah not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Abdullah scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Abdullah drops an elbow to the side of Jalgratas's head.
Abdullah trying to control the action but Jalgratas is working from the bottom.
Abdullah landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Jalgratas is pressing down on Abdullah's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jalgratas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Abdullah throws a big elbow that misses.
Jalgratas controls Abdullah momentarily but Abdullah frees himself.
Abdullah trying to control but Jalgratas is working from the bottom.
Abdullah postures up and lands a big shot to Jalgratas's brow.
Abdullah working some strikes from top position.
Jalgratas keeping moving, preventing Abdullah from controlling successfully.
Abdullah loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jalgratas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Jalgratas throws a wild body kick that Abdullah sees coming a mile off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rahkim Abdullah will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Abdullah slips under a jab from Jalgratas.
Abdullah on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

Abdullah scores with a takedown into Jalgratas's guard.
Jalgratas trying to control the position.
Abdullah working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Jalgratas had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Abdullah defends it easily.
Jalgratas 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jalgratas keeping moving, preventing Abdullah from controlling successfully.
Abdullah won't allow Jalgratas to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdullah scoring with punches to the head and body.
Jalgratas keeping moving, preventing Abdullah from controlling successfully.
Jalgratas pulls Abdullah in close to prevent any damage.
Jalgratas is trying to keep Abdullah in close.
Abdullah with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Abdullah wants to control from the top but Jalgratas keeps moving.
Abdullah landing with the ground and pound.
Abdullah trying to control the position from guard on top but Jalgratas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Abdullah postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Abdullah content to stall in guard here.
Jalgratas wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Abdullah looking to score a takedown here. Jalgratas is defending well but Abdullah drives through and ends up in Jalgratas's guard.
Jalgratas controls Abdullah momentarily but Abdullah frees himself.
Abdullah scoring with some ground and pound.
Abdullah chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abdullah controlling from the top position.

Jalgratas looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Abdullah working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jalgratas's head.
Abdullah is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Abdullah makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Abdullah throws an elbow that misses. Jalgratas uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Abdullah's guard. Nice move by Jalgratas!

Abdullah seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abdullah's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Abdullah looking for a sweep. Not yet Abdullah, not yet.
Jaan Jalgratas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Abdullah is still trying to improve position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rahkim Abdullah comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Abdullah winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rahkim Abdullah!
An out of breath Rahkim Abdullah thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.