PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kazunori Honda (ranked 3293 p4p, 152 weight class) and Abdul Nabi (ranked 4091 p4p, 182 weight class). Nabi has chosen Here Comes The Hotstepper as his entrance music. Abdul Nabi is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Honda
vs
Nabi

170 cm
25
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

171 cm
25
142 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Bee Krazy

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Kazunori Honda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Abdul Nabi!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Sam Margolis and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Honda walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Honda dives in for a single leg takedown but Nabi sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Nabi works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nice sprawl there from Nabi as Honda shoots in.
Nabi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A punch combination from Nabi misses.
Honda drops down looking for a counter takedown but Nabi sprawls and moves away.
Honda dives in and grabs Nabi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nabi pushes down on Honda's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazunori Honda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Honda goes for a double leg but Nabi avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Nabi continues to drive forward.
Honda fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A combination from Nabi does no damage.
Honda slaps away a takedown attempt from Nabi, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nabi moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Nabi clobbers Honda with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Honda has his takedown stuffed
and Nabi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nabi sizes up Honda with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Nabi throws a shot to the body.
Nabi cracks Honda with a good jab.
We've been told by Honda's head coaches at JAG Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Nabi lands with a hook. Honda tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nabi tests Honda's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nabi feints a jab promting Honda to slip. Nabi then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Honda slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Honda is rocked!

Honda throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Nabi tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Honda is in Nabi's guard.
Honda stays in close to Nabi's body and controls the position.

Honda postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Nabi is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Honda, into his guard.

Nabi postures up in Honda's guard and throws a big left but Honda blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Honda is on top in guard.

Honda avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Honda is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Nabi keeping moving, preventing Honda from controlling successfully.
Nabi trying to keep a closed guard but Honda is proving a slippery customer.

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.

Honda postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Nabi is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Honda, into his guard.

Honda wants to sweep but no luck.
We've been informed that Nabi has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Nabi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nabi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nabi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul Nabi dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nabi stuns Honda with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nabi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nabi shoots for a takedown but Honda saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nabi throws a good cross that connects.
Nabi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Honda as he jumps to the side.
Honda appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Honda.
Honda fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nabi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Honda appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nabi lands a nice shot to the body.
Honda needs to keep his hands up - Nabi had a free shot at his head there.

Honda shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Honda content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Nabi trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Honda manages to pass to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nabi tries to lock up and control but Honda gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Honda is working for a guillotine from mount but Nabi frees his head quite easily.

Honda is working for a guillotine from mount but Nabi frees his head quite easily.
Honda wants to control the pace but Nabi is squirming around nicely.

Honda is working for a guillotine from mount but Nabi frees his head quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nabi bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Honda is adopting a defensive guard.
Honda has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Nabi landing with the ground and pound.
Nabi preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nabi stands and throws Honda's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Honda is trying to control Nabi's posture but Nabi avoids it.

Nabi swings around for an armbar but Honda sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Nabi's guard.
Nabi keeping moving, preventing Honda from controlling successfully.
Nabi wants to stand but Honda is controlling the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Honda looking to sit in guard and control but Nabi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul Nabi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Nabi lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Nabi.
Honda is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nabi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Honda takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Nabi lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Nabi.
Nabi lands the left hand.
Nabi falls off balance throwing a combination

and Honda counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nabi won't be happy with that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nabi tries to improve position but can't.

Honda has an Americana. Nabi didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Honda is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Honda hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Kazunori Honda!