PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hugo Abbot (ranked 4953 p4p, 449 weight class) and John De Hahler (ranked 7780 p4p, 549 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Abbot
vs
De Hahler

180 cm
19
178 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

174 cm
19
160 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hugo Abbot!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John De Hahler!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Paul Gruel and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

De Hahler gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Abbot to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Abbot trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Abbot is in close to De Hahler's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Abbot throws a big elbow that misses.
De Hahler bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Abbot's guard.

De Hahler slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
De Hahler with a nice head shot there.
De Hahler working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Hahler passes Abbot's left leg - he's now in half guard.
De Hahler wants to control but Abbot is keeping him busy.
Abbot tries to get to full guard but De Hahler has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Hahler is keen to just control but Abbot is a slippery customer.
De Hahler wants to pass to mount but Abbot is defending the position.
Abbot is trying to defend against the ground and pound but De Hahler scores with a couple of nice shots.
De Hahler controlling the action here.
Abbot tries to get to full guard but De Hahler has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
De Hahler slows the pace down in half guard.
De Hahler thows a huge punch but Abbot dodges it nicely.
We've been hearing good reports from Abbot's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
De Hahler wants to pass the guard but Abbot is defending well.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with De Hahler in particular looking to stall.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Abbot pushes De Hahler up against the cage in a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from De Hahler.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Hahler misses with some punches.

Abbot breaks the clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by De Hahler!
Hugo Abbot seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
De Hahler uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Abbot.

Abbot gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A nice left hand lands by Abbot.

Abbot gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

De Hahler pushes Abbot off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Abbot on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Nice defenses there by Abbot.
De Hahler jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Abbot avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
De Hahler misses with a straight right.
Abbot wants to clinch.

Abbot has closed the distance and engaged De Hahler in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Abbot turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Abbot lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear De Hahler down.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Abbot creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
We've been informed that De Hahler has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Abbot is looking to take a break and control but De Hahler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Abbot is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. De Hahler knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
De Hahler regains half guard.
De Hahler regains full guard. Nicely done.

De Hahler has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Abbot can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John De Hahler will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

No luck for Abbot with that takedown attempt.
De Hahler uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Abbot.
De Hahler throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
De Hahler throws a jab when Abbot was well out of range.
De Hahler circles away from the clinch attempt.
No joy there for De Hahler, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Abbot clinches up against the cage.

De Hahler drags the fight down to the ground.

De Hahler manages to escape and get back to his feet.
De Hahler tests Abbot's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Abbot tries to clinch there but De Hahler circles away.
Abbot slips under a jab from De Hahler.
John De Hahler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
De Hahler jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Abbot tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. De Hahler manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Abbot takes the fight into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Abbot struggles to land a body shot inside as De Hahler controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, De Hahler scores with a nice short uppercut.
Abbot tries a body shot but De Hahler blocks it.
Abbot manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Abbot tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Abbot misses with a punch to the body.

Abbot pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Abbot takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Abbot rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but De Hahler moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Abbot tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but De Hahler paws at him with a jab and circles away.
De Hahler throws a hook but Abbot blocks it.
Abbot feinted with a counter takedown.

Abbot takes the fight into the clinch.
De Hahler misses with a hook from the clinch.
Abbot is pushing De Hahler up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abbot tries a body shot but De Hahler blocks it.
De Hahler goes for a takedown attempt but Abbot pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
De Hahler is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Abbot.
Abbot is looking to clinch but De Hahler is avoiding it.

Abbot throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. De Hahler was covering up waiting for the punch and Abbot finishes the takedown easily into guard.
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!
Abbot postures up and lands a big shot to De Hahler's brow.
Abbot stands up over De Hahler, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
De Hahler controls Abbot momentarily but Abbot frees himself.
Abbot missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
De Hahler keeping moving, preventing Abbot from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abbot trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Abbot scoring with some ground and pound.
Abbot lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Abbot throwing strikes but missing.
Abbot lands a couple of digs.
De Hahler lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

De Hahler lands a couple of elbows.
De Hahler tries to free his leg and advance position but Abbot is retaining full guard.
De Hahler is looking to work some ground and pound but Abbot has wrist control.
De Hahler working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
De Hahler has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abbot looking to hit a scissor sweep but De Hahler is one step ahead there.
De Hahler with a flurry of punches that miss.
Abbot keeping moving, preventing De Hahler from controlling successfully.
Abbot keeping full guard, as De Hahler tries to pass.
De Hahler works over Abbot with some ground and pound from guard.
De Hahler content to stall in guard here.
De Hahler loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John De Hahler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

De Hahler displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Abbot throws out the jab.
Abbot keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from De Hahler.
Abbot defending well as De Hahler loads up on a big left hand.
De Hahler 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.
De Hahler throws a nice looking combination but Abbot bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A punch combination from Abbot misses.
Abbot fails with an attempt to clinch.
De Hahler scores with the left hand. Abbot knows he should have avoided that one.
De Hahler misses with a looping left.
Abbot slips a straight right by De Hahler.
John De Hahler seems to be getting the better of the standup.
De Hahler circles away from the clinch attempt.
Abbot is looking to clinch.
And De Hahler tries to counter it with a takedown but Abbot pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Abbot feints and as De Hahler raises his hands in defense, Abbot changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

De Hahler is looking for a triangle but Abbot pushes his legs off easily.
De Hahler keeping moving, preventing Abbot from controlling successfully.
Abbot keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of De Hahler's head.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for De Hahler. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Abbot drops back looking for a leg! De Hahler is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and De Hahler manages to kick Abbot off! Abbot jumps back into De Hahler's guard.
Abbot working some strikes from top position.
De Hahler has momentary wrist control but Abbot slips an elbow through the middle.
Abbot pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. De Hahler is keeping the position for now.
Abbot won't allow De Hahler to sweep him here.
Abbot trying to control the position from guard on top but De Hahler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Abbot stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. De Hahler swivels though and keeps the full guard.
De Hahler 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.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

De Hahler looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
De Hahler wants to sweep but no luck.
De Hahler takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Abbot working some strikes from top position.
Abbot lands a couple of digs.
Abbot scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Abbot working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of De Hahler's head.
Abbot scoring with punches to the head and body.

De Hahler looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Abbot keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of De Hahler's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Hahler lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

De Hahler with a flurry of punches that miss.
De Hahler with a flurry of punches that miss.
De Hahler trying to control the position from guard on top but Abbot is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hugo Abbot has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Abbot wants to sweep but no luck.
De Hahler throws a big elbow that misses.
De Hahler sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Abbot preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Hahler wants to pass the guard but Abbot is keeping the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Abbot is on top in guard.

Abbot wants to control from the top but De Hahler keeps moving.
De Hahler is trying to keep Abbot in close.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Abbot postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

De Hahler pushes a forearm under Abbot's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Abbot is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). John De Hahler!