PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Abul Khayr Belabed (ranked 4006 p4p, 404 weight class) and Fabian Herrera (ranked 22512 p4p, 549 weight class). Abul Khayr Belabed has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Khayr Belabed
vs
Herrera

180 cm
26
155 lbs
4 - 5 - 1

173 cm
26
157 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abul Khayr Belabed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fabian Herrera!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Aafke Stam and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Herrera doesn't manage to clinch there - Belabed circles away.

Belabed shoots in and bounces Herrera off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Herrera wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Belabed manages to pass to side control.

Belabed seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Herrera won't allow Belabed to pass to mount.
Belabed stops Herrera from getting back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Herrera tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Belabed manages to move to mount!
Herrera is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Herrera has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belabed is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Herrera is trying to stand back up.
Belabed controls the position.
Herrera trying to get back to his feet but Belabed is in full control for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Herrera is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Belabed.
Herrera is trying to stand back up.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Belabed keeps control of the position easily here as Herrera tries to buck him off.
Belabed's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Herrera is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Herrera is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herrera is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Herrera trying to get back to his feet but Belabed is in full control for now.
Belabed is riding his opponent, not letting Herrera buck him off.
Herrera is trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Belabed is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Herrera trying to get back to his feet but Belabed is in full control for now.
Belabed gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Herrera trying to get back to his feet but Belabed is in full control for now.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Herrera is trying to get back to his feet but Belabed has full control of the position and if anything, Herrera has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Belabed controlling from the back.
Herrera trying to get back to his feet but Belabed is in full control for now.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Belabed is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Herrera trying to get back to his feet but Belabed is in full control for now.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Belabed biding his time, controlling Herrera.
Belabed has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Herrera trying to get back to his feet but Belabed is in full control for now.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
I would not like to be Herrera right now.

Belabed is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Herrera is defending well though. Belabed let's go of the attempt for now.
Herrera is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Belabed keeps control of the position easily here as Herrera tries to buck him off.
Herrera prevents Belabed from getting a body triangle.
Herrera is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Belabed lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Belabed.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Can Herrera hold on?! Belabed is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Herrera is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abul Khayr Belabed dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Belabed keeps the fight on the outside.
Herrera misses with a looping right.
A head kick misses from Herrera.

Belabed shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Herrera is trying to defend but Belabed finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belabed is looking to advance position but Herrera won't allow it.
Belabed prevents Herrera from standing back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belabed stalling.
Herrera wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Herrera stuffs the takedown attempt from Belabed. Belabed gets slowly back to his feet.

Belabed manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Herrera on his heels. He'll look to pass Herrera's guard now, I'm sure.
Belabed is standing up over Herrera. Herrera looks to escape but Belabed dives into side control.

Herrera wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Herrera bucks up and tries to throw Belabed off but instead Belabed has got his back!
Herrera is trying to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belabed really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Herrera.
Herrera is trying to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Belabed controlling the positon.
Herrera is trying to get back to his feet but Belabed has full control of the position and if anything, Herrera has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Belabed has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Herrera's body.
Herrera is trying to stand back up.

That's four 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.
Belabed slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Herrera is trying to get back to his feet but Belabed has full control of the position and if anything, Herrera has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Herrera is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Belabed.
Belabed is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Herrera can do to turn this around?
Herrera is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Belabed's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Good control from Belabed.
Herrera is trying to stand back up.
Belabed is riding his opponent, not letting Herrera buck him off.
Herrera is trying to stand back up.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Belabed looking for the choke from the back.
Abul Khayr Belabed overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Belabed biding his time, controlling Herrera.
Herrera is trying to get back to his feet but Belabed has full control of the position and if anything, Herrera has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Herrera is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

Belabed is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Herrera knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Herrera for a finish.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Belabed has Herrera flattened out and is raining down punches.
Belabed just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Herrera is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Belabed trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Herrera doesn't escape.
Herrera is trying to stand back up.

Belabed is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Herrera defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Herrera is trying to get back to his feet but Belabed has full control of the position and if anything, Herrera has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Abul Khayr Belabed is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
What can Herrera do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Herrera is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Fabian Herrera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Abul Khayr Belabed showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Belabed has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight for Abul Khayr Belabed!
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight for Abul Khayr Belabed!
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight for Abul Khayr Belabed!

Abul Khayr Belabed wins by unanimous decision!
A relieved looking Abul Khayr Belabed thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.