PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Astro Traveller (ranked 888 p4p, 939 weight class) and Aristides Abel (ranked 130 p4p, 135 weight class). Traveller comes to the cage accompanied by For Heavy Metal we will die!. Abel has chosen Express Yourself as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Traveller
vs
Abel

175 cm
32
187
13 - 12 - 2

190 cm
36
203
24 - 19 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Heavy Metal Drugs

Conquer

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 13 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Astro Traveller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aristides Abel!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Traveller throws a body punch but Abel moves out of range.
Abel drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Traveller throws a nice looking combination but Abel bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Abel flicks out a counter leg kick but Traveller steps away.
A punch combination from Traveller misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Traveller misses the target.
Traveller tries to work over Abel's front leg with a kick but Abel checks it.
A good leg kick by Abel.
Traveller misses with a hook
and Abel counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Abel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Traveller takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Abel throws a hook but Traveller blocks it.
Traveller keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Traveller swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Traveller throws a big shot that misses.
Abel appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Traveller lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Traveller looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A left lands for Traveller.
Traveller throws the left hand but Abel avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Traveller bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Traveller ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Traveller avoids a punch combination nicely.

Abel closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Traveller cracks Abel with a nice body shot.
Abel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Traveller lands a body shot in the clinch.
A short right from Abel on the inside.
A short right from Abel on the inside.

Traveller manages to break the clinch.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Abel, as that shot connected.
Traveller loads up on a big right hand but Abel slips the punch.
Abel throws a right hand that misses
and Traveller counters with a left to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Traveller throws a leg kick which misses Abel's front leg but catches the back leg as Abel tries to avoid it.

Traveller pushes Abel up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Traveller scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Abel softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Traveller breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Abel 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.
Astro Traveller seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Traveller connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Traveller throws a quick inside leg kick.
Abel swats away the attempt to clinch by Traveller.
Abel only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Traveller tests Abel's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Traveller cracks Abel with a right hand to the side of the head.
Traveller scores with a hook to the body. Abel takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Abel misses with a kick to the body.
Good standup being displayed there by Abel as he connects with a hook.
Abel circles away from the clinch attempt.
Abel throws the left hand but Traveller avoids the punch easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Traveller moves into the clinch.
A short right from Abel on the inside.
Abel misses with a punch on the inside.
I was talking to Traveller's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A head punch on the inside from Abel fails to land.
Abel misses with the head strike.
Traveller goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Traveller struggles to land a body shot inside as Abel controls his hands.
Abel misses with a punch on the inside.
Traveller struggles to land a body shot inside as Abel controls his hands.
Abel tries to land knees in the clinch but Traveller avoids the damage to the body.
Abel tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Traveller.
Abel has a couple of punches blocked by Traveller.
Traveller goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Abel blocks a body shot from Traveller.
Abel tries to land a knee to the head but Traveller blocks with his arms.
Abel blocking some punches.
Abel swings wildly with an uppercut but Traveller uses good head movement to avoid it.
Traveller swings wildly with an uppercut but Abel uses good head movement to avoid it.

Traveller escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A decent looking cross lands there for Traveller.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Traveller throws a lazy uppercut
and Abel counters with a three punch combo that has Traveller backing up. Traveller nods at Abel to acknowledge the strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Traveller lands a glancing blow to the side of Abel's head.
Traveller blocks a head kick by Abel.
Traveller went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Abel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A nice leg kick lands there from Traveller.
A low kick from Abel is predictable there
letting Traveller counter with a right hand.
A low kick lands for Abel.
Abel bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Traveller fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Traveller tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Abel was well out of range. Poor timing from Traveller.
Abel takes one on the chin but seems OK.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Abel takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Traveller scores with a leg kick.
A cross from Traveller lands.
Traveller connects with a crisp jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Astro Traveller dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A big right from Traveller misses.
A good leg kick by Traveller.
A swing and a miss from Traveller.
Traveller thuds his right hand into Abel's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Traveller misses with a looping left.
Abel throws out a counter right but Traveller avoids it with no problem.
Traveller takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Traveller looks to land a combination. Abel sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Astro Traveller is winning the standup battle so far.
Traveller swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Despite the aggression on Abel's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Traveller just misses with a punch to the body.
Traveller slips a jab from Abel.
Traveller blocks a head kick by Abel.
Abel keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Traveller lands a leg kick that knocks Abel off balance momentarily.
Abel turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
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!
Traveller misses the shot to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Abel! But no joy.
Traveller throws a low kick, looking for Abel's leg but Abel calmly moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abel takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Traveller jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Abel throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Traveller counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Traveller is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Abel can do to turn this around?
Abel throws a leg kick that is checked
and Traveller counters with a leg kick.
A low kick from Traveller misses
and Abel counters with a straight right hand.
Traveller looks to throw the jab but Abel is out of range.
Abel throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Traveller stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Good shot there by Traveller.
Abel tries a head kick but it misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Traveller.
Traveller chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Traveller dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Abel misses with an uppercut.
Traveller connects with the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Traveller feints and then cracks Abel's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Abel down.
Abel tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Traveller is able to avoid easily.
Abel scores with a head kick. Traveller tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Traveller works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Abel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Abel circles away from the clinch attempt.
Abel flicks out a counter leg kick but Traveller steps away.
Traveller throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Abel has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Traveller misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Abel.
It seemed like Abel was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Abel throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A jab from Traveller misses.
Traveller avoids the head kick by Abel.

Traveller has managed to clinch.
Traveller lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Abel misses with a punch on the inside.
Abel blocks a body shot from Traveller.
Abel misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Traveller tries a body shot but Abel blocks it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Abel creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Abel pushes Traveller back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Traveller blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Traveller tries to throw a body punch but Abel avoids it by throwing Traveller back against the cage.
Abel tries to break free but Traveller pushes him back against the cage.
Aristides Abel seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Traveller lands a left hand.
Abel misses with some punches.

Traveller breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Abel slips a jab from Traveller.
Abel's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Traveller checks a leg kick.
Traveller with the inside leg kick.
Abel pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Abel throws a quick inside leg kick.
Abel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Traveller connects with a good right hand that stumbles Abel. Abel circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Abel throws a lazy body kick
and Abel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
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!
Traveller cracks Abel with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abel blocks a jab.
A jab from Traveller finds it's way through Abel's defenses.
Traveller scores with a leg kick.
Abel takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Abel 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.
Traveller throws an overhand right that lands on Abel's shoulder, as Abel tries to avoid the shot.
Abel looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Traveller throws a leg kick which misses Abel's front leg but catches the back leg as Abel tries to avoid it.
Traveller throws out a powerful jab.
Traveller scores with a shot to the body.
Nice uppercut there from Traveller.
Abel tries to move into range but Traveller moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Traveller moves out of range of the strikes.
Abel misses with a jab, cross combination.
Abel feints a jab promting Traveller to slip. Abel then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Traveller slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Traveller slips a straight right by Abel.
Traveller is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Abel.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Astro Traveller dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Traveller takes the fight into the clinch.
Abel throws a head punch that misses.
Abel lands an elbow inside.
Abel misses with some punches.

Abel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Traveller ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Abel moves away.
Abel takes one to the chin there.
Nice defenses there by Abel.
Abel is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Traveller with a body shot.
Traveller tries to close the distance and clinch up but Abel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Good leg kick by Traveller.
Traveller swats away the attempt to clinch by Abel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Traveller throws a lazy right hand but Abel sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Abel throws out a counter right but Traveller avoids it with no problem.
Traveller wants to slow Abel down by chopping away at his legs.
Traveller is looking to slow Abel down with leg kicks.
A low kick lands for Traveller.

That's one minute gone in the round.
That kick from Abel tenderised Traveller's leg. Traveller is trying to keep his angry face on.
A nice leg kick lands there from Abel.
Abel misses with an uppercut. Traveller saw that one coming.
Traveller misses with a hook. Abel ducked under it nicely.
Abel jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Traveller throws the left hand but Abel avoids the punch easily.
Abel lands a glancing blow to the side of Traveller's head.
A good leg kick by Traveller.
Traveller misses with an uppercut.

Traveller clinches.
Abel doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Traveller lands with a light punch inside.
Abel digs a right hand underneath Traveller's ribcage. Traveller let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Traveller lands a body punch.
Abel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Traveller goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Traveller lands a right hand that snaps the head of Abel backwards.
Aristides Abel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Traveller misses with a body punch.
Abel swings wildly with an uppercut but Traveller uses good head movement to avoid it.
Abel prevents a body shot from Traveller.
Traveller misses with a punch to the body.
A short uppercut from Traveller.
A head punch on the inside from Abel fails to land.
Traveller's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short body shot lands from Abel as the two fighters clinch.
Abel misses with some punches.
Abel blocks a body shot from Traveller.
Traveller lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Traveller tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Abel blocks a body shot from Traveller.
Nice body punch from Traveller.
Abel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Traveller tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Abel's elbow.
Traveller blocks an uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Traveller.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Traveller.
Abel misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abel scores with a shot to the side of Traveller's head.
Traveller works on Abel's body with a couple of short punches.
Traveller lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Abel has a couple of punches blocked by Traveller.
Traveller lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Traveller tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Traveller lands with a short head shot on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Traveller.
Abel swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Traveller manages to break the clinch.
Traveller ducks under a wild hook from Abel.
Traveller works Abel's body with a nice hook.
Abel connects with a high kick.
Traveller lunges at Abel with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Abel's hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Abel takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Abel walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Good leg kick by Traveller.
A low kick lands for Traveller.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Traveller fails to land with a series of punches.
Traveller moves out of range of the strikes.
A little feinted left hand from Traveller on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Traveller scores with a nice right hand.
Traveller steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Abel.
Abel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Traveller.
Traveller lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Abel takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A nice leg kick lands there from Abel.
Abel lands a jab to the head.
Abel shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Traveller throws a good cross that connects.
Traveller takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Good standup being displayed there by Traveller as he connects with a hook.
Abel on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

And that's the end of the fight!
Astro Traveller showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Traveller has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Astro Traveller!
Astro Traveller seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.