PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Renji Abarai (ranked 798 p4p, 884 weight class) and Conner Travers (ranked 84 p4p, 92 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Abarai
vs
Travers

175 cm
22
150
7 - 2 - 0

167 cm
21
154
6 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Hardcore Alchemy
HARDCORE Threads

Arcticus University: London
Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Renji Abarai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Conner Travers!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Aafke Stam and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Abarai scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Abarai throws a body punch but Travers moves out of range.
Travers with the counter takedown but Abarai avoids it easily.
Travers takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A shot to the liver by Abarai. Beautiful body shot.
Travers slips a jab from Abarai.
Travers changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Abarai, as that shot connected.
Abarai throws an overhand right that lands on Travers's shoulder, as Travers tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abarai misses with a leg kick.
Abarai thumps Travers with a low kick.
Abarai throws a leg kick

and Travers counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Travers is looking to work some ground and pound but Abarai has wrist control.
Abarai wants to sweep here but Travers controlling him for the moment.
Travers trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Abarai manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Abarai got a little sloppy there for a moment and Travers has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Abarai has managed to get both his arms back between Travers's legs - danger averted.
We've been hearing good reports from Abarai'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.
Abarai wants to stand but Travers is controlling his posture from full guard.
Abarai trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Abarai gets to his feet - Travers follows without any prompting.
Renji Abarai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Travers avoids the body shot from Abarai.
Travers tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Abarai lands a jab to Travers's midsection.
Travers steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Abarai.
Abarai throws a body punch but Travers moves out of range.
Travers tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Abarai works the jab nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abarai throws out a powerful jab.

It looks like Conner Travers has been cut.
Abarai tries to score with a low kick but Travers moves his leg out of the way.
Travers drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Abarai defends it well.
Travers chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Abarai can pounce on him.
Travers displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Abarai throws out the jab.
Travers tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Travers keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
And Travers tries to counter it with a takedown but Abarai pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A chopping leg kick lands by Abarai.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abarai works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Abarai misses with a straight right.
Abarai lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A jab from Abarai misses.
Travers feints the counter takedown.
Abarai throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Renji Abarai dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Conner Travers's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Abarai throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Travers checks a leg kick.
Travers changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Abarai misses the shot to the body.
A low kick from Abarai is predictable there

and Travers decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Abarai's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Travers trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Travers throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Travers pushes down on Abarai's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Travers looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Abarai is staying active underneath Travers, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Travers is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Travers is looking for submissions but instead, Abarai has regained full guard.
Abarai keeping full guard, as Travers tries to pass.
Abarai wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Travers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Abarai is keeping the position for now.
Conner Travers has got the better of the ground game so far.
Abarai pulls Travers in close to prevent any damage.
Travers throws a strike but Abarai rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Travers looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abarai trying to stand up but can't free himself from Travers's guard.

Abarai stands up from Travers's guard - Abarai perhaps looking for a knockout.
Travers 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.
Travers walks into a stiff left hand from Abarai.
Abarai throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Travers counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Travers wants to pass the guard but Abarai is keeping the position.
Travers engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Travers tries to free his leg and advance position but Abarai is retaining full guard.
Travers trying to control the position from guard on top but Abarai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Travers tries to free his leg and advance position but Abarai is retaining full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Travers trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Abarai manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Abarai is looking to stand up but Travers won't let him.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Conner Travers will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Conner Travers's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Travers bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
And Travers tries to counter it with a takedown but Abarai pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Abarai misses with a body shot.
Abarai misses with an uppercut.
Travers with the counter takedown but Abarai avoids it easily.
Abarai smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Travers takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Abarai swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abarai misses the shot to the body.
Abarai is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Travers can do to turn this around?
Travers uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Abarai.
Travers changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Abarai takes a swing at Travers's ribcage but misses.
Travers with the counter takedown but Abarai avoids it easily.
Abarai throws a leg kick

so Travers counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Travers passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Travers tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Travers has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Travers wants to take a breather but Abarai manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Travers.
Abarai keeping full guard, as Travers tries to pass.
Abarai wants to sweep here but Travers controlling him for the moment.
Travers throws a big right hand that misses.
Travers stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Abarai swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abarai has control of Travers's left arm, preventing Travers from doing any damage.
Travers advances position into side control!

Travers swings around for an armbar but Abarai sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Travers's guard.
Abarai wanted to stand there but Travers had control of the position.

Travers had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Abarai defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Abarai wants to stand but Travers has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Travers working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Abarai doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Abarai manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Abarai gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Abarai takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A decent looking cross lands there for Abarai.
Abarai connects with a body shot that sends Travers's belly button to the back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Abarai scores with a hook to the body. Travers takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

And that's the end of the fight!
Renji Abarai showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Abarai 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Renji Abarai!
Renji Abarai decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.