PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between Cristóforo Carretero (ranked 3797 p4p, 1505 weight class) and Shahzad Abdelrahman (ranked 403 p4p, 200 weight class). Carretero comes to the cage accompanied by Sun by DVRKHOLD. The crowd seem to be enjoying Abdelrahman's choice of entrance music: Blow The Whistle. 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.

Carretero
vs
Abdelrahman

181 cm
34
186
21 - 9 - 1

180 cm
33
170
23 - 12 - 1

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Powerful

Hoarse Pills
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Wrestler Wayfare

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Cristóforo Carretero!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Shahzad Abdelrahman!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Paul Gruel and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carretero takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Carretero tries to clinch there but Abdelrahman circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Carretero looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Abdelrahman now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Carretero tries to clinch but Abdelrahman moves out of range.
Carretero misses with an uppercut.
Abdelrahman throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Carretero missing with a left hand there. Abdelrahman was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Abdelrahman punishes Carretero's body with a nice straight punch.
Abdelrahman looks to score with a jab to the body but Carretero is just out of range.
Carretero throws a lazy uppercut
and Abdelrahman counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Carretero has been working on his boxing with his coaches at MMA Training and Sparring Buddies in the buildup to the fight.
Abdelrahman takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Carretero clinches with his opponent.
Abdelrahman misses with the head strike.
Carretero misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Carretero.
Carretero throws a head punch that misses.
Abdelrahman swings wildly with an uppercut but Carretero uses good head movement to avoid it.
Abdelrahman is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Carretero throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Abdelrahmans head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Carretero fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Abdelrahman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Carretero takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Abdelrahman scores with a jab.
Abdelrahman throws a body punch but Carretero moves out of range.
Abdelrahman throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Carretero stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Carretero tries to close the distance and clinch but Abdelrahman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Abdelrahman let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Abdelrahman checks a leg kick.

Carretero clinches.
Abdelrahman digs a right hand into Carretero's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Carretero's gas tank.

Abdelrahman breaks from the clinch.
Nice cross by Abdelrahman.
Carretero throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Carretero throws a lazy right hand but Abdelrahman sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jab, jab by Carretero - just one landing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A slow jab from Carretero misses its intended target.
Carretero bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Abdelrahman's head backwards.
Abdelrahman throws an overhand right that lands on Carretero's shoulder, as Carretero tries to avoid the shot.
Abdelrahman connects with a body shot that sends Carretero's belly button to the back.
Abdelrahman moves out of range of the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carretero moves out of range as Abdelrahman strikes.
Abdelrahman just misses with a punch to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Abdelrahman.
Carretero moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Abdelrahman lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Carretero lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Abdelrahman misses with an uppercut.
Carretero swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Carretero throws a leg kick but Abdelrahman moved away.
Abdelrahman connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Sloppy strikes from Carretero. Those never looked like landing.
Abdelrahman throws a nice inside leg kick.
Abdelrahman connects with a body shot that sends Carretero's belly button to the back.
A clash of legs there as Abdelrahman blocks the low kick.
Carretero throws out a loose jab but Abdelrahman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Abdelrahman swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Carretero shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Abdelrahman pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Carretero thows a left - swing and a miss!
Carretero moves out of range as Abdelrahman throws a body kick.
Carretero misses with a hook. Abdelrahman ducked under it nicely.
Abdelrahman is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Carretero with a body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shahzad Abdelrahman dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Abdelrahman throws a lazy uppercut
and Carretero cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Abdelrahman keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Abdelrahman connects with a leg kick.
Carretero avoids the body shot from Abdelrahman.
Abdelrahman throws the left hand but Carretero avoids the punch easily.
Abdelrahman throws a shot from downtown. Carretero moves away and avoids it.
Abdelrahman has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Carretero thows a leg kick but Abdelrahman checks it
and Carretero takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Carretero has taken the fight to the clinch.
Carretero misses with a punch to the body.
Abdelrahman taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Carretero.
Carretero throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Abdelrahmans head.
Carretero misses with a short punch on the inside.
Abdelrahman blocks an uppercut.
A short right from Carretero on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Abdelrahman tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Carretero fails to land.
Carretero struggles to land a body shot inside as Abdelrahman controls his hands.
Abdelrahman working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carretero goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Carretero prevents a body shot from Abdelrahman.
Abdelrahman throws a head punch that misses.
Carretero working aggressively here.
Carretero working aggressively here.
Abdelrahman lands a hook to the side of the head.
Carretero tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Carretero keeps control of Abdelrahman as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Carretero escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Abdelrahman throws a hook but Carretero avoids it easily.

Carretero moves into the clinch.
Abdelrahman misses with a punch to the body.
Carretero has a couple of punches blocked by Abdelrahman.
Abdelrahman tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Abdelrahman blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Abdelrahman lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Carretero misses with a hook from the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Carretero.
A short right from Carretero.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abdelrahman lands a hook that snaps the head of Carretero backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Carretero misses with a short punch on the inside.
Carretero goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Carretero lands a right hand that snaps the head of Abdelrahman backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Abdelrahman fails to land.
Carretero throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Abdelrahmans head.
A nice left hand lands by Carretero.

Abdelrahman breaks from the clinch.
Carretero takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Carretero swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Abdelrahman lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Carretero tries to close the distance and clinch but Abdelrahman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A big right from Carretero misses.
A lazy left from Carretero finds it's target.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Abdelrahman dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Carretero. That did some damage!
Carretero moves out of range of the leg kick from Abdelrahman.
Abdelrahman blocks a jab.
Carretero lands with an overhand left.
Carretero blocks the body kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cristóforo Carretero dominated that second round.
That's time! Carretero's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Abdelrahman crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Carretero - the referee stops the clock and Abdelrahman gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Carretero. Abdelrahman manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Abdelrahman loads up on a big right hand but Carretero slips the punch.
Abdelrahman checks the leg kick.
Abdelrahman misses with a left hand
and Carretero counters with a stiff right hand.
Carretero chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Carretero is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Abdelrahman.
Shahzad Abdelrahman seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Carretero tries to clinch but Abdelrahman moves out of range.
Carretero throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Carretero doesn't manage to clinch there - Abdelrahman circles away.
An inside leg kick from Carretero misses.
Carretero tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Abdelrahman ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Carretero walks forward, straight into a front kick from Abdelrahman.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carretero connects with the punch.
Carretero walks into a left hand.
Carretero lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A punch combination from Abdelrahman misses.
Abdelrahman scoring well with a low kick there.
Abdelrahman lets loose with a powerful body kick. Carretero will feel that in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carretero fails in his attempt to clinch.
Abdelrahman throws a hook but Carretero avoids it easily.
Abdelrahman moves out of range of the body kick.
Carretero misses the shot to the body.
Abdelrahman connects with a leg kick.
Nice jab there from Carretero.
Abdelrahman keeps the fight on the outside.
Carretero tries to clinch up but Abdelrahman circles away and keeps his distance.
An inside leg kick lands from Abdelrahman.
Abdelrahman changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Abdelrahman.
Abdelrahman lands with a shot to the body.
Abdelrahman throws a sloppy head kick
enabling Carretero to counter with a crisp jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Carretero looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Abdelrahman jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Abdelrahman lands with an uppercut that bounces Carretero off the cage and back into range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carretero throws a body punch but Abdelrahman moves out of range.

Carretero has Abdelrahman up against the cage in a clinch.
Abdelrahman works on Carretero's body with a couple of short punches.
Abdelrahman looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Carretero tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Carretero prevents a body shot from Abdelrahman.

Abdelrahman breaks from the clinch.
Abdelrahman scores with a decent looking hook.
Abdelrahman pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Abdelrahman connects with a leg kick.
A jab from Abdelrahman finds it's way through Carretero's defenses.
Carretero takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Carretero on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Carretero throws a poor cross that misses
and Abdelrahman counters with a nice uppercut.
Carretero keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Carretero tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Abdelrahman paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Carretero's corner calls for a 1-2. Carretero obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shahzad Abdelrahman really dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Abdelrahman lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Carretero backs up against the cage.
Carretero misses with a hook.
Abdelrahman lands with a good body shot.
Carretero misses with a hook. Abdelrahman ducked under it nicely.
Abdelrahman circles away from the clinch attempt.
A slapping leg kick lands for Carretero.
Abdelrahman goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Carretero clinches up with Abdelrahman and pushes him back against the cage.
Carretero tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Carretero throws a punch but it's blocked by Abdelrahman.
Carretero misses with some punches.
A short right from Carretero on the inside.
Carretero is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Carretero lands a right hand.
Carretero misses with a hook from the clinch.
Abdelrahman doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Abdelrahman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Carretero checks a leg kick.
Carretero slips under a jab.
Abdelrahman dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cristóforo Carretero has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdelrahman just misses with a punch to the body.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Carretero checks a leg kick.
Abdelrahman throws a low kick but it's checked well by Carretero.
Abdelrahman fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Carretero looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Carretero prevents Abdelrahman from breaking the clinch.
Abdelrahman works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Abdelrahman is looking to break free of the clinch but Carretero has double underhooks.
Abdelrahman misses with a hook to the ribs.
Abdelrahman lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Abdelrahman blocks an uppercut.
Carretero prevents a body shot from Abdelrahman.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Carretero.
Abdelrahman lands a hook to the side of the head.
Abdelrahman lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Carretero.
Carretero misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abdelrahman takes a shot to the head.
Abdelrahman misses with a hook to the ribs.
Abdelrahman wants to break free but Carretero has control.
Carretero gets through Abdelrahman's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Abdelrahman fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Abdelrahman doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Abdelrahman tries a body shot but Carretero blocks it.
Carretero tries to work over Abdelrahman's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cristóforo Carretero has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Carretero lands a right hand.
Carretero struggles to land a body shot inside as Abdelrahman controls his hands.

Abdelrahman manages to break the clinch.
Abdelrahman bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Carretero's head backwards.
Abdelrahman bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Carretero is looking to chop away at Abdelrahman's legs.
Carretero misses with a straight left.
Abdelrahman on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Abdelrahman throws a jab when Carretero was well out of range.
Carretero throws a good cross that connects.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Cristóforo Carretero will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Carretero rushes Abdelrahman and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Abdelrahman scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Abdelrahman blocking some punches.
Abdelrahman goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Abdelrahman misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Carretero.
Carretero misses with the head strike.
Carretero misses with a punch to the body.
Abdelrahman tries to break the clinch but Carretero is controlling the position.
A short right from Carretero on the inside.
Abdelrahman tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Carretero's elbow.
Carretero pushes Abdelrahman back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Abdelrahman misses with a hook to the ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abdelrahman blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Abdelrahman blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Abdelrahman throws a head punch that misses.

Abdelrahman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Abdelrahman defending well as Carretero loads up on a big left hand.
Carretero tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carretero drops his hands momentarily and Abdelrahman takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Carretero bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nice shot by Carretero.
Abdelrahman scores with a shot to the body.
Carretero takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Carretero darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Abdelrahman dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Carretero throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Carretero moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A big left from Abdelrahman misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carretero on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Abdelrahman scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Abdelrahman works the jab nicely.
Carretero thumps Abdelrahman with a low kick.
Carretero misses with an uppercut
and Abdelrahman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Abdelrahman buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Nice jab there from Carretero.

Abdelrahman is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Abdelrahman misses.
Carretero displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Abdelrahman throws out the jab.
Carretero throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Carretero misses with a shot to the body
and Abdelrahman finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Carretero scores with a jab.
Abdelrahman is still on wobbly legs! Can Carretero finish him?
Abdelrahman changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Carretero lands a glancing blow to the side of Abdelrahman's head.
Carretero looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Carretero feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Abdelrahmans jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Abdelrahman ducks under a wild hook from Carretero.
Abdelrahman feints a counter leg kick.
Carretero on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Abdelrahman. Abdelrahman obviously looking to wear him down.
Abdelrahman throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Carretero closes the distance and catches Abdelrahman with a lead hook that drops him to the canvas! Abdelrahman is clearly dazed and struggling here! 3,4,5,6,7 and Abdelrahman is up to his feet but the referee has called it off! Abdelrahman is still far too wobbly and he's not going to allow the fight to continue! Carretero takes it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:36 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch). Cristóforo Carretero!
Cristóforo Carretero retains his welterweight title!
A very excited looking Cristóforo Carretero made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.