PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Julius Africanus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdul Raheem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Abdul Raheem told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Africanus
vs
Raheem

195 cm
20
285 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

193 cm
26
277 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Demon Clothing Company and Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Julius Africanus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abdul Raheem!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raheem avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Raheem slips a straight right by Africanus.
Africanus checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Africanus misses with a combination
and Raheem counters with a left and a right that stings Africanus.
A looping hook to the body misses from Africanus. Raheem does a little dance to reset his feet.
Some wild striking there from Raheem.
Raheem tries to close the distance and clinch up but Africanus swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice shot by Raheem.
Raheem fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Africanus on the side of the head.
Raheem loads up on a big right hand but Africanus slips the punch.
Left hook, right uppercut from Raheem.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Raheem connects with a right hand. Africanus shakes it off.
Raheem connects with a good right hand that stumbles Africanus. Africanus circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Raheem misses with a head kick.
Raheem lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raheem lands a head shot.
Raheem throws a jab when Africanus was well out of range.
Raheem lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Africanus circles away quickly and effectively.
Raheem blocks a low kick nicely.
Africanus takes one on the button.
Raheem tries to clinch but Africanus is having none of it.

Raheem moves into the clinch.
Africanus is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Raheem gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Africanus tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A right hook to the body lands for Raheem.
Africanus misses with a hook to the ribs.
Raheem misses with a short punch on the inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raheem blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Africanus changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Raheem fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Raheem lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Africanus circles away quickly and effectively.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A clash of legs there as Raheem blocks the low kick.
Africanus tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Raheem scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Africanus doesn't seem bothered though.
Africanus drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Abdul Raheem seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raheem lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Raheem is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Africanus had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Raheem scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Raheem lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Raheem works over Africanus's head and body with a nice combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raheem is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Africanus.
Raheem connects with a leg kick. Africanus looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Raheem lands with a nice combination. Africanus backs away looking to recover.
Raheem scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Raheem takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Africanus takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Raheem misses with a body kick.
Raheem tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Africanus was well out of range. Poor timing from Raheem.
Raheem scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Raheem moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Africanus avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Raheem throws a series of punches but Africanus moves out of range.
Africanus throws a right and a left that Raheem avoids nicely.
Africanus tries to score with a low kick but Raheem moves his leg out of the way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raheem darts in trying to clinch
and Africanus counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Africanus takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Africanus takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Raheem lands a jab to the nose.
Raheem is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Raheem throws a good cross that connects.
Africanus looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Raheem throws a poor cross that misses
and Africanus counters with a slapping leg kick.

Africanus fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Raheem to the ground. Africanus is now in Raheem's guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Raheem preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Africanus in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Raheem preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul Raheem dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Raheem fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Africanus.
Raheem throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Africanus.
Raheem throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Raheem connects with the punch.
Africanus throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Raheem connects with a nice looking jab.
Raheem throws a head kick that misses.
Raheem lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Africanus is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Raheem.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Raheem lands with a hook. Africanus tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
The fighters circling - Raheem throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Africanus moves away from the strike by Raheem.
Africanus is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Raheem.
Raheem has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Raheem throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raheem waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Africanus.
Raheem slips a straight right by Africanus.
Abdul Raheem is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Raheem misses with a body shot.
Raheem throws a looping overhand right but Africanus ducks down to avoid it.
Africanus shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Raheem takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Africanus takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Raheem slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Raheem ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Raheem cracks Africanus with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Raheem clinches up with Africanus and pushes him back against the cage.
Raheem lands a hook that snaps the head of Africanus backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Raheem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Raheem.
Raheem misses with a punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Raheem scores with a nice short uppercut.

Raheem breaks the clinch.
Raheem wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Africanus misses with a looping left.
Abdul Raheem seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Africanus takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Abdul Raheem is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Raheem keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Raheem feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Africanus's calf.
Africanus misses the jab.
Some wild striking there from Raheem.
Raheem defending well as Africanus loads up on a big left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Raheem.
Raheem lands with an overhand left.
Raheem pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Africanus back to the cage. Raheem follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Raheem ducks under a wild hook from Africanus.
An inside leg kick from Africanus misses.
Africanus blocks a jab.
Raheem cracks a nice hook into Africanus's ribs.
Some wild striking there from Raheem.
Africanus just misses with a punch to the body.
Raheem missing with a left hand there. Africanus was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Africanus moves forwards but Raheem connects with a nice, crisp jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Africanus takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Africanus ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Raheem moves away.
Raheem scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Raheem throws a head kick that half lands.
Raheem is working the combinations to good effect here.
Raheem connects with a right hand. Africanus shakes it off.
Raheem misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Raheem defending well as Africanus loads up on a big left hand.
Raheem avoids the head kick by Africanus.
Africanus looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Raheem is fending him off so far but Africanus persists. Nope, Raheem circles away and we're back to standing.
Raheem throws a lazy right hand but Africanus sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Africanus takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A looping hook to the body misses from Raheem. Africanus does a little dance to reset his feet.
Africanus misses with a hook to the body
and Raheem counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Raheem lands with a slapping head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul Raheem showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Raheem feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Africanuss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Africanus throws a predictable looking body shot
and Raheem counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Raheem lands the left hand.
Raheem with a hook.
Raheem's jab looks to have found its range, popping Africanus under the eye.
Raheem scores with a hook to the body. Africanus takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Africanus misses with a hook to the body
and Raheem cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Raheem has managed to clinch.
Raheem lands a body shot in the clinch.
Africanus struggles to land a body shot inside as Raheem controls his hands.
Africanus fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short left from Raheem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Africanus fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Africanus prevents a body shot from Raheem.
Africanus tries a body shot but Raheem blocks it.
Africanus tries to pull guard but Raheem forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Raheem throws a punch but it's blocked by Africanus.
Africanus tries to throw a body punch but Raheem avoids it by throwing Africanus back against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Raheem.
Africanus tries to throw a body punch but Raheem avoids it by throwing Africanus back against the cage.
Africanus dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Africanus.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Africanus tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Raheem's elbow.
Raheem throws a head punch that misses.
Africanus is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Raheem is keeping busy.
Africanus is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Raheem pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julius Africanus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Africanus doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Raheem breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Africanus thows a leg kick but Raheem checks it
and Raheem counters with a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raheem fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Raheem looks to land a combination but Africanus avoids it well.
Raheem lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Africanus at a distance.
An inside leg kick lands from Raheem.
Raheem lands with a hook. Africanus tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Raheem uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Africanus has time to react.
A punch combination from Raheem misses.
Raheem connects with a right hand. Africanus shakes it off.
Raheem changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Left hook, right uppercut from Raheem.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Raheem uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Africanus.
Raheem defending well as Africanus loads up on a big left hand.
Nice uppercut there from Raheem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Africanus takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A good leg kick by Raheem.
Africanus walks into a stiff left hand from Raheem.
Raheem misses the jab.
Raheem scores with the left hand. Africanus knows he should have avoided that one.
Raheem wants to land a leg kick but Africanus is out of range.
Africanus has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Raheem misses with a looping right.
Raheem lands with a cross.
Raheem tries to clinch up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A nice leg kick lands there from Raheem.
A shot to the liver by Raheem. Beautiful body shot.
Julius Africanus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Africanus throws a low kick, looking for Raheem's leg but Raheem calmly moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abdul Raheem comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Raheem winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abdul Raheem!
A victorious Abdul Raheem thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.