PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Babul Abubalib (ranked 7037 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alejandro Vargas (ranked 5731 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Abubalib
vs
Vargas

200 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
25
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Babul Abubalib!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alejandro Vargas!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Reed Andrews and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abubalib wants to clinch.
Vargas stuffs the takedown attempt from Abubalib. Abubalib gets slowly back to his feet.
Vargas let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Abubalib fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Abubalib fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vargas, pushing him back against the cage.
Vargas wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Abubalib has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vargas is looking to break free of the clinch but Abubalib has double underhooks.

Vargas manages to break the clinch.
Abubalib shoots in for a takedown but Vargas shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Babul Abubalib. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Abubalib is breathing heavily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Abubalib.

Abubalib closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Abubalib's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vargas leaves Abubalib with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abubalib misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Vargas is looking for the big counter here.
Abubalib misses with a body shot.
Abubalib tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Abubalib shoots and misses
and Vargas counters with a low kick, right behind Abubalib 's knee.
Abubalib tries to clinch up but Vargas circles away and keeps his distance.
Vargas is looking for the big counter here.
Abubalib tries to clinch up.
Vargas lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Abubalib shoots and misses
and Vargas counters with an outside leg kick.
Abubalib tries to close the distance and clinch but Vargas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vargas unleashes a big counter combination but Abubalib bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Abubalib throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Vargas's waist but Vargas gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Abubalib off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abubalib shoots in looking for a takedown. Vargas tries to sprawl out of it but Abubalib keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Vargas manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Vargas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Abubalib fails with a takedown attempt.
Despite the aggression on Vargas's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Abubalib is defended easily by Vargas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Abubalib wants to clinch.
Despite the aggression on Vargas's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Abubalib misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Abubalib goes for a double leg but Vargas avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Vargas continues to drive forward.
Abubalib throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vargas let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Abubalib closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Vargas counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alejandro Vargas dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Abubalib throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Vargas counters with a nice leg kick.
Abubalib misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Abubalib has his takedown stuffed

and Vargas counters with a crisp one two that drops Abubalib! Vargas thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Abubalib to his feet! Abubalib is in big trouble!
Abubalib tries to clinch but Vargas moves out of range.
Vargas throws a counter combo.
We've been told by Abubalib's head coaches at Dream Big Academy that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Abubalib tries to clinch up.
Vargas replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Abubalib blocks it well.
Abubalib tries to clinch but Vargas moves away
and Vargas counters with a left and a right that stings Abubalib.
Abubalib is looking to clinch.
Vargas looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Abubalib gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Vargas counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Babul Abubalib is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abubalib doesn't manage to clinch there - Vargas circles away.
Vargas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Abubalib tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Vargas counters with a huge uppercut, hook combination that drops Abubalib! The ref has seen enough - he's dived in to stop the fight! Brutal strikes by Vargas!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:13 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alejandro Vargas!