PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Babul Abubalib (ranked 25434 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alejandro Vargas (ranked 4111 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Abubalib
vs
Vargas

200 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 7 - 0

188 cm
25
212 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

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 - 7 - 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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alejandro Vargas!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Columbo Gatti and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vargas defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Abubalib.

Abubalib rushes Vargas and presses him up against the cage.
Abubalib tries for a takedown. No joy.
Abubalib has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Vargas after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Babul Abubalib. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vargas tries to break free but Abubalib pushes him back against the cage.

Abubalib breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Abubalib shoots for a takedown but Vargas saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
As Abubalib backs off Vargas throws a huge counter combo but Abubalib manages to avoid it all.
Babul Abubalib seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Abubalib tries to clinch but Vargas is having none of it.
Vargas shapes to counter with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abubalib wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abubalib wants to clinch
and Vargas counters with a solid body kick.
Vargas slips a jab from Abubalib.
Vargas unleashes a big counter combination but Abubalib bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Nice sprawl there from Vargas as Abubalib shoots in.
Abubalib shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Vargas pinned against the cage. Vargas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Despite the aggression on Vargas's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Abubalib tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Vargas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Abubalib fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vargas avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abubalib tries to score with a low kick but Vargas moves his leg out of the way.
Abubalib wants to clinch
and Vargas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Abubalib throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Vargas.
Abubalib has been working on his balance at , so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Vargas.
Abubalib fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vargas avoids it really well and circles away.

Abubalib clinches up with Vargas and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vargas is looking to take this one to the mat.
Vargas is trying to force a seperation but Abubalib has the dominant position.

Vargas jumps into guard, dragging Abubalib to the mat.

Vargas pushes Abubalib off and gets back to his feet.
Abubalib lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Abubalib looks to throw the jab but Vargas is out of range.
Vargas is looking for the big counter here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abubalib throws a nice looking combination but Vargas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Vargas throws a fast counter high kick but Abubalib manages to duck under it in time.
Abubalib misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vargas throws a counter combo.
Abubalib fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Vargas is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

Abubalib moves into the clinch.
Abubalib stalling in the clinch.
Vargas wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Vargas has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Abubalib is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vargas is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Vargas has Abubalib pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Abubalib manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Vargas looking for a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alejandro Vargas will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

The fight stays on the outside here - Abubalib looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Abubalib throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
As Abubalib backs off Vargas throws a huge counter combo but Abubalib manages to avoid it all.
Abubalib tries to clinch but Vargas is having none of it.
Abubalib misses with a lunging right hand
and Vargas finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Abubalib shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Vargas as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abubalib lands a right hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abubalib moves in looking to clinch but Vargas pushes him off.
Vargas let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
The fight stays on the outside here - Abubalib looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Abubalib throws a big shot that misses.
Vargas raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Abubalib shoots in for a takedown but Vargas shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Abubalib takes the fight into the clinch.
Vargas wants to break the clinch but can't.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Vargas has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abubalib just leaning against Vargas, taking a breather.
Vargas tries to break free but Abubalib pushes him back against the cage.
Vargas has Abubalib pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Abubalib manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Vargas tries to score a body lock takedown but Abubalib shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Vargas tries for a takedown. No joy.
Babul Abubalib has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alejandro Vargas.
Vargas tries to circle away but Abubalib has him pinned against the cage.

Vargas manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Abubalib wants to stand but Vargas is controlling his posture from full guard.
Abubalib not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Abubalib stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abubalib wants to clinch up but Vargas keeps it at a distance.
Vargas throws a counter combo.
Abubalib changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Vargas tries to avoid it but Abubalib manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Vargas to the ground. Vargas escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Vargas circles away from the clinch attempt.
Vargas throws a counter combo.
Vargas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Vargas is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Abubalib throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Abubalib.
Vargas thinks about the counter body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Abubalib looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vargas is fending him off so far but Abubalib persists. Nope, Vargas circles away and we're back to standing.
Vargas raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Abubalib fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Abubalib is looking to clinch but Vargas is avoiding it.
Vargas steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Abubalib tries to clinch but Vargas is having none of it.
Abubalib shoots in but Vargas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Vargas raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Abubalib is looking to clinch.
Vargas is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Abubalib wants to land a leg kick but Vargas is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alejandro Vargas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Abubalib chopping away at his opponent's legs.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Abubalib.
As Abubalib backs off Vargas throws a huge counter combo but Abubalib manages to avoid it all.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Abubalib.
Abubalib throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Vargas now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abubalib fails with the takedown
and Vargas counters with a three punch combo that has Abubalib backing up. Abubalib nods at Vargas to acknowledge the strikes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Babul Abubalib. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Abubalib is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vargas throws a fast counter high kick but Abubalib manages to duck under it in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vargas circles away from the clinch attempt.
Vargas only half commits to the counter leg kick.

Abubalib moves into the clinch.
Abubalib is looking to take this one to the mat.
Vargas wants a takedown but no success here.

Abubalib breaks from the clinch.
Abubalib closes the distance but Vargas moves to the side
and Vargas counters with a nice uppercut.
Alejandro Vargas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Abubalib is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abubalib is trying hard to land a takedown here. Vargas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Vargas raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Abubalib throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Vargas throws a counter combo.
Abubalib shoots and misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Vargas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Vargas throws a fast counter high kick but Abubalib manages to duck under it in time.
Abubalib misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vargas.
Abubalib misses with a takedown
and Vargas counters with a one-two to the body.
Alejandro Vargas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Abubalib misses with a hook to the body
and Vargas counters with an inside leg kick.
Vargas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abubalib has his takedown stuffed
and Vargas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Abubalib closes the distance looking to clinch
and Vargas counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Vargas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Vargas counters with a body kick.
Abubalib is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abubalib shoots in for a double leg but Vargas sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
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 leg kick that is checked
and Vargas counters with a nice body kick.
Abubalib changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Vargas tries to avoid it but Abubalib manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Vargas to the ground. Vargas escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Vargas unleashes a big counter combination but Abubalib bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Abubalib looks to score with a jab to the body but Vargas is just out of range.
Abubalib wants to clinch.
Vargas counters with a body kick.
Babul Abubalib has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alejandro Vargas is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Abubalib swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Vargas counters with a nice kick to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alejandro Vargas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vargas 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alejandro Vargas!