PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gabe Rouhini (ranked 3720 p4p, 4252 weight class) and Hoosein Abdul (ranked 399 p4p, 443 weight class). Hoosein Abdul has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Rouhini
vs
Abdul

178 cm
25
161
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
156
2 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gabe Rouhini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hoosein Abdul!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, William Gold and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abdul misses with a double jab.
No joy there for Abdul, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rouhini is looking to counter punch.
Rouhini moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Abdul's coach down at Next Level MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Abdul's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Abdul shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rouhini manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Abdul trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rouhini not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Abdul wants to control from the top but Rouhini keeps moving.
Rouhini looking to control.
Abdul is stalling in the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rouhini pulls Abdul in close to his closed guard and prevents Abdul from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdul throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Abdul lands with a nice combination. Rouhini backs away looking to recover.

Rouhini darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Abdul is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Abdul wants to improve his position but Rouhini is controlling well.
Rouhini slips a nice elbow through Abdul's hands, connecting with Abdul's forehead.
Abdul is holding on to half guard well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rouhini looks to land a strike but Abdul avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Abdul looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rouhini is one step ahead there.
Rouhini trying to control but Abdul is working from the bottom.
Abdul lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rouhini trying to control the position.
Abdul landing with the ground and pound.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Abdul trying to control but Rouhini is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rouhini trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Rouhini looking for a sweep. Not yet Rouhini, not yet.
Rouhini is trying to keep Abdul in close.
Rouhini keeping full guard, as Abdul tries to pass.
Abdul with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Abdul is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rouhini is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Abdul scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rouhini looking to hit a scissor sweep but Abdul is one step ahead there.
Abdul slips nicely into half guard.
Rouhini is pressing down on Abdul's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rouhini is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rouhini preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Abdul trying to control but Rouhini is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Decent striking displayed by Abdul there.
Rouhini smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Rouhini throws a looping overhand right but Abdul ducks down to avoid it.
Gabe Rouhini is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rouhini throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Donk. Rouhini catches Abdul right on the button with a cross.
Abdul misses with a two punch combination.
Abdul throws out a powerful jab.

Abdul shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Abdul was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rouhini looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Abdul thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rouhini can't do much from the bottom here.
Rouhini is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdul lands a decent elbow from side control.
Abdul throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Abdul tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Abdul scores with punches from side control.
Abdul is looking to take a break and control but Rouhini is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Abdul looks up at the clock and then as Rouhini takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Abdul smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Abdul tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Abdul has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Rouhini takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Hoosein Abdul has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rouhini connects with an elbow from the bottom.
Abdul has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Abdul working the ground and pound but Rouhini is defending the strikes.
Abdul working away.

Abdul is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rouhini knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Abdul trying to control the position but Rouhini is working away.
Abdul gets to mount! Rouhini was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rouhini tries to lock up and control but Abdul gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Abdul wants to control the pace but Rouhini is squirming around nicely.

Abdul working for a guillotine from mount but Rouhini is in no mood to give up.
Rouhini is wriggling around trying to escape.
Abdul landing strikes from the mount.

Abdul is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Rouhini has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Abdul looking for a guillotine from mount but Rouhini is having none of it.
Abdul with shots to the head and body - Rouhini looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abdul tries to push Rouhini's head away but Rouhini is holding on tight.
Rouhini really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Abdul landing strikes from the mount and Rouhini is in trouble!
Abdul landing strikes, looking to finish!
Rouhini tries to lock up and control but Abdul gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
BOOM! Abdul connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Abdul lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rouhini hang on?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rouhini is looking to get to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hoosein Abdul showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Abdul drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Abdul lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Abdul scores with a jab.
Hoosein Abdul seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rouhini misses with a double jab.
Abdul unleashes a big counter combination but Rouhini bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Abdul throws a right hand that Rouhini ducks under and follows up with a left that Rouhini also avoids with ease.
Abdul throws a jab but it's blocked by Rouhini.
Nice uppercut lands for Abdul. That snapped Rouhini's head back.
Rouhini takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Nice takedown defense from Rouhini. No joy for Abdul on that attempt.
Abdul connects with a single shot there.
Abdul throws a right and a left that Rouhini avoids nicely.
Abdul takes a jab right on the kisser.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rouhini takes the fight into the clinch.
Abdul throws a punch but it's blocked by Rouhini.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rouhini misses with a hook to the ribs.
Abdul lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Abdul wants to take the fight to the mat but Rouhini manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Abdul stalling in the clinch.
Abdul blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Abdul tries to score a body lock takedown but Rouhini shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Gabe Rouhini has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hoosein Abdul.
Rouhini is trying to drag Abdul to the mat but Abdul just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Abdul is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Rouhini throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Rouhini is trying to stall.
Rouhini tries to stall but Abdul uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rouhini looking to stall.
Maybe Rouhini would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
Rouhini wants a takedown but no success here.
Rouhini is trying to stall.
Abdul misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rouhini.
Rouhini has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Abdul avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rouhini lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Abdul lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Abdul lands a damaging elbow.
Rouhini misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rouhini taking a breather.
Abdul goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rouhini prevents it.
A body shot lands from Abdul.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rouhini wants to stall.
Abdul controlling the action here for a moment.

Rouhini is fighting off a takedown attempt but Abdul is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Rouhini to the mat. Rouhini regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Abdul must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Abdul is in close to Rouhini's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rouhini controlling Abdul's posture.
Rouhini keeping moving, preventing Abdul from controlling successfully.
Abdul postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abdul scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hoosein Abdul is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Abdul postures up in Rouhini's guard and throws a big left but Rouhini blocks it.
Rouhini is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rouhini can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Abdul controls the pace.
Gabe Rouhini has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Abdul postures up.
Rouhini keeping moving, preventing Abdul from controlling successfully.
Rouhini not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Abdul throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Abdul fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Abdul lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rouhini circles away quickly and effectively.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hoosein Abdul comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Abdul has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

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