PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Phil Clayborne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Omar Abidi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Clayborne
vs
Abidi

189 cm
24
155 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

180 cm
21
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Prefers standup

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Phil Clayborne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 1, fighting out of London, Omar Abidi!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Daniel Bishop and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abidi swats away the attempt to clinch by Clayborne.
Clayborne tries to close the distance and clinch but Abidi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Clayborne is looking to clinch.
Clayborne tries to close the distance and clinch but Abidi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Clayborne tries to clinch up.
Clayborne tries to close the distance and clinch up but Abidi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Abidi throws a head kick that misses.
Abidi throws a head kick that misses.
Clayborne wants to clinch up but Abidi keeps it at a distance.
Clayborne tries to clinch but Abidi is having none of it.
Clayborne throws a chopping leg kick but Abidi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abidi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Clayborne fails in his attempt to clinch.
Phil Clayborne seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters circling a little - Abidi finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Abidi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Clayborne goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clayborne tries to clinch but Abidi is having none of it.
Abidi lands a nice looking body kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Abidi blocks the leg kick.
Clayborne doesn't manage to clinch there - Abidi circles away.
Abidi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Clayborne is looking to clinch but Abidi is avoiding it.
Abidi keeps the fight on the outside.
Clayborne is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Abidi.
The fight stays on the outside here - Clayborne looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Clayborne tries to close the distance and clinch but Abidi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Clayborne moves out of range as Abidi throws a body kick.
Abidi connects with a single shot there.
Abidi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Abidi's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Abidi duly obliges.
Clayborne fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abidi misses with a body kick.
Clayborne tries to land a body kick
and Abidi counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Clayborne is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Abidi circles away from the clinch attempt
and Abidi counters with a one-two to the body.
Clayborne tries a head kick but it misses.
Clayborne closes the distance looking to clinch
and Abidi counters with a left and a right that stings Clayborne.
Clayborne tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Abidi counters with a nice kick to the body.
Abidi lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Clayborne tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Abidi counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abidi blocks the body kick.
Abidi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Abidi circles away from the clinch attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Abidi throws a head kick but Clayborne moves out of range.
Clayborne tries to clinch but Abidi moves away
and Abidi counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Clayborne is breathing heavily.
Abidi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Clayborne tries to clinch but Abidi moves away
and Abidi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Abidi uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Clayborne has time to react.
Clayborne tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Abidi counters with a slapping leg kick.
Clayborne closes the distance looking to clinch
and Abidi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Clayborne tries to clinch up
and Abidi counters with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clayborne has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Abidi connects with a high kick.
Clayborne darts in trying to clinch
and Abidi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Abidi's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Abidi duly obliges.
Abidi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Clayborne throws out the jab.
Abidi lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Clayborne backs up against the cage.
Clayborne tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Abidi to counter with a crisp jab.
Good standup being displayed there by Abidi as he connects with a hook.
Abidi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Abidi throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Omar Abidi 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.

Clayborne wants to clinch but Abidi slips to the side
and Abidi counters with a one-two to the body.
Clayborne looks to clinch
and Abidi counters with a three punch combo that has Clayborne backing up. Clayborne nods at Abidi to acknowledge the strikes.
Clayborne clinches but Abidi breaks the clinch
and Abidi counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Clayborne closes the distance and clinches.
Abidi is trying to break the clinch but Clayborne is controlling him.

Clayborne's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Clayborne tries to clinch
and Abidi counters with a slapping leg kick.
Clayborne tries to clinch
and Abidi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Clayborne looks to clinch
and Abidi counters with a series of strikes. Clayborne will be more careful next time no doubt.
Clayborne misses with a body kick.
Phil Clayborne is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Abidi cracks the inside of Clayborne's front leg.
Clayborne takes a kick to the side of the head.
A slapping body kick lands there for Abidi.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Abidi pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abidi lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Clayborne wants to clinch but Abidi slips to the side
and Abidi counters with a head kick. That will keep Clayborne thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Clayborne looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Clayborne tries to clinch but Abidi moves away
and Clayborne takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Abidi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A combination from Abidi does no damage.
Abidi throws a right hand that Clayborne ducks under and follows up with a left that Clayborne also avoids with ease.
Abidi moves out of range as Clayborne throws a body kick.
Clayborne closes the distance looking to clinch
and Abidi counters with a series of strikes. Clayborne will be more careful next time no doubt.
Clayborne pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Clayborne closes the distance looking to clinch
and Abidi makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clayborne looks to clinch
and Abidi counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Abidi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Clayborne.
Abidi circles away from the clinch attempt
and Abidi counters with an outside leg kick.
Clayborne tries to clinch
and Abidi counters with a stiff right hand.
Abidi stalks Clayborne and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Clayborne's face. Clayborne staggers backwards, shaken.
Abidi throws a leg kick but Clayborne sees it coming and moves out of range.
Clayborne misses with a low kick as Abidi jumps back.
Abidi has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Clayborne avoids the head kick by Abidi.
Clayborne showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Abidi.
Clayborne takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clayborne looks to clinch
and Abidi counters with a two punch combo.
Abidi scores with a nice right hand.
Clayborne tries to clinch but Abidi moves away
and Abidi counters with a series of strikes. Clayborne will be more careful next time no doubt.
Abidi moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Omar Abidi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Clayborne wants to clinch but Abidi slips to the side
and Abidi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Clayborne looks to clinch
and Abidi counters with a two punch combo.

Clayborne is rocked!
Abidi tries to bum rush Clayborne with a series of wild strikes but Clayborne uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Abidi throws a one two combo.
Clayborne looks to clinch
and Abidi counters with a right hand to the body.
Clayborne tries to clinch
letting Abidi counter with a right hand.
Abidi throws a head kick that misses.
Abidi displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Oh Clayborne is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Clayborne tries to clinch up
and Abidi counters with a left and a right that stings Clayborne.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abidi lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Clayborne seems to have got his legs back now.
Clayborne darts in trying to clinch
and Abidi counters with a low kick, right behind Clayborne 's knee.
Clayborne tries a head kick but it misses.
Clayborne tries to clinch but Abidi moves away
and Abidi counters with a one-two to the body.
Clayborne darts in trying to clinch
and Abidi counters with a right hand to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Clayborne takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Clayborne tries to clinch up
and Abidi counters with a low kick, right behind Clayborne 's knee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Omar Abidi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Clayborne clinches but Abidi breaks the clinch
and Abidi counters with a low kick, right behind Clayborne 's knee.
Clayborne closes the distance looking to clinch
and Abidi counters with a nice uppercut.
Clayborne clinches but Abidi breaks the clinch
and Abidi counters with a two punch combo.
Clayborne tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Abidi counters with a nice kick to the body.
Clayborne will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Abidi scores with a three punch combo!
Clayborne clinches but Abidi breaks the clinch
and Abidi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Clayborne is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Abidi circles away from the clinch attempt
and Abidi counters with a series of strikes. Clayborne will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clayborne tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Abidi counters with a nice uppercut.
Clayborne really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Clayborne tries to clinch up
and Abidi counters with a one-two to the body.
Abidi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Abidi is working the combinations to good effect here.
Clayborne looks to clinch
and Abidi counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Abidi cracks Clayborne with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Clayborne tries to clinch
and Abidi counters with a left to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Clayborne takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clayborne tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Abidi counters with a slapping leg kick.
Clayborne throws a sloppy head kick and Abidi moves out of range easily.
Clayborne drops his hands momentarily and Abidi takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Abidi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Abidi throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Abidi circles away from the clinch attempt
and Abidi counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Abidi!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Clayborne.
Clayborne tries to clinch up
and Abidi counters with a right hand to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abidi circles away from the clinch attempt
and Abidi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Clayborne darts in trying to clinch
and Abidi counters with a stiff right hand.
Clayborne looks to clinch
and Abidi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Clayborne thinking.
A head kick misses from Abidi.
Clayborne throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Clayborne avoids the head kick by Abidi.
Clayborne throws a body kick the misses
and Abidi counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Abidi throws a sloppy head kick and Clayborne moves out of range easily.
Abidi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Clayborne.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Clayborne wants to clinch
and Abidi finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Phil Clayborne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Clayborne tries to clinch
and Abidi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Abidi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Clayborne looks to clinch
and Abidi counters with a series of strikes. Clayborne will be more careful next time no doubt.
Clayborne closes the distance but Abidi moves to the side
and Abidi counters with a leg kick.
A combination from Abidi does no damage.
Clayborne darts in trying to clinch
and Abidi counters with a right hand to the body.
Clayborne swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Abidi counters with a nice uppercut.
Omar Abidi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Clayborne misses with a kick to the body
and Abidi finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Omar Abidi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Abidi 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 James Glass scores the fight 25:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 25:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Omar Abidi!