PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Francisco Ngannou (ranked 5290 p4p, 3665 weight class) and Darbo Abott (ranked 424 p4p, 360 weight class). Abott has chosen That Smell as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Ngannou
vs
Abott

170 cm
21
155
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
26
155
2 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Senshi Fight Gear
Hakaka La'au Performance

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Francisco Ngannou!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Darbo Abott!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abott ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Ngannou drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ngannou looking to pass the guard.
Abott keeping moving, preventing Ngannou from controlling successfully.
Abott really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ngannou. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ngannou landing some decent shots from guard.
Ngannou trying to control the position from guard on top but Abott is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abott is looking to stand up but Ngannou isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ngannou sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Abott scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Ngannou might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Abott postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Ngannou sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Abott sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ngannou defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ngannou tries to get to full guard but Abott has control of the leg.
Ngannou slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Abott wants to control from the top but Ngannou keeps moving.
Abott slips nicely into half guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ngannou looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ngannou gets full guard.
Abott lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Abott's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Abott throwing strikes from guard but Ngannou blocks nicely.
Ngannou lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ngannou advances position into side control!
Ngannou lands an elbow.
Ngannou working away.

Ngannou tries for a kimura but Abott is defending well.

Ngannou thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ngannou is working to tighten his grip on Abott's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Abott has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Ngannou is really squeezing tight and eventually Abott passes out! Ngannou breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:19 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Francisco Ngannou!
A relieved looking Francisco Ngannou thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.