PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Darnell Jefferson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Helmy Abu Basha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Jefferson
vs
Abu Basha

194 cm
20
198 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

187 cm
18
194 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Darnell Jefferson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Helmy Abu Basha!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shirou Masuda and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abu Basha lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Jefferson circles away quickly and effectively.
Some wild striking there from Abu Basha.
Jefferson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
No luck for Jefferson with that takedown attempt.
Jefferson moves forwards but Abu Basha connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Jefferson misses the target.
Jefferson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abu Basha displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Abu Basha drops Jefferson with a left right combo! Abu Basha follows him down to the ground into side control.

Jefferson is rocked!
Abu Basha tries to move into full mount but can't pass Jefferson's legs.
Oh Jefferson is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jefferson wants to control but Abu Basha postures up.
Jefferson seems to have got his legs back now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Abu Basha is looking to take a break and control but Jefferson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jefferson tries to buck Abu Basha off but Abu Basha is having none of it.
Jefferson wants to control but Abu Basha postures up.
Jefferson tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Abu Basha wants to clinch

and Jefferson counters by clinching up.
Abu Basha is trying to break the clinch but Jefferson is controlling him.
Jefferson keeps control of Abu Basha as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Abu Basha.
Abu Basha misses with a punch to the body.
Abu Basha blocking some punches.

Abu Basha breaks the clinch.

Jefferson clinches up against the cage.
Abu Basha tries to break free but Jefferson pushes him back against the cage.

Abu Basha breaks the clinch.
Abu Basha throws a jab when Jefferson was well out of range.
Jefferson lands a high kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abu Basha lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Abu Basha tries to bum rush Jefferson with a series of wild strikes but Jefferson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Abu Basha lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Jefferson at a distance.
Jefferson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Abu Basha defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darnell Jefferson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Abu Basha looks to clinch
and Jefferson counters with a good, hard body kick but Abu Basha shrugs it off.
Jefferson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Abu Basha is fending him off so far but Jefferson persists. Nope, Abu Basha circles away and we're back to standing.
Abu Basha circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jefferson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Jefferson tries for a takedown but Abu Basha sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jefferson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abu Basha rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jefferson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Jefferson misses the target.
Abu Basha throws a right and a left that Jefferson avoids nicely.

Jefferson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Abu Basha looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Jefferson passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Abu Basha!
Jefferson throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Abu Basha tries to reverse the position but Jefferson maintains control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jefferson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Jefferson controlling from the full mount.
Jefferson is breathing heavily.
Jefferson looking to control but Abu Basha is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helmy Abu Basha dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Left hook, right uppercut from Abu Basha.
Abu Basha avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Abu Basha moves away from the strike by Jefferson.

Jefferson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Jefferson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Abu Basha gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Abu Basha tries to break the clinch but Jefferson is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abu Basha looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Abu Basha wants to get back to striking at distance but Jefferson won't allow it.
Abu Basha misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jefferson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Jefferson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Abu Basha throws a right hand that Jefferson ducks under and follows up with a left that Jefferson also avoids with ease.
Jefferson fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darnell Jefferson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Abu Basha misses with a looping left.
Abu Basha stuffs the takedown attempt from Jefferson. Jefferson gets slowly back to his feet.
Abu Basha swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Abu Basha uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Abu Basha.
Abu Basha wants to clinch up but Jefferson keeps it at a distance.
Helmy Abu Basha seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Abu Basha tries to clinch but Jefferson moves away

so Jefferson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Abu Basha keeping full guard, as Jefferson tries to pass.
Jefferson passes Abu Basha's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Abu Basha blocking the ground and pound attempt from Jefferson.
Jefferson is looking to take a break and control but Abu Basha is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Jefferson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Jefferson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Abu Basha has managed to free his arm - good work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Abu Basha looks like he's trying to stand up.
Abu Basha avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Jefferson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Jefferson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Jefferson working Abu Basha over with strikes.
Abu Basha avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Jefferson.
Jefferson thows a huge punch but Abu Basha dodges it nicely.
Abu Basha keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Abu Basha really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jefferson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Abu Basha is refusing to be controlled, as Jefferson sits in half guard.
Jefferson is pressing down on Abu Basha's thigh, looking to free his foot. Abu Basha is holding on for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darnell Jefferson dominated that second round.
That's time! Jefferson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Abu Basha swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Jefferson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Jefferson manages to break the clinch.
Jefferson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Abu Basha paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Abu Basha lands a jab to Jefferson's midsection.
Jefferson misses the jab.
Abu Basha tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jefferson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Abu Basha swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Abu Basha lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Darnell Jefferson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Abu Basha throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Abu Basha's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Abu Basha duly obliges.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Abu Basha looks to land a combination but Jefferson avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jefferson misses with a takedown attempt - Abu Basha sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Abu Basha misses with a combination
and Jefferson counters with a right hand to the body.
Abu Basha moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Abu Basha tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Jefferson counters with a head kick.
No luck for Jefferson with that takedown attempt.
Abu Basha lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Some wild striking there from Abu Basha.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abu Basha throws a nice looking combination but Jefferson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Abu Basha scores with a jab. Jefferson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Jefferson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Abu Basha circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jefferson wants to clinch.
Abu Basha misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Abu Basha is fending him off so far but Jefferson persists. Nope, Abu Basha circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darnell Jefferson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Abu Basha scores with the left hand. Jefferson knows he should have avoided that one.
Abu Basha scores with a jab.

Jefferson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Jefferson won't allow Abu Basha to get back to his feet.
Abu Basha is wriggling around but Jefferson manages to pass to half guard.

Jefferson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson moves into full mount! Abu Basha won't be happy about that!
Jefferson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Abu Basha wants to control but Jefferson is having none of it.
Abu Basha is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Helmy Abu Basha comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Abu Basha has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Helmy Abu Basha!