PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mohamed Abutaha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sailo Lance (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Abutaha might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Megadeth - Head Crusher. Lance has chosen Alive as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Mohamed Abutaha could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Sailo Lance's chin.

Abutaha
vs
Lance

185 cm
20
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

173 cm
23
134 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mohamed Abutaha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sailo Lance!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lance misses with a series of wild punches.
Lance moves away from the strike by Abutaha.
Lance shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Abutaha sprawls well. Abutaha wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lance gets slowly back to his feet.
Abutaha wants to clinch.
Lance misses with a wild combination.
Abutaha throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Abutaha tries to clinch but Lance moves out of range.
Lance lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Abutaha backs up against the cage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Abutaha looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lance looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lance misses with the body kick
and Abutaha connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Abutaha tries to clinch but Lance moves out of range.
Abutaha finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A solid body kick from Abutaha.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lance keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Abutaha tries to clinch but Lance moves away
and Lance counters with a series of strikes. Abutaha will be more careful next time no doubt.
Abutaha tries to clinch but Lance is having none of it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Lance throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Abutaha counters with a solid body kick.

Lance moves into the clinch successfully.
Lance wants to break the clinch but can't.
Abutaha is trying to break the clinch but Lance is controlling him.
A shot in the inside from Lance.
Lance takes a knee to the side of the body.

Abutaha manages to break the clinch.

Lance pushes Abutaha up against the cage in a clinch.
Abutaha missing with knees to the body.

Abutaha breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lance on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
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!
The fight stays on the outside here - Abutaha looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lance thuds a left hand into Abutaha's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Lance both land. Nice combination.
Lance throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Abutaha really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Lance looks gassed!
Lance throws a series of punches but Abutaha moves out of range.
Sailo Lance seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Abutaha clinches up with Lance and pushes him back against the cage.

Abutaha breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Abutaha tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lance swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Abutaha moves into the clinch.
Lance looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lance avoiding damage as Abutaha throws knees to the body.

Abutaha's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lance takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Abutaha moves to clinch but Lance breaks away
and Lance counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Abutaha lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lance circles away quickly and effectively.
Abutaha looks for the body kick but Lance saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lance gets tackled into the cage by Abutaha. Abutaha maintains the clinch.

Lance has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Abutaha uses from the top position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Lance tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Abutaha has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Abutaha tries to stand but Lance is controlling from the bottom.
Abutaha knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lance on the ground.

Lance pushes Abutaha off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lance pushes Abutaha up against the cage in a clinch.
Lance keeps control of Abutaha as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Lance tries to circle away but Abutaha has him pinned against the cage.
Lance drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Abutaha gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Abutaha misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lance.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Lance pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Abutaha fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Lance. Those never looked like landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mohamed Abutaha will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Abutaha gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Abutaha looking to slow down the pace here.
Abutaha tries a body shot but Lance blocks it.
Abutaha with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Lance creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Abutaha tries a knee to the head but Lance blocks it.
Lance wants to get back to striking at distance but Abutaha won't allow it.

Abutaha manages to break the clinch.
Lance shoots in for a takedown but Abutaha shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Abutaha is looking to clinch but Lance is avoiding it.
Lance pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Abutaha back to the cage. Lance follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Abutaha is rocked!
Good work by Abutaha as he checks the leg kick.
Oh Abutaha is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The fight stays on the outside here - Abutaha looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Abutaha attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Sloppy strikes from Lance. Those never looked like landing.
Lance tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Abutaha tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lance misses with a few strikes there.

Lance clinches up with Abutaha and pushes him back against the cage.
Abutaha seems to have got his legs back now.
Lance is breathing heavily.

Abutaha manages to break the clinch.
Sailo Lance seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Lance gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Abutaha throws a knee to the head but misses.

Abutaha breaks from the clinch.
Abutaha moves out of range as Lance throws a body kick.
Abutaha moves in looking to clinch but Lance pushes him off.

Lance clinches up with Abutaha and pushes him back against the cage.

Abutaha manages to break the clinch.
Horrible takedown by Lance or perhaps it was just good defense by Abutaha which made him look bad.

Lance has taken the fight to the clinch.
Abutaha can't find room to land a body shot as Lance controls the action.

Abutaha escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lance misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abutaha wants to clinch.
Abutaha dodges the punch combination from Lance.
Abutaha tries to bum rush Lance with a series of wild strikes but Lance uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lance scores with a three punch combo!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Abutaha tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lance swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Abutaha fails with an attempt to clinch.
Abutaha tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lance paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Abutaha shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Lance throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Lance throws a head kick but Abutaha moves out of range.
Abutaha shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lance sprawls well. Lance wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Abutaha gets slowly back to his feet.
Abutaha tries to clinch up but Lance circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lance misses with a combination
and Abutaha counters with a nice body kick.
Abutaha tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Abutaha doesn't manage to clinch there - Lance circles away.
Lance circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lance circles away from the clinch attempt.
A nice inside leg kick there by Abutaha. That's going to slow Lance down.
Lance avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lance is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Abutaha shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lance as he avoids it easily.
Sloppy strikes from Abutaha. Those never looked like landing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Abutaha looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Abutaha tries to clinch up.
Abutaha has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Lance throws a nice looking combination but Abutaha bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abutaha tries to clinch but Lance is having none of it.
Abutaha tries for a takedown but Lance sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mohamed Abutaha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lance misses with a jab, cross combination.
Abutaha takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Abutaha throws a low kick but Lance moves out of range easily.

Abutaha drives through and clinches with Lance against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lance is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lance is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Abutaha breaks from the clinch.

Lance closes the distance and clinches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Abutaha breaks from the clinch.
Lance swinging wildly here.
Lance throws a left and a right that both miss
and Abutaha connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lance misses with a few strikes there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mohamed Abutaha will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Abutaha works over Lance's head and body with a nice combination.

Abutaha closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Lance did well to prevent Abutaha getting side control.
Lance keeping hold of Abutaha's head, controlling as best he can.

Lance kicks off Abutaha and gets to his feet.
Abutaha changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lance tries to avoid it but Abutaha manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lance to the ground. Lance escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lance lands a nice hook to Abutaha's body. Abutaha takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Abutaha swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mohamed Abutaha is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lance misses with a few strikes there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lance tries to score a power double leg takedown but Abutaha sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lance somewhat.
Abutaha ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abutaha blocks a head kick by Lance.
A chopping leg kick lands by Abutaha.
Abutaha tries to close the distance and clinch but Lance swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lance looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Some wild striking there from Lance.
Abutaha lands with a straight right. Lance didn't see that one coming.
Abutaha tries to clinch there but Lance circles away.
Abutaha tries to clinch but Lance is having none of it.
Abutaha wants to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Abutaha looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lance keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice takedown defense from Abutaha. No joy for Lance on that attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abutaha is looking to clinch.
Abutaha pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lance throws a right and a left that Abutaha avoids nicely.

Abutaha has Lance up against the cage in a clinch.

Abutaha escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lance takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Lance is rocked!

Abutaha gets a clinch.
Lance is still on wobbly legs! Can Abutaha finish him?
Abutaha scores with a knee to the head.

Abutaha pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Abutaha is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Abutaha connects with a combination that backs up Lance into the cage. Abutaha lands a flurry of punches that gets past Lance's guard. Lance is down and the referee has seen enough. It is all over! Abutaha bursts into tears - this win obviously means a huge amount to him.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mohamed Abutaha!
Mohamed Abutaha was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.