PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between David Abott (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Berry Fulcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Abott comes to the cage accompanied by The Winner Takes it All!. David Abott has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Abott
vs
Fulcher

183 cm
23
255 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

190 cm
29
220 lbs
24 - 20 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Merciless Gladiators

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, David Abott!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Berry Fulcher!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Stewart Dunkirk and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fulcher doesn't manage to clinch there - Abott circles away.
Abott tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fulcher swivels and escapes.
Fulcher bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Abott looks to score with a jab to the body but Fulcher is just out of range.
Fulcher tries to clinch up.
Fulcher keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fulcher closes the distance looking to clinch
and Abott counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Fulcher wants to clinch.
Abott throws the left hand but Fulcher avoids the punch easily.
Abott avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fulcher with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Fulcher moves away from the strike by Abott.
Abott throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abott takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Abott shoots in looking for a takedown. Fulcher tries to sprawl out of it but Abott keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Fulcher manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Abott lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Fulcher at a distance.
Fulcher tries to clinch there but Abott circles away.
Abott throws a big shot that misses.
Abott just misses with a punch to the body.
Fulcher tries to clinch up.
Abott throws a hook but Fulcher blocks it.
Abott takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A nice leg kick lands there from Fulcher.
Fulcher fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Fulcher tries to sprawl but Abott drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Abott is keen to just control but Fulcher is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fulcher is looking to control Abott's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Fulcher avoid being mounted?
Fulcher has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Abott missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Fulcher keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Abott prevents Fulcher from standing back up.
Fulcher is looking to control Abott's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Fulcher avoid being mounted?

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Berry Fulcher wasn't active enough on the ground.
Abott throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Fulcher.
Abott throws a shot to the body.
Abott takes a swing at Fulcher's ribcage but misses.
Fulcher fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fulcher bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Abott's head backwards.
Fulcher thumps Abott with a low kick.
The crowd cheers as Fulcher lands an impressive looking overhand right. Abott doesn't seem phased though.
Fulcher tests Abott's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Abott feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fulcher avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Abott landing with the ground and pound.
Fulcher looking to hit a scissor sweep but Abott is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fulcher keeping moving, preventing Abott from controlling successfully.
Abott throws a big right hand that misses.
Fulcher keeping full guard, as Abott tries to pass.
Abott trying to control the position from guard on top but Fulcher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Abott's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Abott trying to control the position from guard on top but Fulcher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Berry Fulcher will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Abott keeps the fight on the outside.
Fulcher tries to clinch up.
David Abott seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fulcher tries to clinch but Abott is having none of it.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Abott, as that shot connected.
Berry Fulcher seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fulcher tries to clinch up but Abott circles away and keeps his distance.
Abott is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Fulcher's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Fulcher tries to clinch up.
Fulcher doesn't manage to clinch there - Abott circles away.
A big left from Abott misses.
Nice body punch from Abott.
Abott changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Fulcher tries to avoid it but Abott manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Fulcher to the ground. Fulcher escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Abott misses with a straight right.
Abott throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Fulcher counters with a right hand to the body.
Fulcher avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Abott bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fulcher is trying to get back to half guard.
Fulcher is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Abott is looking to take a break and control but Fulcher is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Abott working the strikes but Fulcher uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Abott takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Fulcher blocking the ground and pound attempt from Abott.
Abott is looking to advance position but Fulcher won't allow it.
Fulcher is staying active underneath Abott, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fulcher tries to get to full guard but Abott has control of the leg.
Abott not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Abott has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Fulcher is trying to maintain the position but Abott is very close to passing his half guard.
Abott is looking to advance position but Fulcher won't allow it.
Fulcher desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Abott wants to take a breather but Fulcher is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Fulcher tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Abott paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Abott throws a jab but it's blocked by Fulcher.
Fulcher tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Abott manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fulcher tries to close the distance and clinch but Abott swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Abott throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Fulcher stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Abott shoots in for a double leg but Fulcher sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Abott connects with a body shot.
Fulcher wants to clinch up but Abott keeps it at a distance.
Fulcher slips a jab from Abott.
Fulcher tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Abott manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Abott swings for the body but Fulcher moves out of range.
Abott ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Fulcher moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fulcher feints a jab promting Abott to slip. Fulcher then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Abott slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
The fight stays on the outside here - Fulcher looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Fulcher fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Abott on the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Abott misses with a body shot.
Fulcher steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Abott.
Berry Fulcher is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Abott has his takedown stuffed
and Fulcher counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Abott. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fulcher uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Abott.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Abott listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Abott misses with a takedown attempt - Fulcher sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Fulcher scores with a three punch combo!
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 David Abott will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Fulcher has Abott up against the cage in a clinch.
Abott is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Fulcher has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Fulcher lands with a short shot to the head.
Abott struggles to land a body shot inside as Fulcher controls his hands.
Fulcher misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Abott.
Fulcher is trying to force a seperation but Abott has the dominant position.

Fulcher breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Abott thows a body shot but no joy.
Abott shoots for a double leg takedown but Fulcher sprawls well. He's pushed Abott's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Abott throws an off balance right hand
and Fulcher counters with an outside leg kick.

Abott dives in and scores a takedown into Fulcher's guard.
Fulcher manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Abott manages to get himself to full guard.
Abott is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fulcher trying to control the position from guard on top but Abott is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fulcher wanted to stand there but Abott had control of the position.
Fulcher wants to control from the top but Abott keeps moving.

That's two 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.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Berry Fulcher hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Fulcher closes the distance and clinches.
Fulcher with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Abott has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Fulcher avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Abott misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Fulcher is working Abott over against the cage.
Fulcher lands a body punch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fulcher doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Fulcher tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Abott avoids it.
Fulcher missing with knees to the body.

Fulcher breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Fulcher looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Abott keeps the fight on the outside.
Fulcher lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fulcher connects with a body shot.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Fulcher!
Fulcher rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Abott moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Abott throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A solid body kick from Fulcher.
Fulcher fails to land with a series of punches.
Fulcher tries to clinch but Abott is having none of it.
Fulcher feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Abotts jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Fulcher closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Fulcher keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Abott's efforts to push away.
Fulcher tries to land knees in the clinch but Abott avoids the damage to the body.
Abott tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fulcher lands a knee to the head.

It looks like David Abott has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Fulcher creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Abott breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Abott throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Abott fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fulcher manages to avoid it.
Abott misses with a looping left.

Fulcher clinches up with Abott and pushes him back against the cage.
Abott tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Abott. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fulcher lands an elbow inside.
Fulcher lands a damaging elbow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Fulcher.
I was talking to Abott's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A right hand to the body from Fulcher.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Abott blocks the elbow strike.
Fulcher unloads a knee to the mid-section. Abott lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Fulcher crunches a lovely knee into Abott's ribcage.
Nice elbow from Fulcher.

And that's the end of the fight!
Berry Fulcher comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Fulcher 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Berry Fulcher!
A relieved looking Berry Fulcher thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.