PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joao Filho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mohamed Aboelnasr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joao Filho has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Filho
vs
Aboelnasr

202 cm
25
215 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

201 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joao Filho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mohamed Aboelnasr!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Konstantin Menshow and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Filho looks to land a combination. Aboelnasr sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Filho throws a left and a right that both miss

and Aboelnasr counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Filho's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Aboelnasr throws a low kick but Filho avoids it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Aboelnasr.

Aboelnasr gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Aboelnasr pulls guard effortlessly.
Filho postures up.
Aboelnasr is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Filho has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Aboelnasr is proving hard to escape from.

Aboelnasr is looking for a triangle but Filho pushes his legs off easily.
Aboelnasr is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Aboelnasr trying to control the position.
Filho wants to stand but Aboelnasr has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aboelnasr trying to keep a closed guard but Filho is proving a slippery customer.
Filho has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Aboelnasr pulls Filho in to control the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Mohamed Aboelnasr hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Filho misses with a double jab.
Filho throws a right and a left that both miss.
Aboelnasr changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Filho tries to avoid it but Aboelnasr manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Filho to the ground. Filho escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Joao Filho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Filho misses with a double jab
and Filho takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Filho throws a series of strikes that have Aboelnasr backpedaling.
Joao Filho is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Filho falls off balance throwing a combination
and Aboelnasr counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Filho is breathing heavily.
Aboelnasr will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Joao Filho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mohamed Aboelnasr.

Aboelnasr clinches up with Filho and pushes him back against the cage.
Filho wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aboelnasr drops down looking for an ankle pick but Filho pulls his leg out and moves away.
Aboelnasr throws a leg kick but Filho moved away.
Aboelnasr moves in looking to clinch but Filho pushes him off.
Aboelnasr misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Aboelnasr is defended easily by Filho.
Filho swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Filho moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aboelnasr throws a low kick but Filho avoids it.
Filho shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Aboelnasr eats them both and turns towards Filho to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Filho throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Aboelnasr to counter with a crisp jab.
Filho tries to bum rush Aboelnasr with a series of wild strikes but Aboelnasr uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aboelnasr scores with a nice head shot.
Filho throws a combination that misses
and Aboelnasr counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Aboelnasr will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Aboelnasr looks to land a left hand but Filho moved out of range nicely.
Filho fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Filho throws a right hand that Aboelnasr ducks under and follows up with a left that Aboelnasr also avoids with ease.
Filho falls off balance throwing a combination
and Aboelnasr counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Aboelnasr doesn't manage to clinch there - Filho circles away.
Filho throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Aboelnasr counters with a nice uppercut.
Aboelnasr throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Filho throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Aboelnasr shoots in for a double leg but Filho sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Filho throws a combination that misses

and Aboelnasr counters by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filho wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Filho is looking to break free of the clinch but Aboelnasr has double underhooks.
Aboelnasr tries to break free but Filho pushes him back against the cage.
Aboelnasr keeps control of Filho as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Aboelnasr lands a nice uppercut.
Aboelnasr pushes Filho back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Aboelnasr keeps control of Filho as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Filho breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aboelnasr has a takedown stuffed.
Filho misses with a double jab
and Aboelnasr counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aboelnasr pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Filho rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Aboelnasr moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Filho falls off balance throwing a combination
and Aboelnasr counters with a series of strikes. Filho will be more careful next time no doubt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mohamed Aboelnasr will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Aboelnasr closes the distance and clinches.

Filho manages to break the clinch.
Joao Filho is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A punch combination from Filho misses.
Filho swats away the attempt to clinch by Aboelnasr.
Filho misses with a few strikes there.
Aboelnasr shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Filho misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Aboelnasr fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Aboelnasr shoots for a takedown but Filho saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Joao Filho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mohamed Aboelnasr.
Sloppy strikes from Filho. Those never looked like landing.
Aboelnasr fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Filho fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Filho swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Aboelnasr cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Aboelnasr throws a sloppy head kick and Filho moves out of range easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filho throws a right and a left that Aboelnasr avoids nicely.
A combination from Filho does no damage.
Aboelnasr shoots in looking for a takedown. Filho tries to sprawl out of it but Aboelnasr keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Filho manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Filho fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Aboelnasr is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Filho rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Aboelnasr moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Aboelnasr tries to clinch up but Filho circles away and keeps his distance.
Filho misses with a series of wild punches.
Aboelnasr shoots in for a takedown but Filho shows good takedown defense.
Filho throws a right hand that Aboelnasr ducks under and follows up with a left that Aboelnasr also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filho throws a combination that misses
and Aboelnasr counters with a left and a right that stings Filho.
Aboelnasr shoots in for a double leg but Filho sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Filho throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Aboelnasr.
Filho looks to land a combination but Aboelnasr avoids it well.
Filho throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Aboelnasr counters with a left to the body.
Filho misses with a jab, cross combination.
Aboelnasr misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Filho misses with a wild combination.
Filho throws a series of punches but Aboelnasr moves out of range.

Aboelnasr clinches up against the cage.
Filho working hard to break the clinch.
Filho is looking to break free of the clinch but Aboelnasr has double underhooks.
Aboelnasr wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Filho has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aboelnasr wants to get back to striking at distance but Filho won't allow it.
Aboelnasr can't break the clinch.
Filho tries to break the clinch but Aboelnasr is controlling the position.

Aboelnasr manages to break the clinch.
Aboelnasr dives in and grabs Filho's left leg, looking for a takedown. Filho pushes down on Aboelnasr's head and hops out.
No joy there for Filho, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Aboelnasr changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Filho tries to avoid it but Aboelnasr manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Filho to the ground. Filho escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Aboelnasr showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Filho.
Filho circles away from the clinch attempt.
Filho will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Aboelnasr is looking to clinch but Filho is avoiding it.
Aboelnasr shoots in for a takedown but Filho shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filho throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Filho misses with a series of wild punches.
Filho doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Filho throws a series of punches but Aboelnasr avoids them all with ease.
Filho circles away from the clinch attempt.
Aboelnasr looks to land a body kick but Filho moved away.
Aboelnasr is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Filho.
Filho misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice sprawl there from Filho as Aboelnasr shoots in.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Filho fails to land with a series of punches.
No luck for Aboelnasr with that takedown attempt.
Aboelnasr dodges the punch combination from Filho.
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 Joao Filho will probably get the nod.
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!

Aboelnasr shoots in but no luck this time.
Filho looks to land a combination but Aboelnasr avoids it well.
Aboelnasr avoids a punch combination nicely.
Filho misses with a double jab
and Aboelnasr counters with a one-two to the body.
Aboelnasr throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Filho's waist but Filho gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Aboelnasr off to one side.
Filho throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Aboelnasr.
Filho throws a combination that misses

and Aboelnasr holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Filho has Aboelnasr pressed against the cage, preventing Aboelnasr from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Aboelnasr stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Aboelnasr wants a takedown but no success here.
Joao Filho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mohamed Aboelnasr.
Filho wants to break free but Aboelnasr has control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aboelnasr tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Filho just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Filho breaks the clinch.
Aboelnasr fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Filho throws a series of punches but Aboelnasr avoids them all with ease.
Aboelnasr changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Filho tries to avoid it but Aboelnasr manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Filho to the ground. Filho escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Filho falls off balance throwing a combination
and Aboelnasr counters with a left and a right that stings Filho.
Joao Filho is winning the standup battle so far.
Filho swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Aboelnasr counters with a left to the body.
Aboelnasr is looking to clinch.
Filho throws a series of punches but Aboelnasr avoids them all with ease.
Aboelnasr misses with a head kick.
Filho throws a series of punches but Aboelnasr moves out of range.
Filho misses with a series of wild punches.
Aboelnasr shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Filho as he jumps to the side.
Filho rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Aboelnasr moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aboelnasr fails with a takedown attempt.
Filho looks to land a combination but Aboelnasr avoids it well.
Aboelnasr tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Filho paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Filho misses with a jab, cross combination.
Aboelnasr fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Filho avoids it really well and circles away.
Some wild striking there from Filho.
Filho misses with a wild combination.
Aboelnasr tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Filho swivels and escapes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aboelnasr tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Filho swivels and escapes.
Filho throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Aboelnasr shoots in but Filho avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Filho tries to bum rush Aboelnasr with a series of wild strikes but Aboelnasr uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Aboelnasr tries to clinch but Filho moves out of range.
Filho misses with the combination.
Nice takedown defense from Filho. No joy for Aboelnasr on that attempt.
Filho swinging wildly here.
Filho throws a combination that misses
and Aboelnasr counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Filho thinking.
Aboelnasr closes this distance looking for a takedown but Filho circles away.
Filho misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aboelnasr showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Filho.
Aboelnasr misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Aboelnasr misses with a double jab.
Filho throws a right and a left that Aboelnasr avoids nicely.
Aboelnasr tries for a takedown but Filho sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Filho misses with a wild combination.
Filho throws a left and a right that both miss
and Aboelnasr counters with a three punch combo that has Filho backing up. Filho nods at Aboelnasr to acknowledge the strikes.
Filho misses with a few strikes there.
Sloppy strikes from Filho. Those never looked like landing.
Filho swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Aboelnasr counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Filho throws a series of punches but Aboelnasr moves out of range.
Filho misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Filho throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Aboelnasr fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joao Filho showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Filho has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Joao Filho!