PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gavin Byrne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdullah Al Abulbul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Gavin Byrne has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Byrne
vs
Al Abulbul

170 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

165 cm
25
140 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Gavin Byrne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Abdullah Al Abulbul!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Chris Edwards and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Al Abulbul shoots in and gets a takedown into Byrne's guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Byrne being controlled here, momentarily.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Al Abulbul stops Byrne from standing up.
Byrne knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Al Abulbul on the ground.
Al Abulbul pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Byrne is keeping the position for now.
Al Abulbul trying to control the position from guard on top but Byrne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Al Abulbul is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Byrne working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Al Abulbul.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Abulbul pushes down on Byrne's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Al Abulbul trying to control from half guard but Byrne is working away.
Al Abulbul missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Byrne trying to control from the bottom.
Al Abulbul seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Byrne does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Al Abulbul passes to side control.

Al Abulbul is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Byrne knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Al Abulbul working the ground and pound.
My spies in The Seven Sins Grappling Academy inform me that Al Abulbul has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrne is not content to let Al Abulbul control the position.
Al Abulbul throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Al Abulbul trying to control the position but Byrne is working away.
Al Abulbul is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Al Abulbul might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Byrne haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Abulbul moves into full mount!
Al Abulbul landing strikes from the mount.

Al Abulbul goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Byrne is on top in guard.

Byrne got a little sloppy there for a moment and Al Abulbul has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Byrne has managed to get both his arms back between Al Abulbul's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Byrne accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Al Abulbul trying to keep a closed guard but Byrne is proving a slippery customer.
Al Abulbul has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Byrne missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Byrne avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
We've been hearing that Byrne has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Byrne stopping the sweep attempt from Al Abulbul.
Al Abulbul controls Byrne momentarily but Byrne frees himself.
Al Abulbul bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Byrne's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Al Abulbul tries to free his leg and advance position but Byrne is retaining full guard.
Al Abulbul is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdullah Al Abulbul dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Byrne moves into the clinch.

Byrne manages to break the clinch.
Al Abulbul throws a jab but it's blocked by Byrne.
Byrne misses with a takedown

and Al Abulbul counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Byrne trying to control but Al Abulbul postures up.
Al Abulbul trying to mount his opponent but Byrne defends it.
Al Abulbul is looking to take a break and control but Byrne is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Byrne is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Abulbul is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Al Abulbul controlling the pace for now.
Al Abulbul tries to control but Byrne wriggling away.
Byrne is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Al Abulbul wants to control but instead Byrne manages to regain half guard.
Al Abulbul wants to pass the guard but Byrne is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Al Abulbul is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Al Abulbul is keen to just control but Byrne is a slippery customer.
Al Abulbul frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Al Abulbul trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Al Abulbul lands a couple of good shots and Byrne has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Al Abulbul has the hooks in and he's looking for a rear naked choke here. Byrne is defending well but eventually Al Abulbul manages to get an arm under the chin and he's locked on the RNC! Byrne has no choice but to tap now! He does! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Abdullah Al Abulbul!
A very excited looking Abdullah Al Abulbul made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.