PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Boris Slater (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Abramson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Slater
vs
Abramson

156 cm
20
193 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

200 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid 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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Boris Slater!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ray Abramson!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abramson shoots in for a takedown but Slater shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Slater circles away from the clinch attempt
and Slater counters with a nice body shot.
Slater stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Slater wants it to stay on the feet.
Slater throws a quick counter head kick but Abramson was just out of range.
Ray Abramson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Slater tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Abramson tries to clinch up.
Abramson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Slater moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Abramson shoots in but no luck this time.
Boris Slater has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Abramson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abramson misses with a double jab.
Abramson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Abramson throws a hook but Slater blocks it.
Abramson tries to clinch up but Slater circles away and keeps his distance.
Slater throws a quick counter head kick but Abramson was just out of range.

Slater closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slater just leaning against Abramson, taking a breather.
Slater looking to stall.
Slater displaying some good clinch control by pressing Abramson up against the cage.
Slater leaning against his opponent.
Slater looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A short right from Abramson.
Abramson is trying to pull guard but Slater has him pressed against the cage.
Slater is pressed up against the cage. Abramson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Slater down to the mat. Slater avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Abramson darts in and clinches Slater up against the cage.
Abramson looking for a takedown.
Slater is looking to break free of the clinch but Abramson has double underhooks.
Slater effectively controlling the action here.
Abramson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Slater prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abramson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Slater misses with some punches.
Abramson has Slater pressed against the cage, preventing Slater from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Slater pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Abramson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Slater defends well and Abramson ends up having to push Slater into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Slater throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Abramson was covering up waiting for the punch and Slater finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Slater preventing the sweep.
Abramson looks winded!

Abramson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Slater defends well.
Slater's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abramson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Slater is one step ahead there.
Abramson being controlled here, momentarily.
Slater seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Abramson for as long as he can get away with.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Slater is in close to Abramson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Slater postures up.
Abramson controlling Slater's posture.
Slater sitting in guard, not really doing much.

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

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Slater throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Abramson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Slater is in Abramson's guard.
Slater really is a fat lump.
Abramson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Slater not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boris Slater dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Abramson tries for a takedown but Slater sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Slater is looking to clinch but Abramson is avoiding it.
Abramson goes for a double leg but Slater avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Slater continues to drive forward.
Abramson tries for a takedown but Slater sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Boris Slater has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Abramson.

Slater shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Slater is taking a breather. Abramson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slater frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Slater controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slater has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Slater pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Slater controlling his opponent.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Slater.
Slater is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Slater is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Abramson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abramson looks for a takedown but Slater sprawls well.
Abramson is breathing heavily.

Slater gets a clinch.
Slater tries to stall but Abramson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Abramson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Slater's efforts to push away.
Slater is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Abramson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Slater just stands there and leans against the cage.
Slater holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Abramson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Slater.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Slater breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Slater looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Slater might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Slater sitting in guard here, content to control.
Slater's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Abramson wants to sweep here but Slater controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slater is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Abramson closes the distance and clinches up with Slater, looking for a takedown. Abramson pushes Slater against the cage but Slater circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Abramson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Abramson misses with a few strikes there.
Slater is looking to counter with a body kick.

Slater drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Abramson wants to stand up but Slater is controlling him.
Slater is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boris Slater dominated that second round.
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!

Slater has a takedown stuffed.
Abramson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Slater defends well and Abramson ends up having to push Slater into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Slater throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Abramson's waist but Abramson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Slater off to one side.
No luck for Slater with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Boris Slater. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Slater fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abramson dives in for a single leg takedown but Slater sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Abramson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Boris Slater is winning the standup battle so far.
No luck for Abramson with that takedown attempt.
Abramson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Slater pushes Abramson up against the cage in a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Abramson tries for a takedown but Slater manages to get underhooks.
Slater wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Slater is trying to break free.
Slater is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Abramson is keeping busy.

Slater's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Slater shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Slater showed some decent athleticism there.
Slater perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abramson wants to get back to his feet.
Slater is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Slater continues to stall.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Slater wants to work for an arm triangle but Abramson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Slater is controlling the pace.
Abramson is looking to improve his position.
Slater is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Abramson can do to turn this around?
Slater content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Slater circles away from the clinch attempt.

Slater feints and as Abramson raises his hands in defense, Slater changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Abramson has his feet on Slater's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Abramson - that will leave a mark!
Abramson tries to close the distance and clinch but Slater swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Slater is looking to counter with head kicks.
Slater keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Abramson doesn't manage to clinch there - Slater circles away.
Abramson looks for a takedown but Slater sprawls well.
Slater lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Abramson moves out of range as Slater throws a body kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Abramson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ray Abramson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boris Slater is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Abramson closes the distance and clinches up with Slater, looking for a takedown. Abramson pushes Slater against the cage but Slater circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Slater half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Boris Slater.
Well Slater has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Boris Slater!