PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jese Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ibrahim Abai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jese Rodriguez has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Rodriguez
vs
Abai

184 cm
25
175 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

167 cm
25
184 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jese Rodriguez !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ibrahim Abai!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, David Schapiro and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Abai appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Rodriguez misses with a wild body shot.

Abai throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rodriguez tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Abai is in Rodriguez 's guard.
Abai throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Abai trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Abai throwing strikes from guard but Rodriguez blocks nicely.
Abai works over Rodriguez with some ground and pound from guard.
Rodriguez trying to keep a closed guard but Abai is proving a slippery customer.
Abai working some strikes from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abai postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rodriguez looking to control.
Rodriguez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Abai with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Abai accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Abai trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Abai's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Abai throws a big right hand that misses.
Abai trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Abai scoring with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Abai throwing strikes from guard but Rodriguez blocks nicely.
Abai throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.
Abai lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Abai missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Abai distracts Rodriguez with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Rodriguez is rocked!
Abai postures up, still in guard. A huge hammer fist lands that bounces Rodriguez 's head off the mat! Rodriguez is out! He's out! Abai jumps to his feet and celebrates with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Ibrahim Abai!
An out of breath Ibrahim Abai thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.