PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Izz Addin Al Qassam (ranked 5682 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kanan Abel (ranked 5895 p4p, 0 weight class). Izz Addin Al Qassam had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Addin Al Qassam
vs
Abel

169 cm
24
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

166 cm
24
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Big heart

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Izz Addin Al Qassam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kanan Abel!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Leandro Rodrigues and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Al Qassam avoids the head kick by Abel.
Al Qassam shoots for a double leg takedown but Abel sprawls well. He's pushed Al Qassam's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Al Qassam moves in looking to clinch but Abel pushes him off.

Abel shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Al Qassam napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Al Qassam tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Al Qassam tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Abel scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Abel tries to control but Al Qassam wriggling away.
Al Qassam wants to hold on but Abel pushes him away.
Abel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Abel lands a big shot there that rocks Al Qassam but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Al Qassam tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Abel looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Qassam is looking to get to half guard.
Abel landing strikes from the mount.
Al Qassam working to try and regain half guard.
Abel sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Al Qassam is squirming around, avoiding Abel's attempts to control the action.
Abel looking to finish with strikes here!

Abel goes for an armbar but Al Qassam turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Al Qassam.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Al Qassam trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Abel working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Al Qassam.
Al Qassam tries to free his leg and advance position but Abel is retaining full guard.
Abel is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Al Qassam throws a strike but Abel rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Abel is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Let's hope that Abel has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Al Qassam is pulling down on Abel's head to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abel postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Al Qassam trying to control the position here.
Al Qassam wants to get back to his feet but Abel is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Abel stopping the sweep attempt from Al Qassam.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Al Qassam wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Al Qassam on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Al Qassam tries to get out of the position.
Al Qassam keeping moving, preventing Abel from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Abel shoots in looking for a takedown. Al Qassam tries to sprawl out of it but Abel keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Al Qassam manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Abel keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Al Qassam drives through and clinches with Abel against the cage.

Abel manages to pull guard.
Al Qassam with a flurry of punches that miss.
Al Qassam postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Abel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kanan Abel dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Al Qassam misses with a takedown attempt - Abel sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Al Qassam tries to close the distance and clinch but Abel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Al Qassam gets a double leg takedown into Abel's guard.
Al Qassam won't allow Abel to sweep him here.
Abel avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Al Qassam in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Abel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Abel trying to keep a closed guard but Al Qassam is proving a slippery customer.
Abel scores with a nice shot.
Abel is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Al Qassam postures up in Abel's guard and throws a big left but Abel blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Qassam postures up and lands a big shot to Abel's brow.
Al Qassam throws an elbow that misses. Abel uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Al Qassam's guard. Nice move by Abel!

Al Qassam looking for a sweep. Not yet Al Qassam, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Qassam is working hard here to advance position.
Abel trying to stand up but can't free himself from Al Qassam's guard.
Abel sitting in guard here, content to control.
Abel wants to control from the top but Al Qassam keeps moving.
Abel wants to pass the guard but Al Qassam is keeping the position.
Abel tries to stand but Al Qassam is controlling from the bottom.
Al Qassam is pulling down on Abel's head. It's preventing any offense from Abel, at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Al Qassam changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Abel tries to avoid it but Al Qassam manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Abel to the ground. Abel escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kanan Abel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Al Qassam fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Izz Addin Al Qassam. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Al Qassam dives in and grabs Abel's left leg, looking for a takedown. Abel pushes down on Al Qassam's head and hops out.

Al Qassam gets caught napping as Abel dives in and scores a takedown. Al Qassam manages to retain guard.
Al Qassam is trying to control the position but Abel postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Qassam is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Abel is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Abel passes Al Qassam's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Abel is looking to take a break and control but Al Qassam is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Abel is working for a submission of some sort.
Abel throwing shots but Al Qassam is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Abel seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Al Qassam wants to improve his position but Abel is controlling well.
Al Qassam avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Abel.
Al Qassam preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Al Qassam is looking to control Abel's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Al Qassam avoid being mounted?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Al Qassam desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Abel is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kanan Abel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Al Qassam rushes Abel and presses him up against the cage.
Al Qassam is trying to pull guard but Abel turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Al Qassam tries to pull guard but Abel holds him up against the cage and eventually Al Qassam drops back down to his feet.
Al Qassam is trying to pull guard but Abel turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Izz Addin Al Qassam. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Al Qassam jumps guard and drags Abel to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Abel wants to control from the top but Al Qassam keeps moving.
Abel throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abel wanted to stand there but Al Qassam had control of the position.
Al Qassam is pulling down on Abel's head. It's preventing any offense from Abel, at least for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abel wants to control from the top but Al Qassam keeps moving.
Abel postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Abel wants to stand but Al Qassam has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Al Qassam looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Al Qassam is pulling down on Abel's head to control his posture.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Abel fails with a takedown attempt.
A quick step to the side and Al Qassam tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Abel misses with a head kick.
Al Qassam wants to clinch

and Abel counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Abel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Qassam has Abel pulled in close to control his posture.
Abel trying to control the position from guard on top but Al Qassam is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Al Qassam keeping full guard, as Abel tries to pass.
Al Qassam controlling the position.
Al Qassam has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Abel has passed into side control.
Abel wants to control but Al Qassam is keeping him busy.
Abel advances to full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Qassam wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Al Qassam reaches up to try and control the position but Abel seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Al Qassam rolls and tries to escape and now Abel has his back!

Abel is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Al Qassam trying to control the hands but Abel breaks the grip.
Al Qassam can't escape the position.
Abel gets his hands free as Al Qassam looks to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Qassam is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Al Qassam is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Abel is not going to allow Al Qassam to sit and survive in this position.
Al Qassam tries to escape the position.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Abel's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Kanan Abel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Abel winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Kanan Abel!
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight for Kanan Abel!
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight for Kanan Abel!

Kanan Abel wins by unanimous decision!