PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Haitian Ginger (ranked 158 p4p, 545 weight class) and Abdo Farah (ranked 18 p4p, 78 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ginger
vs
Farah

193 cm
27
185
12 - 4 - 0

185 cm
28
191
14 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Conviction
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Haitian Ginger!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Abdo Farah!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Lou da Vinci and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ginger throws a jab but it's blocked by Farah.
Farah throws a hook but Ginger blocks it.
Farah throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ginger appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Farah getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Farah throws a shot to the body.
Ginger misses with a straight left.
Farah only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Ginger moves out of range of the strikes.
Ginger appears to be looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Farah throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ginger feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Farah misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ginger.
Farah throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farah fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Ginger on the side of the head.
Ginger tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Farah paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Farah chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Farah attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Ginger was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Farah thuds his right hand into Ginger's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Farah keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Farah throws the kick towards the body but Ginger avoids it.
Ginger feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Farah throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Farah connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Ginger's hands.
Abdo Farah seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Farah misses the target.
Ginger avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ginger looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.

Farah clinches with his opponent.
Farah fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Farah misses with a punch to the body.
Ginger tries a body shot but Farah blocks it.
Farah misses with some punches.
Ginger softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ginger blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ginger trying to control the position but instead, Farah has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ginger into the cage.
Ginger misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short left from Ginger.
I was talking to Ginger's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Ginger lands a shot to the body.
Ginger stalling.
Ginger's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Farah working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Farah lands a body punch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Farah.
A short uppercut from Ginger.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Farah.
Ginger blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ginger blocking some punches.
Farah misses with some punches.
Nice body punch from Ginger.
Farah digs a right hand underneath Ginger's ribcage. Ginger let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A hook to the body from Ginger.
Farah lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ginger creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Farah has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Ginger seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Farah can turn it around.
Ginger works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Farah throws a head punch that misses.
Ginger tries to throw a body punch but Farah avoids it by throwing Ginger back against the cage.
Ginger misses with a body punch.
Ginger blocks a body shot from Farah.
Farah tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Ginger ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Ginger no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ginger is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Farah is aware though and is defending well.
Farah stopping the sweep attempt from Ginger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ginger is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Farah has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ginger is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Farah preventing the sweep.
Ginger not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Farah looks to score with a jab to the body but Ginger is just out of range.
Ginger is looking to counter with a body kick.
Ginger lunges at Farah with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Farah's hand.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ginger.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Farah crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Ginger - the referee stops the clock and Farah gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Ginger. Farah manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Farah misses with a hook
and Ginger counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Abdo Farah has been cut.
Farah swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ginger on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Farah darts in and clinches Ginger up against the cage.
Ginger lands with a left to the head.
Farah blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Farah has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Farah prevents a body shot from Ginger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ginger scores with a shoulder strike.
Ginger has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Farah blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Farah blocks a body shot from Ginger.
Ginger lands a hook to the side of the head.
Farah gets through Ginger's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ginger struggles to land a body shot inside as Farah controls his hands.
Ginger tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Farah lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ginger backwards.
Farah tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A right handed body shot lands from Ginger.
Farah tries to throw a body punch but Ginger avoids it by throwing Farah back against the cage.
Ginger tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Farah's elbow.
Ginger blocks an uppercut.
Ginger struggles to land a body shot inside as Farah controls his hands.
Ginger goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ginger.
Farah misses with some punches.
Ginger tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Farah's elbow.
Ginger misses with a hook to the ribs.
Farah lands with a left to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Ginger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ginger pushes Farah back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A shot in the inside from Ginger.
Haitian Ginger has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Farah throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gingers head.
Farah presses Ginger against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Farah blocking some punches.
Farah throws a head punch that misses.
Farah lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ginger backwards.
Ginger throws a head punch that misses.
Farah throws a punch but it's blocked by Ginger.
Farah scores with a hook to the body.
Farah blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Farah has a couple of punches blocked by Ginger.
Farah can't find room to land a body shot as Ginger controls the action.
Ginger lands with a light punch inside.
Farah tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ginger's elbow.
Ginger misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Farah gets through Ginger's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ginger tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ginger lands with a left to the head.
Ginger stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Ginger digs a right hand into Farah's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Farah's gas tank.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Farah can't find room to land a body shot as Ginger controls the action.
Farah misses with a punch to the body.
Ginger lands a body punch.
Ginger blocking some punches.
Ginger lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Ginger lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ginger stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Farah is breathing heavily.
Farah tries a body shot but Ginger blocks it.
Ginger tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Farah's elbow.
Ginger misses with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ginger.
Ginger stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Ginger is leaning against Farah and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ginger tries to throw a body punch but Farah avoids it by throwing Ginger back against the cage.
Farah misses with a punch to the body.
Farah swings wildly with an uppercut but Ginger uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ginger softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ginger.
Farah has a couple of punches blocked by Ginger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ginger lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ginger blocks a body shot from Farah.
Ginger lands a left hand that snaps the head of Farah backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ginger lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Farah or not.
Ginger tries to throw a body punch but Farah avoids it by throwing Ginger back against the cage.
Farah tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ginger misses with a punch to the body.
Farah tries to work over Ginger's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Farah working aggressively here.
Farah scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ginger.
Ginger pressing his opponent against the cage.
Ginger is looking to control Farah's arms but Farah gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ginger has his back to the cage.
Farah tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ginger's elbow.
Ginger misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ginger.
Ginger gets through Farah's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Ginger.
Farah lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Haitian Ginger dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Abdo Farah's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Ginger crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Farah - the referee stops the clock and Ginger gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Farah. Ginger manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Ginger keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A counter left hand to the body from Ginger misses its target.
Farah throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ginger looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Ginger lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ginger steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Farah.
Ginger was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Abdo Farah seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Farah lands a jab to Ginger's midsection.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slow jab from Farah misses its intended target.
Ginger swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Farah tries to close the distance and clinch but Ginger swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ginger misses with a leg kick
enabling Farah to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farah defending well as Ginger loads up on a big left hand.
Farah dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Farah wants to clinch up but Ginger keeps it at a distance.
Farah steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ginger.
Farah sizes up Ginger with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Farah stuns Ginger with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Farah lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Farah.
Farah lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ginger backwards.
Ginger goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Farah gets through Ginger's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ginger swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Farah throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gingers head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ginger prevents a body shot from Farah.
Nice body punch from Ginger - that landed with a thud.
Farah lands a body punch.
Ginger lands a body shot in the clinch.
Farah lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Farah misses with a hook from the clinch.
Farah working aggressively here.
Ginger scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ginger misses with a body punch.
Farah lands a nice shot to the body.
Ginger lands a body punch in the clinch.
Ginger tries to throw a body punch but Farah avoids it by throwing Ginger back against the cage.
Ginger trying to control the position but instead, Farah has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ginger into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ginger taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Farah lands a body shot.
Farah lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ginger backwards.
Farah lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Farah misses with the head strike.
Ginger lands a left hand that snaps the head of Farah backwards.
Farah's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ginger working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ginger lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Farah tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Farah misses with a body punch.
Farah misses with the head strike.
Farah doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ginger is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Farah to keep the fight standing.
Farah works on Ginger's body with a couple of short punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ginger blocks a body shot from Farah.
Farah stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Ginger lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ginger can't find room to land a body shot as Farah controls the action.
Farah misses with some punches.
Ginger tries to pull guard but Farah won't allow it.
Farah fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Farah throws a punch but it's blocked by Ginger.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ginger.
Ginger tries to work over Farah's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ginger misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ginger blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ginger misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ginger lands with a short shot to the head.
Ginger misses with the head strike.
Farah working aggressively here.
Farah misses with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Farah.
Farah working aggressively here.
Ginger misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ginger lands a shot to the body.
Ginger lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Farah.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Abdo Farah really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Abdo Farah's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Farah misses with a hook.
Farah throws out a loose jab but Ginger uses good head movement to avoid it.
A telegraphed right hand from Farah misses the target.
Ginger staying out of range there.
A telegraphed right hand from Ginger misses the target.
A bone on bone clash there as Ginger blocks the leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Farah misses with a hook.
It looked like Ginger wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Farah throws an off balance right hand
and Ginger counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farah works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Ginger displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Farah throws out the jab.
Farah throws a lazy right hand but Ginger sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Farah wants to clinch up but Ginger keeps it at a distance.
Farah throws a sloppy head kick
and Ginger counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Farah is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Farah pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ginger lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Ginger pivots, looking for a leg kick but Farah is out of range and Ginger settles back down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Farah throws an overhand right that lands on Ginger's shoulder, as Ginger tries to avoid the shot.
Ginger feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Farah on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Ginger slips under a jab from Farah.
Ginger lands a nice hook to Farah's body. Farah takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A big left from Farah misses.
Farah feints and then cracks Ginger's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Ginger down.
Ginger swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Farah.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ginger throws a leg kick that misses.
Farah appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ginger takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Farah misses with a kick to the body.
As Farah tries to get set, Ginger tries to push him back and clinch up but Farah manages to avoid the attempt.
Nice shot lands for Ginger.
A swing and a miss from Farah.
Farah throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ginger connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Farah jabs Ginger to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Farah looks to land a right hand but Ginger moved out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ginger uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Farah.
Ginger takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A clash of legs there as Farah blocks the low kick.
Farah doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Farah misses with a body kick.
A big left from Farah misses.
Farah connects with a body shot that sends Ginger's belly button to the back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Farah throws a shot from downtown. Ginger moves away and avoids it.
Ginger appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Farah throws a lazy right hand but Ginger sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Abdo Farah will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Abdo Farah's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Farah tries to close the distance and clinch but Ginger swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ginger quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Ginger blocks a jab.
Farah lands the left hand.
Farah misses with a kick to the body.
Farah misses with a lunging right hand
and Ginger counters with a straight right hand.
Farah throws a low kick but Ginger moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Farah scores with a jab to the head.
Farah tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ginger was well out of range. Poor timing from Farah.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farah connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ginger moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Farah connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ginger moves out of range of the strikes.
Ginger takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Farah fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ginger manages to avoid it.
Ginger closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Ginger steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Farah.
Haitian Ginger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Farah gets a clinch.
Farah blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A left hand lands to the body for Ginger.
Ginger is working Farah over against the cage.
Farah cracks Ginger with a nice body shot.
Ginger tries a body shot but Farah blocks it.
A short uppercut from Ginger.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ginger lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Farah cracks Ginger with a nice body shot.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Ginger misses with a punch on the inside.
Farah takes a shot to the head.
Farah has a couple of punches blocked by Ginger.
A head punch on the inside from Farah fails to land.
Farah fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Farah goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ginger lands a hook that snaps the head of Farah backwards.
Farah can't find room to land a body shot as Ginger controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Farah tries to work over Ginger's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ginger lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Farah backwards.
Farah tries to work over Ginger's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ginger is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Ginger pulls guard effortlessly.
Farah looking to sit in guard and control but Ginger gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ginger sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ginger is fighting to break Farah's control of his arms but Farah is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Farah working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Farah is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Ginger is pushing down on Farah's leg trying to pass to half guard. Farah is fighting to maintain full guard but Ginger has managed to sneak the leg through.
Abdo Farah is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ginger works his way into side control.

Ginger goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Farah has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Ginger but great work by Farah.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Abdo Farah.
I think Farah has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 46:49
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 47:48
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abdo Farah!
During a confident post fight interview, Abdo Farah thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.