PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sree Narayanan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Magamed Abubakarov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Narayanan
vs
Abubakarov

189 cm
25
225 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

192 cm
25
240 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sree Narayanan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Magamed Abubakarov!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Hirohito Nitta and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abubakarov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Narayanan throws a combination that misses
and Abubakarov counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Abubakarov.

Abubakarov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Narayanan to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Narayanan works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Abubakarov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Narayanan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Abubakarov is looking to improve his position.
Narayanan trying to pass the guard but Abubakarov defending well.
Narayanan with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abubakarov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Abubakarov tries to kick Narayanan off but Narayanan keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Sree Narayanan has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Narayanan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Abubakarov.
Narayanan misses with a jab to the body

so Abubakarov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Narayanan trying to keep a closed guard but Abubakarov is proving a slippery customer.
Narayanan is controlling Abubakarov's posture.
Abubakarov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Narayanan manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Narayanan looking to control but Abubakarov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
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!

Narayanan is working for a guillotine from mount but Abubakarov frees his head quite easily.
Narayanan is breathing heavily.
Abubakarov tries to hold on but Narayanan pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Narayanan trying to control but Abubakarov is having none of it.
Abubakarov tries to hold on but Narayanan postures up.
Abubakarov tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Narayanan wants to finish this one by submission but Abubakarov is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Narayanan.
Abubakarov tries to hold on but Narayanan postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Narayanan looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Narayanan controlling the position easily from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Abubakarov wants to hold on but Narayanan pushes him away.
Abubakarov tries to control Narayanan's body but Narayanan pushes him off. Abubakarov squirms to his side and now Narayanan has his back!
Abubakarov looking very determined here, making life difficult for Narayanan.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Narayanan avoiding Abubakarov 's attempts to control his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sree Narayanan will probably get the nod.
That's time! Narayanan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Narayanan misses with an attempted mid kick.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Abubakarov enables Narayanan to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Abubakarov manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sree Narayanan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Abubakarov wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Narayanan is now in half guard.
Narayanan wants to control but Abubakarov is keeping him busy.
Abubakarov tries to kick Narayanan off but Narayanan keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Narayanan moves nicely into side control.
Narayanan wants to stand but Abubakarov is controlling his arm.
Abubakarov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Narayanan wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Narayanan is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Abubakarov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abubakarov trying his best to control but Narayanan has mounted him.
Abubakarov is working to get back to half guard.
Abubakarov wants to control but Narayanan is having none of it.
Narayanan with a couple of short strikes.
Abubakarov is just holding on here. Narayanan manages to take his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Narayanan tries to keep control of the position but Abubakarov is staying busy.
Narayanan has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Abubakarov.
Narayanan is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Narayanan softening up his opponent with strikes here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Narayanan is persistently looking for the submission but Abubakarov is defending it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Abubakarov defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Abubakarov is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Narayanan is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Abubakarov knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Abubakarov for a finish.
You can see the frustration on Abubakarov's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Narayanan slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Abubakarov is trying to break free.

Abubakarov fending off the submission attempt from Narayanan.
Abubakarov staying busy and making it hard for Narayanan to control.
Abubakarov trying to control the hands but Narayanan won't let him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Abubakarov is trying to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sree Narayanan dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Abubakarov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A nice left hand lands by Narayanan.

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

Narayanan clinches up with Abubakarov and pushes him back against the cage.
Abubakarov is trying to push Narayanan away but Narayanan has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Abubakarov tries to pull guard but Narayanan forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Narayanan stalling the fight.
Abubakarov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Narayanan just stands there and leans against the cage.
Sree Narayanan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Magamed Abubakarov.

Narayanan has hold of one of Abubakarov's legs. Abubakarov is fighting the takedown attempt but Narayanan gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abubakarov is looking to stand up but Narayanan isn't so interested in that idea.
Narayanan sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Narayanan is working Abubakarov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Narayanan postures up.
Abubakarov has momentary wrist control but Narayanan slips an elbow through the middle.
Narayanan wants to control from the top but Abubakarov keeps moving.
Narayanan is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Abubakarov can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Narayanan seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Abubakarov for as long as he can get away with.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Narayanan is pushing down on Abubakarov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Abubakarov is fighting to maintain full guard but Narayanan has managed to sneak the leg through.
Narayanan seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Abubakarov with the active half guard here but Narayanan passes nicely into side control.

Narayanan is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Abubakarov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abubakarov throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Narayanan controls the position.
Narayanan moves into full mount!

Narayanan working for a submission but Abubakarov is keeping him at bay.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Narayanan working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Narayanan misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Narayanan with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Abubakarov blocking the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sree Narayanan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Narayanan 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sree Narayanan!
Sree Narayanan got down on his knees post fight and begged the management for a title shot. 'Please, I want that title shot so bad! Give it to me!'