PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sudu Stripa (ranked 24746 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rusab Abdulla (ranked 5863 p4p, 0 weight class). Abdulla has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! Rusab Abdulla has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Stripa
vs
Abdulla

180 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

181 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sudu Stripa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rusab Abdulla!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Santiago Holmes and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stripa feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Abdulla is looking to stand back up but Stripa counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Abdulla.
We've been hearing good reports from Stripa's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Abdulla looks winded!

Stripa scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Stripa controlling the pace.

Stripa is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stripa slows the pace down in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stripa lands strikes from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stripa is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Stripa stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Stripa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Abdulla circles away.
Abdulla steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Stripa.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stripa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Horrible takedown attempt by Stripa or perhaps it was just good defense by Abdulla, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sudu Stripa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stripa closes the distance and clinches.
Stripa tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Stripa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stripa tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Abdulla defends well and Stripa ends up having to push Abdulla into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Stripa clinches up with Abdulla and pushes him back against the cage.
Stripa drops down looking for an ankle pick but Abdulla pulls his leg out and moves away.
Stripa misses with a few strikes there.

Stripa clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stripa has Abdulla pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Stripa pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Abdulla tumbling to the mat - Stripa dives into Abdulla's guard.
Abdulla is looking to stand back up but Stripa counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Abdulla.

Abdulla looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Stripa wants to get back to his feet.
Well, if Stripa is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stripa is looking for a kimura but Abdulla is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Stripa to get the leverage.
Stripa sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stripa seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Abdulla does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stripa wants to clinch up but Abdulla keeps it at a distance.
Stripa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Abdulla circles away.
Stripa dives in and grabs Abdulla's left leg, looking for a takedown. Abdulla pushes down on Stripa's head and hops out.
It seemed like Abdulla was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Stripa scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Stripa stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stripa wants to free his trapped foot but Abdulla is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Abdulla is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Stripa in particular looking to stall.
Stripa'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.
Abdulla avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stripa.
Well, if Stripa is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Stripa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sudu Stripa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Abdulla stuffs the takedown attempt from Stripa. Stripa gets slowly back to his feet.
Stripa is looking to clinch.
Stripa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stripa.

Stripa moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stripa stalls.
Stripa misses with a hook to the ribs.

Stripa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Abdulla stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Abdulla wants it to stay on the feet.
Stripa tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Abdulla defends well and Stripa ends up having to push Abdulla into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
No luck for Stripa with that takedown attempt.
Abdulla keeps the fight on the outside.
Abdulla fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stripa drives through and clinches with Abdulla against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A short left from Stripa.

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

Stripa has managed to clinch.
Stripa tries for a takedown but Abdulla manages to get underhooks.
Stripa tries to throw a body punch but Abdulla avoids it by throwing Stripa back against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stripa is trying to pull guard but Abdulla turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Stripa breaks from the clinch.

Stripa clinches with his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sudu Stripa 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Stripa looks for a takedown but Abdulla sprawls well.
Stripa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Abdulla paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Stripa decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Stripa wants to free his trapped foot but Abdulla is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Stripa is looking for a kimura but Abdulla is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Stripa to get the leverage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stripa lands strikes from half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Abdulla trying to control from the bottom.
Stripa tries to pass to full mount but Abdulla defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stripa is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Stripa decides to stand and escape the position.
Stripa tries to close the distance and clinch but Abdulla swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Abdulla let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Stripa tries to clinch up but Abdulla circles away and keeps his distance.
Stripa looks for a takedown but Abdulla sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Stripa tries for a takedown but Abdulla sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sudu Stripa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stripa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Abdulla as he jumps to the side.
Stripa lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Stripa fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stripa shoots in looking for a takedown. Abdulla tries to sprawl out of it but Stripa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Abdulla manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A countering left hand to the body from Abdulla misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Stripa. No joy for Abdulla on that attempt.
As Abdulla looks to move away, Stripa throws a big counter combo but Abdulla just gets out of the way.

Stripa pushes Abdulla up against the cage in a clinch.
Stripa is trying to pull guard but Abdulla turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Abdulla prevents a takedown attempt there.
Stripa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Abdulla can do to turn this around?
Abdulla lands with a light punch inside.

Stripa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Abdulla is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stripa sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Danga de danga de dang - Stripa scores with a four punch combination!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Stripa manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stripa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Abdulla wants to control from the top but Stripa keeps moving.
Stripa has his hands on Abdulla's head, controlling the position.
Abdulla looking to pass the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sudu Stripa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stripa, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sudu Stripa!