PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Opel Astra (ranked 3582 p4p, 125 weight class) and Abel Frey (ranked 3579 p4p, 124 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.

Astra
vs
Frey

199 cm
25
287 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

200 cm
25
300 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Opel Astra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abel Frey!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Frey tries to clinch but Astra moves away
and Astra counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Astra changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Frey tries to avoid it but Astra manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Frey to the ground. Frey escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Frey steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Astra.

Astra has taken the fight to the clinch.
Astra tries to break the clinch but Frey is controlling the position.

Astra jumps guard and drags Frey to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Astra seems keen to control Frey's posture.
Astra 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Astra seems keen to control Frey's posture.
Astra looking to hit a scissor sweep but Frey is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Astra trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Frey preventing the sweep.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Astra throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Astra throws a head kick that misses
and Frey makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Astra really felt that one!
Astra shoots in for a double leg but Frey sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Frey throws a hook but Astra avoids it easily.
Frey tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Astra manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Frey shoots in but Astra avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Astra clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Astra creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Frey looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Astra is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Opel Astra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Frey gets through Astra's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Astra could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Astra prevents the takedown attempt.
Frey on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Astra lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Astra on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Astra pulls guard.
Frey stopping the sweep attempt from Astra.
Astra avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Astra working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Frey doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Frey manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Astra keeping full guard, as Frey tries to pass.
Astra on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Astra tries to get out of the position.
Frey has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Astra is proving hard to escape from.
Astra looking to control.
Frey wants to control from the top but Astra keeps moving.
Frey wants to stand and escape but instead Astra has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Frey is trying to control the position but Astra postures up.

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.
Astra working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Frey's head.
Astra scoring with some ground and pound.
Frey tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Astra passes Frey's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Astra is nestled in close to Frey, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Astra frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Astra tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Opel Astra dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Frey looks for a takedown but Astra sprawls well.
Astra shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Frey but Frey pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Astra circles away from the clinch attempt.
Astra looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Astra shoots in looking for a takedown. Frey tries to sprawl out of it but Astra keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Frey manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Opel Astra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Astra shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Frey napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Frey is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Frey is looking to improve his position.
Astra looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Frey gets back to full guard.
Astra postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Astra slips nicely into half guard.
Frey throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Astra keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Astra lands a nice short elbow.
Frey is looking to control Astra's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Frey avoid being mounted?

Astra seems to be working for a kimura but Frey defends the submission attempt.
Astra is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Frey can do to turn this around?
Still in half guard, Astra seems content to control.
Astra lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Astra keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Frey wants to get back to full guard but Astra has passed into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Astra is staying tight to Frey's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Astra cracks Frey with a big elbow.

Astra decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Astra throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Frey's waist but Frey gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Astra off to one side.
A looping hook to the body misses from Frey. Astra does a little dance to reset his feet.
Astra fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Frey avoids it really well and circles away.
Frey shoots in for a takedown but Astra shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Astra just misses with a elbow thrown towards Frey's brow.
Astra tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Frey just stands there and leans against the cage.
Astra tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Frey is trying to push Astra away but Astra has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Astra lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Astra tries to pull guard but Frey forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Astra is looking to take this one to the mat.
Frey gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Astra.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Astra's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Opel Astra dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Frey throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Astra feinted with a counter takedown.
Astra tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Frey.
Nice takedown defense from Frey. No joy for Astra on that attempt.
Frey feints the counter takedown.
Frey shoots in but no luck this time.
Astra shoots for a takedown but Frey saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Astra has closed the distance and engaged Frey in a clinch.
Astra can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Opel Astra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Frey tries to break free but Astra pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Frey wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Astra has him pressed against the cage.

Astra ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Astra no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Astra trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Frey wants to control from the top but Astra keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Astra has his foot on Frey's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Frey works his way back into a safe position though.
Astra keeping moving, preventing Frey from controlling successfully.

Frey got a little sloppy there for a moment and Astra has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Frey has managed to get both his arms back between Astra's legs - danger averted.
Astra pulls Frey in close to his closed guard and prevents Frey from doing any damage or advancing position.
Frey pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Astra is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Frey postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Frey trying to control the position from guard on top but Astra is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Astra forces Frey back against the cage and clinches.

Frey ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Frey no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Astra not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Astra distracts Frey with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Astra postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Frey wants to get back to his feet but Astra is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Frey keeping full guard, as Astra tries to pass.
Frey is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Frey throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Astra slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Frey shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Astra sprawls well. Astra wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Frey gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Frey tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Frey stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Frey wants it to stay on the feet.
Frey tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
It appears Astra was looking to counter with a kick there.
Astra tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Frey swivels and escapes.
Astra takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Astra shoots in for a takedown but Frey shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Astra shoots in looking for a takedown. Frey tries to sprawl out of it but Astra keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Frey manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Astra looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Opel Astra.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Astra, 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Opel Astra!