PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cayden Abner (ranked 1523 p4p, 1515 weight class) and Abdullah Zaire (ranked 227 p4p, 226 weight class). Abner's entrance music is Bulls On Parade. A fine choice. 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.

Abner
vs
Zaire

182 cm
32
176
20 - 14 - 0

189 cm
36
206
17 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conquer
IC&E Nutrition (& 10% Laundry)

Brooklyn Apothecary
Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cayden Abner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Abdullah Zaire!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zaire moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Abdullah Zaire seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zaire connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Zaire lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Abner at a distance.
Abner keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zaire.
Abner throws a nice outside leg kick.
Zaire misses with a head kick.
Abner is looking to counter punch.
Zaire uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Abner.
Zaire throws a jab when Abner was well out of range.
Abner on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zaire. Zaire obviously looking to wear him down.
Zaire works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Zaire scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Abner throws a hook but Zaire blocks it.
Zaire throws a shot from downtown. Abner moves away and avoids it.
Zaire avoids a punch combination nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zaire tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Abner was well out of range. Poor timing from Zaire.
Abner swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abner avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zaire misses with a low kick as Abner jumps back.
Abner takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Abner on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Abner ducks under a wild hook from Zaire.
Zaire throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
It looked like Abner was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Zaire throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Abner stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Zaire scoring well with a low kick there.
Abner throws a jab but it's blocked by Zaire.
A good leg kick by Zaire.
Zaire loads up on a big right hand but Abner slips the punch.
Zaire throws a lazy right hand but Abner sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Abner uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zaire.
We've been hearing reports that Abner has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaire lands a jab to the head.
Zaire misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Abner.
Zaire looks to score with a jab to the body but Abner is just out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Abner swings widly with a right hand
and Zaire counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Abner takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Zaire ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Zaire with the inside leg kick.
Zaire with the inside leg kick.
Zaire lands with a straight right. Abner didn't see that one coming.
Zaire throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Zaire slips a jab and a cross from Abner.
Zaire just misses with a punch to the body.
It looked like Abner wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Zaire swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Abner.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire lands a jab to Abner's midsection.
Zaire avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Zaire throws a chopping leg kick but Abner manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Zaire.
Abner lands a jab-cross combination.
Abner moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Zaire has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Zaire throws a right hand that misses
and Abner counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Abner ducks under a wild hook from Zaire.
Abner throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Zaire.
Zaire jabs Abner to the body, keeping him at a distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zaire misses with a lunging right hand
and Abner counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Abner moves out of range of the body kick.
Abner appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Zaire takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Zaire scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abner connects with a right hand. Zaire shakes it off.
Zaire ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Zaire tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Zaire cracks Abner with an open hand slap.
Zaire looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Zaire misses with a hook. Abner ducked under it nicely.
Abner jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Abner throws out a leg kick but Zaire moves out of range and Abner only half commits.
Good shot there by Abner.
Zaire swings for the body but Abner moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zaire just misses with a punch to the body.
Abner avoids the body shot from Zaire.
Zaire throws a jab when Abner was well out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Abdullah Zaire dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Zaire throws a hook to the side of Abner's head but Abner sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Abner throwing a counter right hand but Zaire manages to avoid it.
Zaire jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zaire on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Abner moves out of range of the body kick from Zaire.
Abner was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Zaire throws a solid leg kick but Abner takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Zaire.
Zaire misses with a straight right.
Zaire tries to work over Abner's front leg with a kick but Abner checks it.
Good exchange - Zaire coming out on top.
Zaire is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Abner.
Zaire lands a jab to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abner ducks under a wild hook from Zaire.
Abner keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Abner is looking to counter punch.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Zaire.
Zaire lands the left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abner moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Zaire cracks Abner with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Abner throws the left hand but Zaire avoids the punch easily.
Zaire throws a leg kick
and Abner counters with a nice low kick that buckles Zaire's knee momentarily.
Zaire throws a lazy right hand but Abner sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A little feinted left hand from Abner on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Abner ducks right into an uppercut from Zaire.

Abner is rocked!
Zaire scores with a sloppy right hand. Abner should have avoided that one.
Oh Abner is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Zaire lands an uppercut out of nowhere! Abner falls backwards - clearly groggy! Zaire dives in and finishes the fight with more strikes for a TKO finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Abdullah Zaire!
A relieved looking Abdullah Zaire thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Cayden Abner was interviewed post fight and said 'Well that was fun, but the result was all wrong and kinda sucked. Let's do it again!'.