PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abdullah Zaire (ranked 2015 p4p, 1640 weight class) and Phillip Terrell (ranked 307 p4p, 251 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Zaire
vs
Terrell

189 cm
38
206
19 - 14 - 1

176 cm
35
158
20 - 23 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

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Brooklyn Apothecary

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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 19 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Abdullah Zaire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 23 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Phillip Terrell!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Terrell misses with a straight left.
Terrell stuns Zaire with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Terrell has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Zaire throws an overhand right that lands on Terrell's shoulder, as Terrell tries to avoid the shot.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Zaire crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Terrell - the referee stops the clock and Zaire gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Terrell. Zaire manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Zaire is looking to slow Terrell down with leg kicks.
Zaire walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Zaire jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zaire fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Terrell lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A left and a right from Terrell both land. Nice combination.
Zaire throws a leg kick but Terrell sees it coming and moves out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Terrell takes a swing at Zaire's ribcage but misses.
Zaire motions for Terrell to come forward. Zaire throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Terrell wants to counter the offense by Zaire and move into the clinch position.
Terrell lands a nice hook to Zaire's body. Zaire takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Terrell drops his hands momentarily and Zaire takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Zaire misses with a hook. Terrell ducked under it nicely.
Terrell scores with a shot to the body.
Zaire throws a low kick but it's checked well by Terrell.
Good shot there by Zaire.
Terrell tests Zaire's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The fighters circling - Terrell throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
An attempted straight right counter from Zaire misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Terrell looks to throw the jab but Zaire is out of range.
Zaire throwing a counter right hand but Terrell manages to avoid it.
Zaire tries to score with a low kick but Terrell moves his leg out of the way.
Terrell throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Zaire on the side of the head.
Some bone on bone action there as Terrell checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Terrell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Terrell slips a jab from Zaire.
Terrell scores with a leg kick.
Terrell ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Terrell's corner calls for a 1-2. Terrell obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Terrell throws a sloppy body shot
and Zaire counters with a slapping leg kick.
Terrell uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zaire.
Terrell wants to counter the offense by Zaire and move into the clinch position.
Zaire shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Zaire throws a leg kick but Terrell sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A big right from Zaire misses.
Terrell finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Terrell throws out a loose jab but Zaire uses good head movement to avoid it.
A little feinted left hand from Zaire on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Terrell misses the shot to the body.
Terrell jabs Zaire right on the nose. Zaire blinks but takes it well.
Zaire moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zaire avoids the body shot from Terrell.
Zaire is looking to counter punch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Terrell. Zaire does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Terrell checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Terrell was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Zaire scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Zaire checks the leg kick nicely there.
Terrell getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Zaire slips under a jab.
Terrell lands a head shot.
Terrell misses with a wild body shot.
A clash of legs there as Zaire blocks the low kick.
Terrell is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Zaire had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
A nice leg kick lands there from Terrell.
Zaire throws a body punch but Terrell moves out of range.
Terrell misses with an uppercut. Zaire saw that one coming.
A little feinted left hand from Zaire on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Terrell lands with an uppercut that bounces Zaire off the cage and back into range.
Zaire scores with a hook.
Zaire misses with a hook. Terrell ducked under it nicely.
Terrell thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zaire connects with a single shot there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Terrell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Terrell with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Terrell lands a glancing blow to the side of Zaire's head.
A head kick misses from Terrell.
Terrell throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Terrell lands a jab.
Terrell will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Terrell lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Terrell displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zaire throws out the jab.
Terrell throws a leg kick
and Zaire counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zaire fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Terrell manages to avoid it.
Terrell checks the leg kick nicely there.
Terrell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zaire.
Zaire avoids the body shot from Terrell.
Terrell throws a shot from downtown. Zaire moves away and avoids it.
Zaire lunges at Terrell with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Terrell's hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Terrell takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Zaire walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Terrell checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Zaire lands with a straight right. Terrell didn't see that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaire on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Terrell attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Zaire swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Terrell moves out of range as Zaire strikes.
Zaire pivots, looking for a leg kick but Terrell is out of range and Zaire settles back down.
A jab lands there for Zaire.
Terrell jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Terrell rushes Zaire and presses him up against the cage.
Zaire has Terrell pressed against the cage.
Terrell blocks a body shot from Zaire.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Terrell.
Zaire fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Terrell.
Zaire doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zaire tries a body shot but Terrell blocks it.
Zaire just leaning against Terrell, taking a breather.
Terrell fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
I was talking to Zaire's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Zaire is looking to control Terrell's arms but Terrell gets an underhook and turns him. Now Zaire has his back to the cage.
Zaire misses with the head strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Phillip Terrell dominated that round.
That's time! Zaire's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Terrell dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Zaire. That did some damage!
Zaire throws a shot from downtown. Terrell moves away and avoids it.
Terrell smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Terrell lands a really nice looking cross but Zaire seems unphased.
Terrell takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Zaire avoids the head kick by Terrell.
Terrell digs a good hook to Zaire's body.
Zaire slips a jab from Terrell.
Phillip Terrell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Terrell misses the shot to the body.
Terrell thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zaire waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Terrell.
Zaire fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Terrell catches Zaire with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Terrell. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Terrell slips a jab from Zaire.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Terrell scores with a nice head shot.
Zaire scores with a hook.
Terrell scores with a hook to the body. Zaire takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Terrell ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Terrell tries to counter by closing the distance.
Terrell misses with a low kick.
Terrell swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Zaire counters with an outside leg kick.
Terrell has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Terrell will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zaire catches Terrell with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A decent looking cross lands there for Zaire.
Terrell fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Zaire on the side of the head.

Terrell clinches up against the cage.
Zaire swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zaire has had enough of the clinch but Terrell keeps him there for the moment.
A hook to the body from Zaire.
Terrell keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zaire's efforts to push away.
Zaire working aggressively here.
Zaire lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Terrell.
Terrell makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Zaire misses with the head strike.
Zaire struggles to land a body shot inside as Terrell controls his hands.
Terrell blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Terrell.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Zaire escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Terrell, as that shot connected.
Zaire misses the jab.
Zaire throws a leg kick but Terrell moved away.
Zaire swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Terrell thinks about the counter body kick.
Nice shot by Terrell.
Zaire looks to land a left hand but Terrell moved out of range nicely.
An inside leg kick lands from Zaire.
Terrell lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Terrell lands with a nice body punch.
Zaire throws a looping overhand right but Terrell ducks down to avoid it.
Zaire walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Terrell takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Terrell scores with a jab to the jaw.
Zaire throws a body shot but no joy.
Terrell misses with a wild body shot.
Zaire slips under a jab from Terrell.
Terrell tries to land a leg kick but Zaire saw it coming and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Terrell checks a low kick from Zaire.
Zaire looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Terrell fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zaire manages to avoid it.
Terrell moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Terrell attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
It looked like Zaire was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Terrell.
Zaire blocks a head kick by Terrell.
Terrell lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Zaire fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Terrell checks it well.
Terrell lands with a shot to the body.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Terrell!
Zaire waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Terrell.
Terrell throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Terrell scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Zaire tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Terrell avoids the body shot from Zaire.
The crowd cheers as Terrell lands an impressive looking overhand right. Zaire doesn't seem phased though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Terrell connects with a single shot there.
Zaire misses with an uppercut.
Zaire looks to land a right hand but Terrell moved out of range.
Zaire throws the left hand but Terrell avoids the punch easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Terrell. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Terrell.
Terrell throws a combination. Zaire tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
A decent looking cross lands there for Zaire.
Terrell thuds his right hand into Zaire's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Some wild striking there from Zaire.
Zaire misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Terrell.
Terrell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Terrell tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Zaire moves out of range as Terrell strikes.
Terrell keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Terrell misses with the combination.
A little feinted left hand from Zaire on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Zaire uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Terrell.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Terrell looks to score with a jab to the body but Zaire is just out of range.
Terrell throws a leg kick but Zaire sees it coming and moves out of range.
Terrell ducks under a wild hook from Zaire.
A countering left hand to the body from Terrell misses.
Zaire bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zaire is looking to counter punch.
Terrell takes a swing at Zaire's ribcage but misses.
It looked like Zaire wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Phillip Terrell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Terrell scores with a shot to the body.
Terrell throws a leg kick
and Zaire counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Terrell pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Terrell avoids the body shot from Zaire.
Terrell doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Zaire wants to land a leg kick but Terrell is out of range.
Zaire cracks Terrell with a right hand to the side of the head.
Zaire lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Terrell at a distance.
Terrell slips under a jab.
Terrell fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zaire has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Zaire throws a body punch but Terrell moves out of range.
Terrell fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
The crowd cheers as Terrell lands an impressive looking overhand right. Zaire doesn't seem phased though.
Zaire connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Terrell's hands.
Zaire steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Terrell.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zaire misses with an uppercut. Terrell saw that one coming.
Terrell lands a head shot.
Terrell throws a body shot but no joy.
Zaire misses with a straight left.
Terrell blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaire misses with a body shot.
Zaire throws a leg kick but Terrell sees it coming and moves out of range.
Terrell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zaire.
Zaire half committed to a counter leg kick.
Zaire keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Zaire misses with a body shot.
Terrell slips under a jab.
Zaire throws a jab but it's blocked by Terrell.
Zaire throws a looping overhand right but Terrell ducks down to avoid it.
Terrell cracks Zaire with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Zaire connects with a body shot that sends Terrell's belly button to the back.
Terrell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zaire throws a hook to the side of Terrell's head but Terrell sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Terrell steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Zaire throws a lazy right hand but Terrell sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Terrell throws a solid leg kick but Zaire takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Terrell.
Zaire misses with an uppercut.
Phillip Terrell seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zaire throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Zaire throws a body punch but Terrell moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Zaire misses the target.
Terrell stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Zaire.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Terrell dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zaire steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Terrell.
Terrell throws the left hand but Zaire avoids the punch easily.
Zaire connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Good leg kick by Terrell.
Terrell lands with an uppercut that bounces Zaire off the cage and back into range.
A big right from Zaire misses.
Zaire throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Zaire misses the jab.
Terrell steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Zaire.
Zaire is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Terrell.
A jab from Zaire misses.
Zaire throws a jab when Terrell was well out of range.
Terrell scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Zaire slips a straight right by Terrell.
Zaire does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Terrell throws out a loose jab but Zaire uses good head movement to avoid it.
Terrell throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Terrell, as that shot connected.
Zaire looks to throw the jab but Terrell is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Zaire takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Zaire misses with an uppercut. Terrell saw that one coming.
Terrell wants to counter with a clinch but Zaire pushes him away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zaire. Terrell does a little dance to reset his feet.
Terrell loads up on a big right hand but Zaire slips the punch.
The fighters circling - Zaire throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
An inside leg kick from Terrell misses.
Phillip Terrell is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Zaire chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Terrell can pounce on him.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Terrell lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Zaire has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Zaire and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Zaire wants to slow Terrell down by chopping away at his legs.
Jab from Zaire.
Zaire's corner calls for a 1-2. Zaire obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Zaire takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A nice inside leg kick there by Zaire. That's going to slow Terrell down.
Terrell fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Zaire on the side of the head.
Terrell lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zaire's jab looks to have found its range, popping Terrell under the eye.
Terrell throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Zaire jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A low kick lands for Terrell.
Terrell tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Zaire is able to avoid easily.
Zaire tries to land a leg kick but Terrell saw it coming and moves away.
Terrell moves out of range of the strikes.
A head kick misses from Terrell.
Terrell tries to move into range but Zaire moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Terrell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Terrell is looking to slow Zaire down with leg kicks.
Zaire is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Terrell.
Zaire wants to land a leg kick but Terrell is out of range.
Zaire connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
The crowd cheers as Zaire lands an impressive looking overhand right. Terrell doesn't seem phased though.
Terrell is looking to clinch.
As Terrell backs away, Zaire returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
A nice combination there by Zaire.
Abdullah Zaire has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Terrell throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Terrell lands with a slapping head kick.
Terrell misses with a looping right.
Terrell slips under a jab from Zaire.

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 Abdullah Zaire.
I think Terrell 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phillip Terrell!
A relieved looking Phillip Terrell thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.