PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chris Rudd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdullah Zaire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rudd comes to the cage accompanied by Bob Marley - Get Up Stand Up. 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.

Rudd
vs
Zaire

171 cm
24
176 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

182 cm
20
183 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Boomerang! Costume Shop ($12 Fun Gear)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Chris Rudd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Abdullah Zaire!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Winston Howard and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rudd throws a looping overhand right but Zaire ducks down to avoid it.
Rudd thuds his right hand into Zaire's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Zaire gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Rudd drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Zaire dives on top into guard.
Zaire throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rudd works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rudd might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zaire tries to free his leg and advance position but Rudd is retaining full guard.

Rudd escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zaire gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Zaire wants to pass the guard but Rudd is keeping the position.
Zaire is pushing down on Rudd's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rudd is fighting to maintain full guard but Zaire has managed to sneak the leg through.
Zaire is pressing down on Rudd's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rudd is holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rudd has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zaire is working away from the top position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zaire is looking for a kimura but Rudd is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Zaire to get the leverage.
Rudd trying to hold on to Zaire's head to control him but Zaire postures up.
Rudd wants to get back to his feet.
Rudd trying to control here.
Zaire wants to free his trapped foot but Rudd is holding on for dear life with his legs.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Zaire stuffs the takedown attempt from Rudd. Rudd gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Zaire thuds his right hand into Rudd's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Abdullah Zaire seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zaire pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zaire punishes Rudd's body with a nice straight punch.
Rudd throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zaire's waist but Zaire gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rudd off to one side.
Zaire throws a right hand that Rudd ducks under and follows up with a left that Rudd also avoids with ease.
Zaire throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rudd.
Zaire lands with a good body shot.
Rudd tries to bum rush Zaire with a series of wild strikes but Zaire uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rudd ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Rudd scores a takedown into full mount!
Zaire working to try and regain half guard.

Rudd goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Zaire turns into him and now he's in Rudd's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rudd is keeping the position for now.
Zaire advances to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rudd trying to control but Zaire postures up.
Zaire has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rudd is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Zaire lands a big elbow.

Zaire swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Rudd is now in Zaire's guard. A big mistake from Zaire there, giving up the dominant position!

Rudd is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Zaire is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Zaire has escaped and now he's on top!
Zaire wants to pass the guard but Rudd is keeping the position.
Zaire stands and throws Rudd's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Zaire wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rudd, who protects the arm well.
And that’s 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 eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rudd lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zaire circles away quickly and effectively.
Zaire looks to land a left hand but Rudd moved out of range nicely.
Rudd misses with the combination.
Chris Rudd is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rudd throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Zaire was covering up waiting for the punch and Rudd finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rudd wants to stand but Zaire has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Zaire bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rudd's guard.

Rudd manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Rudd scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Rudd is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Rudd with that takedown attempt.
Rudd fails to land with a series of punches.
Zaire waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rudd.
Zaire lands a nice hook to Rudd's body. Rudd takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Zaire connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rudd momentarily.
Rudd shoots in and drives through. Zaire sprawls well.
Rudd showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zaire.
Zaire swings for the body but Rudd moves out of range.
Rudd fails to land with a series of punches.
Zaire listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Zaire connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Zaire jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zaire showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rudd.
Rudd throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Rudd misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rudd closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rudd lands in his opponent's guard.
Zaire is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Rudd trying to control the position from guard on top but Zaire is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rudd stands and throws Zaire's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rudd throwing strikes but Zaire manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Zaire landing a few strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire working the head with strikes.
Zaire tries to advance to mount but Rudd denies him.
Zaire passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Rudd!
Rudd is working to get back to half guard.

Zaire goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Rudd turns into him and now he's in Zaire's guard.
Zaire looking for a sweep. Not yet Zaire, not yet.
Zaire is breathing heavily.
Rudd would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rudd drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Zaire manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rudd has Zaire in his guard.
Zaire forces his way into half guard.
Zaire looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rudd tries to get to full guard but Zaire has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Abdullah Zaire will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Rudd lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zaire circles away quickly and effectively.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Zaire in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Zaire looks to land a left hand but Rudd moved out of range nicely.
Rudd throws a right hand that Zaire ducks under and follows up with a left that Zaire also avoids with ease.
Zaire looks to land a right hand but Rudd moved out of range.
Zaire swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rudd thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zaire is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Rudd closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rudd wants to free his trapped foot but Zaire is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Zaire trying to hold on to Rudd's head to control him but Rudd postures up.
Rudd has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Zaire works to full guard.

Rudd decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Zaire, up you get!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Zaire.
Rudd rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zaire moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Horrible takedown by Rudd or perhaps it was just good defense by Zaire which made him look bad.
Rudd wants to clinch.
Zaire digs a good hook to Rudd's body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zaire avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zaire misses with a combination

and Rudd counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Zaire keeping full guard, as Rudd tries to pass.
Rudd throws a big right hand that misses.
Zaire keeping full guard, as Rudd tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rudd trying to control but Zaire is working from the bottom.
Rudd looking to sit in guard and control but Zaire gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Zaire passes Rudd's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Zaire passes the guard and advances to mount!
Zaire throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Rudd working to try and regain half guard.

Zaire jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Rudd is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Rudd and Zaire has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Zaire cracks Rudd with a big right hand but Rudd just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Rudd gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Rudd is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Zaire jumps into side control!
Rudd is trying to control Zaire's posture but Zaire avoids it.
Chris Rudd overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zaire in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaire cracks Rudd with a big right hand but Rudd just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Chris Rudd has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rudd is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Zaire swings around for an armbar but Rudd sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Zaire's guard.
Rudd passes Zaire's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rudd misses with a head shot. Zaire uses the momentum to regain guard.
Abdullah Zaire is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rudd throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zaire works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Rudd showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zaire 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abdullah Zaire!