PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Abu Al Zarqawi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mathias Verdun (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Verdun has chosen Foo Fighters - Pretender as his entrance music. On his way into the ring it seems that Abu Al Zarqawi has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Abu Al Zarqawi seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Al Zarqawi
vs
Verdun

180 cm
26
195 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

185 cm
20
192 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Abu Al Zarqawi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mathias Verdun!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Verdun with a poor takedown
and Al Zarqawi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Verdun keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Al Zarqawi.
Verdun looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Al Zarqawi is fending him off so far but Verdun persists. Nope, Al Zarqawi circles away and we're back to standing.
A shot to the body from Al Zarqawi misses

and Verdun counters with a takedown into side control.

Verdun goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Al Zarqawi rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Verdun's guard! Nice work there by Al Zarqawi!
Al Zarqawi's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Zarqawi slips nicely into half guard.
Al Zarqawi scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Verdun is looking for a sweep. Al Zarqawi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Verdun actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Al Zarqawi wants to control but Verdun is keeping him busy.

Verdun looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Al Zarqawi trying to mount his opponent but Verdun defends it.
Verdun is looking to improve his position.
Al Zarqawi trying to pass the guard but Verdun defending well.
Al Zarqawi passes to full mount!
Verdun can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Al Zarqawi landing strikes, looking to finish!
Verdun is squirming around, avoiding Al Zarqawi's attempts to control the action.
Verdun really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Verdun is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Al Zarqawi dominating with strikes here.
Al Zarqawi tries to control but Verdun wriggling away.
Al Zarqawi fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Zarqawi wants to control the pace but Verdun is squirming around nicely.
Verdun tries to reverse the position but Al Zarqawi maintains control.
A nice elbow there by Al Zarqawi.
Verdun regains half guard.
Verdun wants to improve his position but Al Zarqawi is controlling well.
Verdun looks gassed!
Al Zarqawi trying to control from half guard but Verdun is working away.

Verdun looking for submissions off his back.
Al Zarqawi is looking to take a break and control but Verdun is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Verdun is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Al Zarqawi pulls his head out easily.
Al Zarqawi takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Verdun is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Al Zarqawi pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Zarqawi trying to control the action but Verdun is working from the bottom.
Well, if Al Zarqawi 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 fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Al Zarqawi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Verdun keeps working.
Al Zarqawi looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Verdun actively working from the bottom here.
Verdun taking some punishment here, with Al Zarqawi in his half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Verdun is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Al Zarqawi scores with a couple of nice shots.

Verdun looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Al Zarqawi is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Verdun has managed to free his arm - good work.
Al Zarqawi scoring with strikes to the body and head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abu Al Zarqawi dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Verdun uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Al Zarqawi.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Verdun.
Al Zarqawi fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verdun dives in and grabs Al Zarqawi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Al Zarqawi pushes down on Verdun's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Zarqawi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Verdun was well out of range. Poor timing from Al Zarqawi.
Verdun tries for a takedown but Al Zarqawi circles away easily
and Al Zarqawi counters with a right hand to the body.
Abu Al Zarqawi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mathias Verdun.

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 by Verdun or perhaps it was just good defense by Al Zarqawi which made him look bad.
Al Zarqawi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Verdun moves away.
Verdun misses with a takedown
and Al Zarqawi counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Al Zarqawi scores a takedown into full mount!
Al Zarqawi unloading with bombs!
Verdun is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Abu Al Zarqawi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Al Zarqawi jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Verdun manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Al Zarqawi advances nicely into full mount.

Al Zarqawi wants to finish this one by submission but Verdun is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Al Zarqawi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Zarqawi lands a nice shot to the head.
Verdun is trying to escape the mount.
Al Zarqawi looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Al Zarqawi lands a heavy elbow.
Al Zarqawi content just to control the position here.
Al Zarqawi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Verdun is looking to escape.
Al Zarqawi raining down shots from the mount!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Verdun is looking to improve his position but Al Zarqawi isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abu Al Zarqawi dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Al Zarqawi tries to close the distance and clinch but Verdun swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Al Zarqawi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Verdun was well out of range. Poor timing from Al Zarqawi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verdun gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Al Zarqawi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Zarqawi trying to control the position from guard on top but Verdun is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Al Zarqawi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Verdun working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Al Zarqawi has passed into half guard!

Verdun actively working from the bottom here.

Al Zarqawi is looking for a kimura but Verdun is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Al Zarqawi to get the leverage.
Verdun is pressing down on Al Zarqawi's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Al Zarqawi sitting in guard here, content to control.
Al Zarqawi wants to control from the top but Verdun keeps moving.

Verdun is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Verdun looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Verdun takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Verdun is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Al Zarqawi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Al Zarqawi is pushing down on Verdun's leg trying to pass to half guard. Verdun is fighting to maintain full guard but Al Zarqawi has managed to sneak the leg through.
Al Zarqawi works his way into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Al Zarqawi lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Al Zarqawi is looking to take a break and control but Verdun is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Verdun tries to bench press Al Zarqawi off him but Al Zarqawi keeps the position.

Al Zarqawi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Verdun regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Zarqawi uses his free foot to push down on Verdun's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Verdun.
Al Zarqawi with good strikes from the mount here!
Al Zarqawi looking to control but Verdun is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Al Zarqawi lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Al Zarqawi tries to control but Verdun wriggling away.
Verdun tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Verdun regains half guard.
Al Zarqawi trying to control the action but Verdun is working from the bottom.
Al Zarqawi is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Verdun is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Zarqawi controlling the action here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Al Zarqawi seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Al Zarqawi wants to control but Verdun is keeping him busy.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Al Zarqawi scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Verdun looking for submissions off his back.

Verdun actively working from the bottom here.
Al Zarqawi working Verdun over with strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Al Zarqawi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Verdun sees it coming and defends easily.

Verdun looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abu Al Zarqawi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Al Zarqawi has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abu Al Zarqawi!