PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tariq Ziyad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aldo Raine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raine has chosen Slaughter - Billy Preston as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Ziyad
vs
Raine

188 cm
29
191 lbs
20 - 5 - 0

183 cm
27
198 lbs
20 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Rōnin
Rōnin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tariq Ziyad!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Aldo Raine!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Trevor Gratis and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raine throws a leg kick but Ziyad checks it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ziyad is defended easily by Raine.
Ziyad lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Raine tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Ziyad counters with a nice low kick that buckles Raine's knee momentarily.
Ziyad misses with a body kick.
Raine tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ziyad wants to land a leg kick but Raine is out of range.
Raine connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Ziyad misses with a kick to the body.
Raine misses with a kick to the body.
Raine swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raine throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Ziyad tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ziyad displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Raine throws out the jab.
Raine misses with a kick to the body
and Ziyad counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Raine is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Aldo Raine is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ziyad throws a leg kick that misses.
Ziyad throws a head kick but Raine moves out of range.
Raine throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Raine takes the fight into the clinch.
Ziyad blocks an uppercut.
Raine using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ziyad has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Raine misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raine with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Raine misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ziyad.
Raine pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Raine stalling the fight.
Ziyad goes for a takedown attempt but Raine pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ziyad has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
That kick from Ziyad tenderised Raine's leg. Raine is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ziyad shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Raine as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tariq Ziyad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Raine checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad avoids a kick to the body.
Ziyad blocks a head kick by Raine.

Ziyad looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ziyad drops an elbow to the side of Raine's head.
Raine is looking for a sweep. Ziyad is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Raine regains full guard. Nicely done.
Raine is trying to keep Ziyad in close.
Ziyad has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Raine pulls Ziyad in close to his closed guard and prevents Ziyad from doing any damage or advancing position.
Raine keeping moving, preventing Ziyad from controlling successfully.
Raine manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ziyad manages to get himself to full guard.
Ziyad trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ziyad is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ziyad pulls Raine in close to prevent any damage.
Raine preventing the sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ziyad manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Raine manages to get himself to full guard.
Raine is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Ziyad trying to control but Raine is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tariq Ziyad will probably get the nod.
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.

Ziyad pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Raine throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Raine throws a low kick, looking for Ziyad's leg but Ziyad calmly moves out of range.
Raine blocks a head kick by Ziyad.
Ziyad goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Ziyad slips under a jab.

Raine closes the distance and clinches.
Raine is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Raine tries to work over Ziyad's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ziyad is trying to drag Raine to the mat but Raine just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Still in the clinch, Raine scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raine lands a shoulder strike.
Raine misses with a punch on the inside.
Raine misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ziyad drops down looking for an ankle pick but Raine pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tariq Ziyad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ziyad keeps Raine at a distance using the push kick.
Raine moves out of range of the body kick.
Raine blocks a head kick by Ziyad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Raine pinned against the cage. Raine gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Raine is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ziyad shoots in and drives through. Raine sprawls well.
Ziyad checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Raine misses with a head kick.

Raine gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Raine tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ziyad avoids it.
Raine tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Raine.
Raine digs a right hand underneath Ziyad's ribcage. Ziyad let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Ziyad tries to pull guard but Raine won't allow it.
Ziyad drops down looking for an ankle pick but Raine pulls his leg out and moves away.
Raine misses with an attempted mid kick.
Raine takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Aldo Raine has been cut.
Raine throws a leg kick
and Ziyad makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Ziyad.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Raine swings for the body but Ziyad moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Ziyad lands a head kick!
Ziyad pivots, looking for a leg kick but Raine is out of range and Ziyad settles back down.
Raine lands with a slapping head kick.
Raine fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ziyad has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Raine keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Raine thows a body shot but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Raine throws a push kick but Ziyad slaps the foot to one side.
Tariq Ziyad is winning the standup battle so far.
Raine throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Raine avoids the head kick by Ziyad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aldo Raine showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Aldo Raine's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Raine is looking to clinch.
Raine is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Ziyad rather than just go for the knockout.
Raine misses with a wild combination.
Raine is looking to land body kicks.
Raine tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Ziyad counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ziyad accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Raine pulls Ziyad in close to his closed guard and prevents Ziyad from doing any damage or advancing position.
Raine working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ziyad.
Ziyad wants to control from the top but Raine keeps moving.
Ziyad lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raine avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Raine holds on and takes a little breather.
Ziyad throwing strikes but missing.
Raine is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Ziyad wants to pass the guard but Raine is keeping the position.
Raine keeping moving, preventing Ziyad from controlling successfully.
Ziyad trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Raine seems keen to control Ziyad's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Aldo Raine was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Raine bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ziyad's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A looping hook to the body misses from Raine. Ziyad does a little dance to reset his feet.
Raine takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Raine, right into the meat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Raine connects with an inside leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Raine takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Raine is looking to clinch.
Raine throws a leg kick that misses.
Raine is looking to clinch but Ziyad is avoiding it.
Raine tries to clinch but Ziyad moves out of range.

Raine rushes Ziyad and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ziyad on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ziyad's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Good leg kick by Ziyad there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Raine forces Ziyad back against the cage and clinches.
Raine stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Raine makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ziyad tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Raine just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ziyad blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ziyad has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Raine after a bit of a struggle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raine lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Raine lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Raine tries to throw a body punch but Ziyad avoids it by throwing Raine back against the cage.
Raine digs a right hand underneath Ziyad's ribcage. Ziyad let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Raine struggles to land a body shot inside as Ziyad controls his hands.
Ziyad prevents a body shot from Raine.
Ziyad is trying to pull guard but Raine turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tariq Ziyad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Raine misses with a hook from the clinch.
Raine lands a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aldo Raine really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aldo Raine's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thud! ouch! good body kick from Ziyad - that will leave a mark!
Ziyad misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ziyad fails with a takedown attempt.
Ziyad has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Raine.
Raine looks to land a right hand but Ziyad moved out of range.
Raine throws a sloppy head kick
and Ziyad counters with a thumping low kick.

Raine closes the distance and clinches.
Ziyad on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Raine lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ziyad backwards.
Ziyad drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Raine gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raine misses with a knee strike.
Raine swings wildly with an uppercut but Ziyad uses good head movement to avoid it.
Raine misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Raine using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ziyad has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Raine tries a body shot but Ziyad blocks it.
Ziyad jumps guard but Raine turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tariq Ziyad. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad tries to pull guard but Raine won't allow it.
Raine wants to stall.
Ziyad blocks an uppercut.
Raine throws a head punch that misses.
Ziyad blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Raine misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Raine fails to land.
Raine avoiding damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raine misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Aldo Raine seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Raine tries to throw a body punch but Ziyad avoids it by throwing Raine back against the cage.
Ziyad tries to score a body lock takedown but Raine shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Raine tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ziyad's elbow.
Ziyad blocking some punches.
Raine dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Raine misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raine misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ziyad blocks an uppercut.
Raine works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Raine missing with knees to the body.
Ziyad is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Raine tries a knee to the head but Ziyad blocks it.
Raine gets through Ziyad's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ziyad blocks an uppercut.
Raine is working Ziyad over against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aldo Raine dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Aldo Raine's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Raine gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Raine tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Raine swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ziyad prevents a body shot from Raine.
Raine misses with a punch to the body.
Raine misses with a body punch.
Raine lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Raine tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ziyad blocks a body shot from Raine.
Ziyad is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Raine scores with a nice short uppercut.
Raine tries to throw a body punch but Ziyad avoids it by throwing Raine back against the cage.
Ziyad tries to pull guard but Raine won't allow it.

Ziyad gets control of Raine's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ziyad will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Ziyad has his foot on Raine's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Raine works his way back into a safe position though.
Raine is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Raine stands up from Ziyad's guard - Raine perhaps looking for a knockout.
Good leg kick by Ziyad there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad staying out of range there.
Ziyad looks to land a body kick but Raine moved away.
Ziyad fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Raine has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Raine dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Raine fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ziyad manages to avoid it.
Ziyad closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ziyad looks to land a body kick but Raine moved away.
Raine looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Raine just misses with a punch to the body.
Tariq Ziyad has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ziyad misses with a takedown attempt - Raine sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tariq Ziyad. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad connects with a leg kick. Raine looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Raine moves in looking to clinch but Ziyad pushes him off.
Ziyad tries to score with a low kick but Raine moves his leg out of the way.
Ziyad throws a wild body kick that Raine sees coming a mile off.
Raine throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Aldo Raine seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Raine.
Raine takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Raine misses with a wild body shot.
Ziyad avoids a kick to the body.
Aldo Raine is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Raine scores with a shot to the body.
Raine is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A thudding body kick lands there by Raine!
Raine wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Raine throws a right and a left that both miss.
Raine pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ziyad swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Raine connects with a solid leg kick.
Ziyad misses with a kick to the body.
Raine throws a chopping leg kick but Ziyad manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Raine lands a nice looking body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ziyad throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Ziyad scores with a spinning back kick!

And that's the end of the fight!
Aldo Raine comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Raine 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 46:49
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 46:49
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 46:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aldo Raine! Aldo Raine retains his middleweight title!
Aldo Raine thanked the fans post fight for their support.