PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Abdullah Zaire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and The Convict (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Convict's choice of entrance music: Kill You. The Convict told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Zaire
vs
Convict

182 cm
29
193 lbs
23 - 11 - 0

176 cm
28
183 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Syndicate Nutrition

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 23 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Abdullah Zaire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, The Convict!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Hugh Johnson and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Convict takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Abdullah Zaire seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Zaire closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Convict quickly recovers to half guard.

Zaire is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Zaire thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Zaire 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.
Zaire is just content to waste time from the top position. Convict takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Zaire trying to control the position from guard on top but Convict is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zaire throws a big right hand that misses.
Zaire is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Convict avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Convict wants to stand and escape but Zaire is having none of it.
Convict working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zaire.
Zaire with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zaire missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zaire wants to pass the guard but Convict is keeping the position.
Convict preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaire postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zaire throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Convict works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zaire trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Convict manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Zaire looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zaire is working hard here to advance position.

Zaire is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Zaire bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Convict's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire trying to control the position from guard on top but Convict is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zaire postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Convict keeping moving, preventing Zaire from controlling successfully.
Zaire is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Convict is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Convict wants to get back to his feet but Zaire is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Zaire throws a big right hand that misses.
Convict really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zaire. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaire wants to pass the guard but Convict is keeping the position.
Convict preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zaire trying to control but Convict is working from the bottom.
Zaire pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Convict is keeping the position for now.
Convict keeping moving, preventing Zaire from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdullah Zaire dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zaire gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Zaire thumps Convict with a low kick.
Convict has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Convict doesn't manage to clinch there - Zaire circles away.
Convict just misses with a punch to the body.
Zaire misses with a hook
and Zaire takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Convict fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Zaire goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Convict defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zaire.
Zaire sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

Zaire manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Convict on his heels. He'll look to pass Convict's guard now, I'm sure.
Zaire wants to pass the guard but Convict is keeping the position.
Zaire missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zaire accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zaire trying to control the position from guard on top but Convict is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Abdullah Zaire overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Convict trying to keep a closed guard but Zaire is proving a slippery customer.
Convict keeping full guard, as Zaire tries to pass.
Zaire with a nice head shot there.
Zaire postures up in Convict's guard and throws a big left but Convict blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaire advances to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zaire throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zaire is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Zaire wants to pass to mount but Convict is defending the position.
Zaire not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zaire working the head and body with strikes.
Zaire thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Zaire keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire wants to free his trapped foot but Convict is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Zaire sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Convict defending well though.
Zaire is just content to waste time from the top position. Convict takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Zaire trying to control but Convict is working from the bottom.
Zaire scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zaire stands and throws Convict's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Zaire trying to control the position but Convict is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaire scores with punches from side control.
Zaire tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Convict taking punishment in the form of punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zaire landing strikes.
Convict dodges the ground and pound from Zaire.
Zaire throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zaire throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Convict works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Convict wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdullah Zaire dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Zaire tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Convict swivels and escapes.
Some wild striking there from Zaire.
Zaire just misses with a punch to the body.
A head kick misses from Zaire.
A head kick by Convict misses
and Zaire counters with a leg kick.
Zaire tries for a takedown but Convict sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A big right from Zaire misses.
Convict slips under a jab from Zaire.
Zaire is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Convict can do to turn this around?
Zaire throws an overhand right that lands on Convict's shoulder, as Convict tries to avoid the shot.
Zaire changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Convict tries to avoid it but Zaire manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Convict to the ground. Convict escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdullah Zaire. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A chopping leg kick lands by Zaire.
Zaire throws a sloppy head kick and Convict moves out of range easily.
Convict swings for the body but Zaire moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaire looks to land a right hand but Convict moved out of range.
Zaire misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Convict.
Convict throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zaire throws a sloppy head kick and Convict moves out of range easily.
Zaire lands a jab to Convict's midsection.
Convict throws a half hearted mid kick.
Convict throws an overhand right that lands on Zaire's shoulder, as Zaire tries to avoid the shot.
Zaire plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Zaire lands a nice leg kick that just misses Convict's sensitive parts.
Good standup being displayed there by Zaire as he connects with a hook.
Abdullah Zaire is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice takedown defense from Convict. No joy for Zaire on that attempt.
A good leg kick by Zaire.
Zaire takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Zaire shoots in for a takedown but Convict shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaire moves out of range of the leg kick from Convict.
Zaire scores with a head kick.
Convict blocks a jab.
Convict chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Good leg kick by Zaire there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
The Convict has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Convict lands with a good body shot.

Convict has managed to clinch.
Zaire on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Zaire swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zaire is trying to drag Convict to the mat but Convict just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Convict has Zaire pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Convict lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Convict tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Zaire avoiding damage as Convict throws knees to the body.
Zaire tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zaire misses with some punches.
Stalling in the clinch from Convict.
Zaire avoids the elbow strike from Convict, against the cage.
Zaire avoids the elbow strike from Convict, against the cage.
Convict misses with a knee strike.
Zaire misses with a punch to the body.
Zaire is looking to take this one to the mat.
Convict being controlled against the cage.
Zaire struggles to land a body shot inside as Convict controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Convict leaning against his opponent.
Convict tries a knee to the head but Zaire blocks it.
Abdullah Zaire is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zaire tries to work over Convict's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zaire takes an elbow to the temple.
Convict lands an elbow inside.
Zaire dodges an elbow strike from Convict.
Convict misses with an elbow strike.
The referee is keeping an eye on Convict - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Zaire can't find room to land a body shot as Convict controls the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
With the fighters up against the cage, Convict throws an elbow but misses.
Zaire on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Convict lands an elbow inside that Zaire shrugs off.

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.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zaire, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abdullah Zaire!
Abdullah Zaire managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Syndicate Nutrition, into his post fight interview.