PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abdullah Zaire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Decimus Meridius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Zaire
vs
Meridius

183 cm
21
198 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

188 cm
19
216 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Great low kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

Héritage!

Spartan Nutrition

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Abdullah Zaire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Decimus Meridius!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Gwen Towbar and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zaire misses with a kick to the body.
Meridius with the counter takedown but Zaire avoids it easily.
Meridius blocks the body kick.
Meridius fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Meridius throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Zaire tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Meridius is in Zaire's guard.
Zaire wants to sweep here but Meridius controlling him for the moment.
Meridius wants to control from the top but Zaire keeps moving.
My spies in Atlas MMA Gym inform me that Meridius has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Meridius showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Meridius trying to control but Zaire is working from the bottom.
Zaire trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meridius trying to control but Zaire is working from the bottom.
Zaire tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Meridius wants to pass the guard but Zaire is keeping the position.
Zaire managing to control the position.

Zaire is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Meridius is aware though and is defending well.
Meridius wants to pass the guard but Zaire is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zaire is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Meridius won't allow Zaire to sweep him here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Zaire throws a nice inside leg kick.
Zaire stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zaire wants it to stay on the feet.
Zaire scores with a leg kick.
Meridius goes for a double leg but Zaire avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Zaire continues to drive forward.
Abdullah Zaire has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Decimus Meridius.
Zaire stuffs the takedown.

Meridius bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Meridius wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zaire keeps working.
You can see the frustration on Zaire's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Zaire is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meridius tries to move to mount but Zaire blocks the move with his legs.
Zaire is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Meridius looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Zaire manages to get to full guard.
Zaire keeping moving, preventing Meridius from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zaire looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Meridius trying to control the position from guard on top but Zaire is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Meridius stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zaire swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zaire is trying to keep Meridius in close.

Zaire looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zaire is adopting a defensive guard.
Zaire keeping moving, preventing Meridius from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Decimus Meridius will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zaire misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zaire fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nice defenses there by Meridius.
Meridius shoots in but no luck this time.
Zaire misses with a head kick.
Meridius closes this distance looking for a takedown but Zaire circles away.
Meridius tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zaire swivels and escapes.
Abdullah Zaire has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Decimus Meridius.
Zaire looks to land a body kick but Meridius moved away.
Zaire throws a body shot but no joy.
Zaire connects with a solid leg kick.
Crunch! Zaire slams his shin into Meridius's torso.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zaire lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Meridius circles away quickly and effectively.
Meridius has a takedown stuffed.
Zaire scores with a jab. Meridius acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meridius fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Abdullah Zaire is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zaire uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Meridius.
Zaire half committed to a counter leg kick.
Zaire scores with a kick to the midsection.
Meridius shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zaire sprawls well. Zaire wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Meridius gets slowly back to his feet.
An inside leg kick lands from Zaire.
Meridius has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Zaire.
Meridius is breathing heavily.

Zaire gets a clinch.

Zaire manages to break the clinch.
Zaire lands a nice leg kick that just misses Meridius's sensitive parts.
Meridius slips under a jab.
Abdullah Zaire is winning the standup battle so far.

Zaire has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaire scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Zaire lands a nice uppercut.
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!
Zaire throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Meridiuss head.
Zaire lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Zaire softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Meridius letting Zaire take a breather here.
Meridius can't get the takedown.
Knees to the body from Zaire.
Zaire gets through Meridius's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Zaire is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Meridius can do to turn this around?

Zaire manages to break the clinch.
Zaire scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Zaire here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Meridius steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Zaire. That one must have hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Zaire.
Zaire just misses with a punch to the body.
Meridius doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Zaire lands with a nice body kick.
Zaire fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Meridius has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Zaire lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Nice body kick there by Zaire.
Meridius takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Meridius.
A nice inside leg kick there by Zaire. That's going to slow Meridius down.
Zaire moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Zaire lands with a thumping leg kick.

Zaire lands a big head kick that sends Meridius tumbling to the mat! Zaire takes a step backwards and waves Meridius back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Meridius is rocked!

It looks like Decimus Meridius has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zaire fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Meridius has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Meridius is still on wobbly legs! Can Zaire finish him?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaire closes the distance and lands a brutal uppercut that knocks Meridius out! We're looking at the replay now - he was out before he hit the floor!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:06 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Abdullah Zaire!