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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abdullah Zaire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesse Blake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jesse Blake will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.
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| 183 cm
24
198 lbs
5 - 3 - 0 |
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185 cm
22
209 lbs
8 - 4 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible |
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Powerful takedowns
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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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
5 - 3 - 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
8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jesse Blake!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Robert Douchet and Ian Loll.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zaire slips a jab from Blake.
Blake closes the distance and clinches up with Zaire, looking for a takedown. Blake pushes Zaire against the cage but Zaire circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zaire is looking to slow Blake down with leg kicks.
Blake fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zaire has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Zaire dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zaire avoids the body shot from Blake.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Blake has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Blake has a takedown stuffed.
Zaire tries to counter with a takedown but Blake is quick to defend against it.
Zaire takes the fight into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Blake.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blake is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Zaire is keeping busy.
Blake pushes Zaire back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Blake tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zaire breaks the clinch.
Blake keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zaire.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Blake 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 slips under a jab from Blake.
Zaire half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
That kick from Blake tenderised Zaire's leg. Zaire is trying to keep his angry face on.
Zaire lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Blake throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Zaire counters with a single leg into guard. Blake didn't expect that.
Blake has momentary wrist control but Zaire slips an elbow through the middle.
Zaire content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Blake looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Zaire trying to control but Blake is working from the bottom.
Zaire won't allow Blake to sweep him here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaire lands a couple of elbows.
Blake tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blake keeping moving, preventing Zaire from controlling successfully.
Zaire controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Zaire working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Blake's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zaire working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zaire passes Blake's left leg - he's now in half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blake trying to control from the bottom.
Blake actively working from the bottom here.
Blake looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zaire wants to control but Blake is keeping him busy.
Zaire scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Blake is looking to control Zaire's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Blake avoid being mounted?
Zaire landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaire winds up and cracks Blake with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Zaire lands strikes from half guard.
Zaire seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Zaire looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Zaire with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Zaire slips a nice elbow through Blake's hands, connecting with Blake's forehead.
Blake is looking for a sweep. Zaire is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zaire lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Zaire connects with a nice short shot to Blake's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Abdullah Zaire dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Blake connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Zaire connects with a jab.
Zaire connects with a leg kick. Blake looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Zaire throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Zaire misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Blake.
Zaire tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Blake misses with a jab to the body
and Zaire counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Zaire postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Blake looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Zaire looking to sit in guard and control but Blake gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Blake trying to control but Zaire is working from the bottom.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaire throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Blake missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zaire throws his legs up looking for a submission but Blake uses it to pass to side control.
Zaire sneaks back into half guard.
Zaire looking for submissions off his back.
Zaire tries to get to full guard but Blake has control of the leg.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaire is trying to control but can't.
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.
Blake is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Zaire still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Zaire has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Blake is looking for a sweep.
Zaire gets to mount! Blake was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blake is in a horrible position here. Zaire smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Zaire lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Zaire avoids the attempt from Blake to control.
Zaire content just to control the position here.
Zaire working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Blake tries to hold on but Zaire pushes him away.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Zaire.
Blake wants to hold on but Zaire pushes him away.
Zaire scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Blake?
BOOM! Zaire connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Zaire with a couple of short strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zaire trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Zaire scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Blake?
Zaire lands a big elbow.
Blake wants to control but Zaire is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Abdullah Zaire dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!
Zaire throws a head kick but Blake moves out of range.
Blake is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Blake throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Zaire stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Zaire pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Abdullah Zaire is winning the standup battle so far.
Blake connects with a body shot that sends Zaire's belly button to the back.
Blake displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Blake misses with a few strikes there.
Zaire displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Blake.
Zaire gets off balance looking for a body kick
enabling Blake to counter with a crisp jab.
Zaire connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Blake connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zaire is looking to score with low kicks.
Blake misses with a looping right.
Zaire is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Blake can do to turn this around?
An inside leg kick lands from Zaire.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Blake misses the target.
Zaire misses with a low kick.
Blake feints a counter leg kick.
Zaire throws a chopping leg kick but Blake manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Blake thinks about the counter body kick.
Zaire ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Blake throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Jab by Blake.
Blake 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 scores with a nice body kick.
Zaire moves into the clinch.
Blake misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Zaire throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Blake misses with some punches.
Blake can't find room to land a body shot as Zaire controls the action.
Zaire throws a knee to the head but misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Blake.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blake lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zaire backwards.
Zaire tries to work over Blake's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Blake lands a body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Blake lands a left hand that snaps the head of Zaire backwards.
Zaire misses with some punches.
Zaire tries to throw a body punch but Blake avoids it by throwing Zaire back against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Zaire just misses with a elbow thrown towards Blake's brow.
Zaire lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Zaire breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Zaire, right into the meat.
Blake throws a head kick but Zaire moves out of range.
Zaire feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Blake lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zaire circles away quickly and effectively.
Zaire drops down looking for a counter takedown but Blake sprawls and moves away.
A jab from Zaire misses.
Zaire throws a looping overhand right but Blake ducks down to avoid it.
Blake slips a straight right by Zaire.
Zaire throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blake misses with a wild body shot.
Zaire misses with a hook
and Blake makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Blake fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zaire manages to avoid it.
Zaire feinted with a counter takedown.
A big left from Zaire misses.
Both fighters circling a little - Blake finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Zaire fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jesse Blake has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A swing and a miss from Zaire.
Blake lands a leg kick that knocks Zaire off balance momentarily.
Blake misses with a two punch combination.
Zaire is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Nice sprawl there from Zaire as Blake shoots in.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Blake crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Zaire - the referee stops the clock and Blake gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Zaire. Blake manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Blake looks to land a left hand but Zaire moved out of range nicely.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blake is looking to land body kicks.
Zaire chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Blake tries to score with a low kick but Zaire moves his leg out of the way.
Zaire drops down looking for a counter takedown but Blake sprawls and moves away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zaire avoids the body shot from Blake.
Zaire misses with a body shot.
Blake throws a push kick but Zaire slaps the foot to one side.
Blake takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Blake misses with a wild body shot.
Blake connects with a looping right hand.
Zaire dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Blake. That did some damage!
Blake bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Abdullah Zaire seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blake loads up on a big right hand but Zaire slips the punch.
Zaire is looking to counter with head kicks.
Abdullah Zaire is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zaire clinches with his opponent.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jesse Blake.
I think Zaire has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abdullah Zaire!
After winning the bout, Abdullah Zaire thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
52% |
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