PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Abdullah Zaire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alasdair Thacker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zaire
vs
Thacker

183 cm
27
182 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

175 cm
28
197 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Abdullah Zaire!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Alasdair Thacker!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Reed Andrews and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thacker moves into the clinch.
Thacker on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Thacker blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Zaire is trying to trip Thacker. He has hold of a leg but Thacker is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Zaire persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Thacker has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Zaire with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thacker has Zaire pulled in close to control his posture.
Thacker wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zaire showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Zaire pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thacker is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thacker not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zaire working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Thacker misses with an uppercut.

Thacker has Zaire up against the cage in a clinch.
Thacker with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Zaire is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Thacker to keep the fight standing.
Thacker trying to land knees to the body.
Thacker tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zaire throws an elbow but it misses.
Zaire lands with a right to the head.

Zaire is trying to trip Thacker. He has hold of a leg but Thacker is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Zaire persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Zaire is working Thacker over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaire is looking to work some ground and pound but Thacker has wrist control.
Thacker keeping moving, preventing Zaire from controlling successfully.
Thacker trying to control the position here.
Thacker looking for a sweep. Not yet Thacker, not yet.
Zaire trying to control the position from guard on top but Thacker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Zaire working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zaire trying to control the position from guard on top but Thacker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thacker is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zaire misses with a low kick.
Zaire lands with a thumping leg kick.
Thacker takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Zaire lands an overhand right.
Zaire on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Zaire changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Zaire just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thacker tries to clinch but Zaire is having none of it.
Zaire wants to land a leg kick but Thacker is out of range.
Thacker misses with a body shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Thacker misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thacker.
Thacker looking to throw knees to the head but Zaire is blocking nicely.
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 lands a body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zaire.
Thacker putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Zaire in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Thacker.
Thacker displaying some good clinch control by pressing Zaire up against the cage.
Thacker throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Thacker blocking some punches.
Zaire is trying to pull guard but Thacker has him pressed against the cage.
Thacker lands with a right to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdullah Zaire dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Thacker scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Thacker throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
An inside leg kick lands from Thacker.
Thacker throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zaire sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zaire attempts a counter takedown but Thacker avoids it well and moves away.
Good work by Thacker as he checks the leg kick.
A nice side step and Thacker releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Zaire.
Zaire misses with an attempted mid kick.
As Zaire backs off Thacker throws a huge counter combo but Zaire manages to avoid it all.
Zaire throws a leg kick but Thacker checks it.
Thacker scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Zaire doesn't seem bothered though.
Zaire misses the shot to the body.
Thacker swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thacker wants to clinch up but Zaire keeps it at a distance.
A shot to the liver by Zaire. Beautiful body shot.
Horrible takedown attempt by Zaire or perhaps it was just good defense by Thacker, which made it look bad.
Thacker tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thacker misses with a series of wild punches.
Zaire looks for the body kick but Thacker saw that one coming.
Abdullah Zaire is winning the standup battle so far.
Thacker moves out of range of the body kick from Zaire.
Thacker tries to bum rush Zaire with a series of wild strikes but Zaire uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zaire quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Zaire throws a quick inside leg kick.
Thacker is looking to clinch.
Zaire feinted with a counter takedown.
Zaire throws a low kick but Thacker avoids it.
Thacker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zaire.
Thacker tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zaire swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zaire attempts a counter takedown but Thacker avoids it well and moves away.
Thacker checks the leg kick nicely there.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Thacker! But no joy.
A big right from Thacker misses.
Zaire will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Thacker throws a hook but Zaire blocks it.
Thacker lands with a hook. Zaire tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaire lands a nice looking kick to the body. Thacker takes a step back to recover.

Thacker rushes Zaire and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Thacker can't find room to land a body shot as Zaire controls the action.
Alasdair Thacker seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Zaire lands a nice shot to the body.

Zaire escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zaire keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thacker.
Zaire swats away the attempt to clinch by Thacker.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Zaire.
Thacker swings for the body but Zaire moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Zaire.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Zaire.
Zaire throws a chopping leg kick but Thacker manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Thacker lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Zaire throws an overhand right that lands on Thacker's shoulder, as Thacker tries to avoid the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thacker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zaire was well out of range. Poor timing from Thacker.
As Thacker looks to move away, Zaire throws a big counter combo but Thacker just gets out of the way.
Zaire throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zaire fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Thacker.
Zaire staying out of range there.
Thacker looks to land a left hand but Zaire moved out of range nicely.
Zaire throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Thacker is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
A good leg kick by Zaire.
Thacker throws a hook but Zaire avoids it easily.
Zaire just misses with a punch to the body.
Zaire darts in looking for a takedown but Thacker gets double underhooks and turns Zaire into the cage.
Zaire misses with a body kick.
Thacker throws a jab when Zaire was well out of range.
Thacker wants to clinch up but Zaire keeps it at a distance.
A telegraphed right hand from Thacker misses the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaire on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Thacker. Thacker obviously looking to wear him down.
Alasdair Thacker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thacker lands a nice hook to Zaire's body. Zaire takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Thacker tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zaire manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
It appears Zaire was looking to counter with a kick there.
Thacker slaps away a takedown attempt from Zaire, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Thacker! But no joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdullah Zaire. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A big left from Thacker misses.
Zaire tries to land a front kick but Thacker steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Zaire misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thacker.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zaire misses with an uppercut.
Thacker missing with a left hand there. Zaire was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Zaire looks to land a body kick but Thacker moved away.
Thacker is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Thacker looks to clinch
and Zaire counters with a nice body kick.
Nice straight punches there by Thacker. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Thacker.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Abdullah Zaire will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zaire takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Zaire loads up on a big right hand but Thacker slips the punch.
Thacker darts in trying to clinch
and Zaire counters with a right hand to the body.
Thacker uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zaire.
Thacker tries to clinch up.
Zaire misses with a lunging right hand
and Thacker counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Thacker misses with an uppercut. Zaire saw that one coming.
Thacker scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Zaire doesn't seem bothered though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thacker tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thacker ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Zaire, right into the meat.
Zaire buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Zaire throws a chopping leg kick but Thacker manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaire throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Thacker tries to clinch but Zaire moves out of range.
Thacker dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zaire swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thacker rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zaire moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zaire scores with a nice body kick.
Zaire is looking to wear down Thacker with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Thacker takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Thacker has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Zaire.
Thacker swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thacker throws a looping overhand right but Zaire ducks down to avoid it.
An attempted straight right counter from Zaire misses the target.
Zaire tries a head kick but it misses.
Zaire throws a solid leg kick but Thacker takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Zaire.
Zaire lands a nice shot that snaps Thacker's head back.
A solid body kick from Zaire.
A shot to the body from Thacker misses
and Zaire counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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 leg kick which misses Thacker's front leg but catches the back leg as Thacker tries to avoid it.
Thacker misses with a straight left.
Thacker misses with a series of wild punches.
Zaire uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thacker.
Zaire slips under a jab.
Zaire uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thacker.
Zaire gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Zaire does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Thacker stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Thacker wants it to stay on the feet.
Thacker looks to land a body kick but Zaire moved away.
Zaire thuds his right hand into Thacker's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Zaire tries to score with a low kick but Thacker moves his leg out of the way.
Thacker looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Zaire scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thacker darts in and clinches Zaire up against the cage.
A short left from Thacker.
Thacker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zaire's elbow.
Zaire digs a right hand into Thacker's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Thacker's gas tank.
Thacker swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Thacker trying to land knees to the body.
Zaire lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Zaire misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zaire throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Thackers head.
Zaire has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Thacker can't find room to land a body shot as Zaire controls the action.
Thacker is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Zaire is defending well for now.
Zaire lands a hook that snaps the head of Thacker backwards.
Thacker tries to throw a body punch but Zaire avoids it by throwing Thacker back against the cage.

Zaire manages to break the clinch.
Thacker throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zaire.
Zaire misses with a right hand
and Thacker counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Thacker. Those never looked like landing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zaire connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A decent looking cross lands there for Thacker.
Zaire throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thacker fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zaire. Thacker does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zaire on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Zaire closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Thacker quickly recovers to half guard.
Thacker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zaire throwing shots but Thacker is blocking nicely.
Thacker tries to get to full guard but Zaire has control of the leg.
Zaire not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Abdullah Zaire did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Thacker moves into the clinch.

Zaire breaks the clinch.
A swing and a miss from Thacker.
Zaire scores with a decent looking hook.
Thacker throws a lazy right hand but Zaire sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zaire ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thacker moves away.
Zaire avoids the body shot from Thacker.
Zaire takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Zaire swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zaire keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thacker.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thacker looks to score with a jab to the body but Zaire is just out of range.
Some wild striking there from Thacker.
Zaire ducks under a wild hook from Thacker.
A jab from Thacker misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaire scores with a jab. Thacker acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Zaire walks into a straight right hand from Thacker.
Zaire misses with a head kick.
Thacker misses with a looping right.
Zaire feinted with a counter takedown.
Thacker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thacker jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zaire jabs Thacker to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Thacker closes the distance and clinches.

Zaire manages to break the clinch.
Zaire attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Thacker has Zaire up against the cage in a clinch.

Zaire breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thacker fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zaire manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaire lands with a good body shot.
Thacker cracks a nice hook into Zaire's ribs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zaire throws a head kick that misses.
Thacker's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Zaire closes the distance and clinches up with Thacker, looking for a takedown. Zaire pushes Thacker against the cage but Thacker circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zaire swings for the body but Thacker moves out of range.
Zaire tried to score with a low kick but Thacker checks it.
Zaire throws a push kick but Thacker slaps the foot to one side.
Thacker feints a jab promting Zaire to slip. Thacker then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Zaire slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Zaire takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A swing and a miss from Thacker.
Thacker misses with a double jab.
Zaire closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Zaire scores with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thacker.
Zaire uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thacker.
Zaire throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Zaire lands a jab to the nose.
Thacker moves to clinch but Zaire breaks away

and Zaire counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Zaire is nestled in close to Thacker, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Well, if Zaire 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.
Thacker wants to improve his position but Zaire is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thacker works his way to full guard. Good work.
Thacker wants to sweep but no luck.
Thacker controlling the position.
Zaire lands a couple of digs.

Thacker looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zaire scoring with some ground and pound.
Zaire wants to pass the guard but Thacker is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Alasdair Thacker will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Zaire thumps Thacker with a low kick.
Zaire thumps Thacker with a low kick.
Zaire is looking to land body kicks.
Zaire is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Zaire throws a push kick but Thacker slaps the foot to one side.
Zaire lands with a straight right. Thacker didn't see that one coming.
Thacker tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zaire paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thacker throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Thacker darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Thacker misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zaire connects with a leg kick. Thacker looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Zaire walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Thacker checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Thacker misses.
Zaire dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Thacker. That did some damage!
Zaire will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A swing and a miss from Thacker.
A lazy body kick from Zaire
and Thacker counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zaire takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Zaire lands with a thumping leg kick.
Zaire goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Thacker closes the distance and clinches.
Still in the clinch, Thacker scores with a nice short uppercut.
Zaire can't break the clinch.
A short right from Thacker.
Thacker makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Thacker misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thacker tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thacker misses with a short punch on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Zaire breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A big right from Zaire misses.
Zaire ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thacker moves away.
Thacker swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A left lands for Zaire.
Zaire moves away from the strike by Thacker.
Zaire dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zaire throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zaire scores with a crisp jab that stopped Thacker in his tracks.
Thacker works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Zaire throws a low kick, looking for Thacker's leg but Thacker calmly moves out of range.
Thacker lands with a straight right. Zaire didn't see that one coming.
Zaire drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Donk. Zaire catches Thacker right on the button with a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thacker needs to keep his hands up - Zaire had a free shot at his head there.
Zaire throws the kick towards the body but Thacker avoids it.
Thacker looks to land a left hand but Zaire moved out of range nicely.
Thacker takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Thacker throws a shot from downtown. Zaire moves away and avoids it.
Zaire uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thacker.
Zaire appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Zaire throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Alasdair Thacker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zaire defending well as Thacker loads up on a big left hand.
Zaire changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Thacker checks a low kick from Zaire.
Thacker lands a right hook to the body.
Thacker slips a straight right by Zaire.
Thacker tests Zaire's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Thacker just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaire takes a swing at Thacker's ribcage but misses.
Thacker misses with a looping right.
Zaire scores with a push kick.
Good leg kick by Zaire there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Zaire chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Thacker tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zaire manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
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!
Thacker throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zaire sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zaire tries to counter with a takedown but Thacker is quick to defend against it.
Zaire throws a leg kick but Thacker moved away.
Zaire throws a body kick that misses.
Zaire swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Zaire scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Thacker tries to clinch up.
Zaire misses with a leg kick.
Thacker throws out a counter right but Zaire avoids it with no problem.
Abdullah Zaire is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thacker looks to land a right hand but Zaire moved out of range.

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.
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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 49:48
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 49:48
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 50:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abdullah Zaire!
Abdullah Zaire retains his middleweight title!
A very excited looking Abdullah Zaire made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.