PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ville Varma (ranked 2718 p4p, 2983 weight class) and Abdullah Zaire (ranked 359 p4p, 388 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Varma
vs
Zaire

188 cm
23
177
4 - 2 - 0

181 cm
23
176
2 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ville Varma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Abdullah Zaire!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Varma misses with a wild body shot.
Varma lands a jab.
Nice body punch from Varma.
Varma staying out of range there.
Varma ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zaire moves away.

Zaire clinches.
Varma misses with a shot to the kidneys.
I was talking to Varma's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Zaire misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Varma blocks an uppercut.
Varma misses with a hook to the ribs.
Still in the clinch, Zaire scores with a nice short uppercut.
A short uppercut from Varma.
A right handed body shot lands from Varma.
Varma lands a hook that snaps the head of Zaire backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Zaire creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head punch on the inside from Zaire fails to land.
Zaire blocks a body shot from Varma.
Varma doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zaire lands a body punch.
Zaire working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varma scores with a hook to the body.
Zaire misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Varma is working Zaire over against the cage.
Varma works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Varma misses with a punch to the body.
Zaire digs a right hand into Varma's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Varma's gas tank.
Varma lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Zaire is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Varma gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Zaire tries to work over Varma's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Varma digs a right hand into Zaire's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Zaire's gas tank.
Zaire tries to throw a body punch but Varma avoids it by throwing Zaire back against the cage.
Varma blocking some punches.
Varma lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Zaire taking a breather.
Varma is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Zaire is keeping busy.
Varma doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Varma stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Varma misses with a punch to the body.
A right hand to the body from Varma.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varma lands a shot to the body.
Zaire throws a punch but it's blocked by Varma.
Zaire is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Zaire has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Varma seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Zaire can turn it around.
Varma lands a right hand.
Zaire misses with a punch on the inside.
Varma gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Zaire.
Zaire misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A hook to the body from Varma.
Zaire looks winded!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Varma.
Varma lands a body shot.
Varma lands a shot to the body.
Good body shot from Varma.
Varma lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Varma leaning his opponent against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Varma.
Varma works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Varma misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varma misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Varma lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zaire backwards.
Zaire throws a head punch that misses.
Varma taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Zaire throws a punch but it's blocked by Varma.
Varma lands a left hand.
Zaire working aggressively here.
Varma misses with a body punch.
Zaire tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Varma can't find room to land a body shot as Zaire controls the action.
A short left from Varma.
A right handed body shot lands from Varma.
Varma misses with a body punch.
Zaire looking to stall.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Zaire.
Varma stalling against the cage.
Varma misses with a body punch.
A short right from Varma.
Varma blocking some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaire trying to control the position but instead, Varma has worked for underhooks and has pushed Zaire into the cage.
Zaire misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zaire prevents a body shot from Varma.
Varma tries to work over Zaire's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zaire fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short left from Varma.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zaire is working Varma over against the cage.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Varma misses with a punch to the body.
Varma lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Varma struggles to land a body shot inside as Zaire controls his hands.
Varma works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Zaire misses with a short punch on the inside.
Varma scores with a shot to the side of Zaire's head.
Varma misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Varma trying to control the position but instead, Zaire has worked for underhooks and has pushed Varma into the cage.
Varma lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Zaire.
Zaire tries to work over Varma's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zaire is trying to drag Varma to the mat but Varma just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ville Varma dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Varma misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zaire.
Zaire tries a head kick but it misses.
Varma punishes Zaire's body with a nice straight punch.
Varma throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Zaire on the side of the head.
Zaire wants to clinch.
Varma scores with a jab to the body.
Varma misses the shot to the body.
Varma thuds his right hand into Zaire's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Varma is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zaire can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zaire waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Varma.
Zaire shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Varma throws a body punch but Zaire moves out of range.
Varma sets himself, and Zaire steps forward looking for the clinch! Varma avoids it this time.
The fighters circling - Varma throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A looping hook to the body misses from Varma. Zaire does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaire misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Varma throwing a counter right hand but Zaire manages to avoid it.
Varma misses with a body shot.
A countering left hand to the body from Zaire misses.
Zaire throws a jab when Varma was well out of range.
Zaire throws the left hand but Varma avoids the punch easily.
Varma slips a straight right by Zaire.
Varma lands the left hand.
Zaire waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Varma.
Zaire throws a big shot that misses.
Varma with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Zaire takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Zaire looks to throw the jab but Varma is out of range.
Varma is looking to wear down Zaire with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Varma tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zaire was well out of range. Poor timing from Varma.
Donk. Varma catches Zaire right on the button with a cross.
Zaire takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Zaire is rocked!
Varma throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Varma works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Zaire is still on wobbly legs! Can Varma finish him?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zaire misses with a straight left.
Varma throws a series of punches but Zaire moves out of range.
Varma is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Zaire throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
It looked like Varma wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Zaire seems to have recovered his senses.
Varma misses with a looping right.
Zaire fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Varma manages to avoid it.
Zaire throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zaire looks to score with a jab to the body but Varma is just out of range.
Varma connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Varma scores with a nice strike.
Varma is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Zaire misses with a straight right.
Varma swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A telegraphed right hand from Varma misses the target.
Varma slips a straight right by Zaire.
Varma throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Varma ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zaire moves away.
Varma comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire slips a jab from Varma.
Varma swinging wildly here.
Zaire throws an off balance right hand
and Varma counters with a left to the body.
Varma walks into a straight right hand from Zaire.
Zaire tries to clinch but Varma is having none of it.
Varma misses the shot to the body.
Varma throws a big shot that misses.
Zaire motions for Varma to come forward. Zaire throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Varma scores with a body shot.
Zaire looks to score with a jab to the body but Varma is just out of range.
Varma pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Varma misses with a wild body shot.
Zaire throws a right and a left that Varma avoids nicely.
Varma misses with a hook. Zaire ducked under it nicely.
Zaire ducks under a wild hook from Varma.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Varma throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Varma throws out a loose jab but Zaire uses good head movement to avoid it.
Varma misses the shot to the body.
Zaire swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Varma counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Zaire thinking.
Zaire is breathing heavily.
Varma scores with a sloppy right hand. Zaire should have avoided that one.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Varma ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zaire moves away.
Varma is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zaire.
Ville Varma is winning the standup battle so far.
Zaire lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Varma at a distance.
Varma misses with a body punch
and Zaire counters with a nice uppercut.
Varma fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zaire manages to avoid it.
Varma walks into a stiff left hand from Zaire.
Zaire throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Varma sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Varma jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Varma stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Zaire throws a low kick but Varma avoids it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ville Varma dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Varma takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Zaire digs a good body shot into Varma's ribs.
Varma misses with a wild combination.
Varma lands with a cross.
Nice shot by Varma.
Varma tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zaire was well out of range. Poor timing from Varma.
Varma jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zaire is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Varma fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zaire manages to avoid it.
Varma uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zaire.
Varma just misses with a punch to the body.
Varma looks to land a right hand but Zaire moved out of range.
Zaire paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaire throws a big shot that misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Varma misses its target.
Zaire pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
An attempted straight right counter from Varma misses the target.
Varma connects with a body shot.
Varma moves out of range of the strikes.
Zaire ducks under a wild hook from Varma.
Varma scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Zaire on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Zaire avoids the body shot from Varma.
Zaire throws a right and a left that both miss.
Varma comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Zaire connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Varma momentarily.
Zaire on the wrong end of a nice jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Varma misses with a combination
enabling Zaire to counter with a crisp jab.
Varma lands with a shot to the body.
Zaire takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Ville Varma is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaire throws a nice inside leg kick.
Varma lands a slapping body shot.
Varma keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zaire.
Varma moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Varma misses with a jab to the body
and Zaire counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Varma just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice shot lands for Varma.
Varma moves out of range as Zaire strikes.
Varma scores with a body shot.
Varma throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zaire sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zaire keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zaire throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A jab from Varma misses.
Varma slips a straight right by Zaire.
Varma lands a slapping body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire throws a wild body kick that Varma sees coming a mile off.
Varma was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Zaire slips under a jab from Varma.
Varma slips a straight right by Zaire.
Varma throws out a loose jab but Zaire uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zaire throws a lazy right hand but Varma sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Varma walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Zaire lands with a straight right. Varma didn't see that one coming.
Zaire works the jab nicely.
Zaire takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Varma on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Zaire thumps Varma with a low kick.
Varma blocks a jab.
Varma is looking to counter punch.
Varma throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Varma misses with a wild body shot.
Zaire swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Varma showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zaire.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaire misses with an uppercut. Varma saw that one coming.
Zaire wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zaire swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A big right from Zaire misses.
Zaire moves forwards but Varma connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Zaire walks into a stiff left hand from Varma.
Zaire keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Varma misses with a body shot.
Varma moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromZaire.
Abdullah Zaire has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Varma just misses with a punch to the body.
A big left from Varma misses.
Zaire on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A slow jab from Zaire misses its intended target.
Zaire throws a head kick that misses.
It looked like Varma was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Zaire.
Varma fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Varma misses with a series of wild punches.

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 Ville Varma.
Well Varma has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ville Varma!