PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Abdullah Zaire (ranked 777 p4p, 1762 weight class) and Harry Winks (ranked 121 p4p, 263 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Zaire
vs
Winks

189 cm
31
202
9 - 6 - 1

185 cm
26
185
5 - 2 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Conquer

Urban Fighter

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 9 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abdullah Zaire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Harry Winks!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zaire takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Winks tests Zaire's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Winks bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Zaire's head.
Zaire jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zaire looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Zaire misses with a wild body shot.
Zaire takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Zaire lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Winks at a distance.
Zaire connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Winks's hands.
Winks bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Zaire's head backwards.
Winks throws a body shot but no joy.
A low kick lands for Winks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Winks swings for the body but Zaire moves out of range.
A quick step to the side and Zaire tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Winks dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Zaire. That did some damage!
Nice shot by Winks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winks punishes Zaire's body with a nice straight punch.
Zaire takes a jab right on the kisser.
Zaire leaves Winks with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Zaire avoids the body shot from Winks.
Good shot there by Zaire.

It looks like Harry Winks has been cut.
Zaire on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Winks thows a body kick. Zaire tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Winks lands with a cross.
Winks throws a sloppy body shot
and Zaire counters with a thumping low kick.
Winks lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Winks scores with a shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A decent looking cross lands there for Zaire.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Winks looks for the body kick but Zaire saw that one coming.
Zaire tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Winks misses with a low kick.
Zaire takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A telegraphed right hand from Winks misses the target.

Winks shoots in and bounces Zaire off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Zaire looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winks stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zaire swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zaire has Winks pulled in close to control his posture.

Winks drops back, looking for a kneebar! Zaire looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Zaire looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Zaire!

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Winks being controlled for a moment.
Winks holds on to Zaire's head and controls the position momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Zaire trying to control the action but Winks is working from the bottom.
Zaire just content to control the position.
Winks manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Harry Winks dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Harry Winks's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Winks tests Zaire's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Winks lands with an uppercut that bounces Zaire off the cage and back into range.
Zaire takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Winks misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Zaire counters with a nice uppercut.
Winks throws a leg kick
and Zaire counters with a straight right hand.
Winks has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zaire misses with a body shot.
Zaire displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Winks throws out the jab.
Harry Winks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Winks scores with a kick to the body.
Zaire ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Winks moves away.
A shot to the liver by Winks. Beautiful body shot.
Winks scores with a three punch combo!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Winks pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winks pivots, looking for a leg kick but Zaire is out of range and Winks settles back down.
Winks scores with a shot to the body.
Zaire misses with a lunging right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Winks pushes Zaire away with a front kick.
Winks lands a jab to the nose.
Winks misses with a body shot.
Winks changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Harry Winks seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zaire takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Winks cracks Zaire with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Winks shoots in but Zaire avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Winks ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaire looks to land a left hand but Winks moved out of range nicely.
A nice side step and Winks releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Winks keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And Winks responds with a good body kick, but Zaire manages to step out the way in time.
Zaire misses with a double jab
and Winks counters with a nice leg kick.
Zaire looks to land a right hand but Winks moved out of range.
Winks moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Winks blocks a low kick nicely.
Winks tries for a takedown but Zaire sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Winks misses with a kick to the body.
Zaire blocks a low kick nicely.
Zaire connects with the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zaire stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Winks.
Winks connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Zaire's hands.
Winks moves forwards but Zaire connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Zaire lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Zaire slips under a jab.
Winks throws a chopping leg kick but Zaire manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Zaire throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Winks is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zaire sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Abdullah Zaire has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harry Winks.
A solid leg kick lands there for Winks.
Winks lands an overhand right.
Zaire throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Winks throws a solid leg kick but Zaire takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Winks.
Winks walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Winks uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zaire.
Winks just misses with a punch to the body.
Zaire uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Winks.
Winks connects with a looping right hand.
Crunch! Winks slams his shin into Zaire's torso.
Winks lands a jab to the nose.
Winks lands with a nice body punch.
The fighters circling - Zaire throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Winks scores with a punch to the head.

Winks looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Zaire has one foot on Winks's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Harry Winks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Harry Winks's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Winks throws a nice outside leg kick.
Winks digs a good body shot into Zaire's ribs.
Winks throws a leg kick that misses.
Zaire misses the shot to the body.
Winks with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Zaire to score with a decent uppercut.
Winks connects with a jab.
Zaire throws out a loose jab but Winks uses good head movement to avoid it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Winks.
Winks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Winks darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Zaire throws a body shot but no joy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zaire misses the jab.
Winks throws a body kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaire misses the shot to the body.
Zaire fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Winks looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Zaire throws a nice looking combination but Winks bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zaire takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Zaire moves out of range of the strikes.
Winks throws a shot from downtown. Zaire moves away and avoids it.
An attempted straight right counter from Zaire misses the target.
Zaire defending well as Winks loads up on a big left hand.
Zaire is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A looping hook to the body misses from Winks. Zaire does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zaire was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Winks slips under a jab.
Zaire throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Winks counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Winks uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zaire.
Harry Winks is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Winks lands the left hand.
Zaire looks to land a left hand but Winks moved out of range nicely.
Winks throws a jab when Zaire was well out of range.
Winks connects with the punch.
Zaire throws a lazy uppercut
letting Winks counter with a right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Winks gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Zaire to counter with a crisp jab.
Winks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zaire was well out of range. Poor timing from Winks.
Zaire misses with a looping right.
Zaire takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Winks misses the jab.
Zaire's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Winks connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Zaire scrambles back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire misses with a left hand
and Winks counters with a straight right hand.
Winks gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Zaire counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nice body kick there by Winks.
Winks throws the left hand but Zaire avoids the punch easily.
Zaire throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Winks counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Abdullah Zaire is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Winks throws a push kick but Zaire slaps the foot to one side.
Zaire drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Zaire looks to throw the jab but Winks is out of range.
Zaire lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Winks with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Winks scores with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Winks.
Zaire takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zaire throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Abdullah Zaire has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Winks scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Zaire doesn't seem bothered though.
Winks ducks under a wild hook from Zaire.
Zaire will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Winks throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zaire misses the shot to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Winks.
Nice defenses there by Winks.
Winks dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zaire looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Winks scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harry Winks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Winks winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harry Winks!
Harry Winks was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.