PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zaid Abdul Karim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zaid Abdul Karim has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Abdul Karim
vs
Rua

185 cm
23
215 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
205 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zaid Abdul Karim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mauricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Aafke Stam and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Abdul Karim changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rua tries to avoid it but Abdul Karim manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rua to the ground. Rua escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Abdul Karim shoots for a double leg takedown but Rua sprawls well. He's pushed Abdul Karim's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rua closes this distance looking for a takedown but Abdul Karim circles away.

Abdul Karim closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Abdul Karim lands in his opponent's guard.
Abdul Karim advances to half guard.
Abdul Karim prevents Rua from improving his position.
Abdul Karim sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rua defending well though.
Rua wants to get back to full guard.
Abdul Karim missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rua is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdul Karim throwing shots but Rua is blocking nicely.

Rua manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Abdul Karim fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zaid Abdul Karim. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rua fails with a takedown attempt.
Rua changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Abdul Karim tries to avoid it but Rua manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Abdul Karim to the ground. Abdul Karim escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rua will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Abdul Karim changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rua looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rua is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Abdul Karim's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Rua actively working from the bottom here.
Abdul Karim lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rua is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rua looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Abdul Karim working over Rua with some ground and pound. Rua looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ground and pound from Abdul Karim.

Abdul Karim is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Abdul Karim trying to pass the guard but Rua defending well.
Rua wants to improve his position but Abdul Karim is controlling well.
Rua keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Abdul Karim looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Abdul Karim lands with a punch from half guard.

Rua is rocked!
Rua looks like he's trying to stand up.
Abdul Karim knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rua on the ground.
Abdul Karim throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Abdul Karim looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rua with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rua has hold of Abdul Karim's hands but Abdul Karim slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rua is still in real trouble! Can Abdul Karim finish him?
Rua trying to hold on to Abdul Karim's head to control him but Abdul Karim postures up.
Ground and pound from Abdul Karim.
Abdul Karim lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rua is trying to stand.
Rua seems to have recovered his senses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abdul Karim thows a huge punch but Rua dodges it nicely.
Abdul Karim seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Abdul Karim is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Abdul Karim lands with a punch from half guard.
Rua works his way to full guard. Good work.
Abdul Karim postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Abdul Karim postures up from his opponent's guard, before exploding into some vicious ground and pound! Rua covers up, he's hurt! Abdul Karim keeps throwing the strikes, glancing at the referee... Will he stop it?? One more big shot from Abdul Karim and the ref steps in to end the fight! Abdul Karim can't hide his delight as he celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Zaid Abdul Karim!