PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hanny Sledgehammer (ranked 2224 p4p, 1136 weight class) and Abdullah Zaire (ranked 332 p4p, 166 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Sledgehammer
vs
Zaire

189 cm
34
192
22 - 28 - 0

189 cm
30
202
6 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conquer

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 22 - 28 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hanny Sledgehammer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abdullah Zaire!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Radbod Blank and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sledgehammer throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Zaire counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sledgehammer misses with a hook. Zaire ducked under it nicely.
Zaire slips a jab and a cross from Sledgehammer.
A combination from Sledgehammer does no damage.
Sledgehammer connects with a crisp jab.
Zaire dodges the punch combination from Sledgehammer.
Sledgehammer moves in looking to clinch but Zaire pushes him off.
Sledgehammer moves out of range of the strikes.
Zaire misses with a hook.
Sledgehammer misses with a combination
and Zaire counters with a left to the body.
Sledgehammer takes a swing at Zaire's ribcage but misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Zaire! But no joy.
A telegraphed right hand from Zaire misses the target.
Zaire moves out of range as Sledgehammer throws a body kick.
Nice defenses there by Zaire.
Nice cross by Sledgehammer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sledgehammer throws a leg kick
and Zaire counters with an outside leg kick.
Zaire takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Zaire has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Zaire throws a low kick but Sledgehammer avoids it.
Hanny Sledgehammer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sledgehammer throws a leg kick which misses Zaire's front leg but catches the back leg as Zaire tries to avoid it.
Zaire blocks a head kick by Sledgehammer.
Zaire doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Sledgehammer throws a head kick that misses.
Sledgehammer misses with the combination.
Zaire swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Zaire throws a shot from downtown. Sledgehammer moves away and avoids it.
Sledgehammer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've been told by Sledgehammer's head coaches at Kaptajnernes Træningscenter that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Sledgehammer's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Sledgehammer duly obliges.
A head kick by Sledgehammer misses
and Zaire counters with a right hand to the body.
Sledgehammer is breathing heavily.
Zaire lands a leg kick that knocks Sledgehammer off balance momentarily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sledgehammer throws a combination that misses
and Zaire counters with a nice uppercut.
Sledgehammer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zaire swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sledgehammer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zaire only half commits to the counter leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Zaire.
A good leg kick by Zaire.
Zaire throws a lazy right hand but Sledgehammer sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zaire connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sledgehammer momentarily.
Zaire showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sledgehammer.
Zaire throws out a counter right but Sledgehammer avoids it with no problem.
Zaire changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Sledgehammer wants to clinch.
Sledgehammer fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zaire avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sledgehammer bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire throws a leg kick but Sledgehammer moved away.
Sledgehammer stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Sledgehammer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zaire misses with a low kick.
Sledgehammer misses with an attempted mid kick.
Zaire throws out a loose jab but Sledgehammer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sledgehammer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sledgehammer closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Sledgehammer throws a series of punches but Zaire moves out of range.
A lazy body kick from Sledgehammer
letting Zaire counter with a right hand.
Zaire throws a body shot but no joy.
Sledgehammer throws a jab when Zaire was well out of range.
Sledgehammer gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Sledgehammer moves in looking to clinch but Zaire pushes him off.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sledgehammer tests Zaire's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Zaire throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Sledgehammer stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sledgehammer takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Zaire throws a looping overhand right but Sledgehammer ducks down to avoid it.
Sledgehammer throwing a counter right hand but Zaire manages to avoid it.
Sledgehammer throws a hook but Zaire avoids it easily.
Sledgehammer works Zaire's body with a nice hook.
Sledgehammer takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sledgehammer's corner calls for a 1-2. Sledgehammer obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Zaire misses with an uppercut.
Zaire scores with a punch to the head.

Sledgehammer is rocked!
Sledgehammer leaves his chin hanging out and Zaire seizes the opportunity with an uppercut! Sledgehammer crumbles to the floor in a heap! The referee steps in and tends to the downed fighter! What a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Abdullah Zaire!
During a confident post fight interview, Abdullah Zaire thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.