PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Krisko Kurtev (ranked 1158 p4p, 937 weight class) and Abdullah Zaire (ranked 179 p4p, 142 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kurtev
vs
Zaire

189 cm
29
193
12 - 14 - 0

189 cm
30
202
7 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Vegan Gains

Brooklyn Apothecary
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 12 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Krisko Kurtev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abdullah Zaire!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zaire fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kurtev has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kurtev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zaire looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Zaire throws a leg kick that is checked

and Kurtev counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Zaire wriggles free and stands up.
Kurtev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zaire slaps away a takedown attempt from Kurtev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Zaire looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Krisko Kurtev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kurtev fails with a takedown attempt.
Kurtev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kurtev looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kurtev checks the leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kurtev 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.
Zaire misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kurtev.
A head kick misses from Zaire.
Kurtev shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurtev doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zaire counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Zaire misses with a left hand
and Kurtev counters with a nice body shot.

Kurtev closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Zaire is looking for a sweep.
Zaire is trying to control Kurtev's posture but Kurtev avoids it.
Zaire is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kurtev's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kurtev lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kurtev throwing shots but Zaire is blocking nicely.
Zaire keeping control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaire tries to get to full guard but Kurtev has control of the leg.
Kurtev scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zaire is trying to maintain the position but Kurtev is very close to passing his half guard.
Kurtev drops an elbow to the side of Zaire's head.
Zaire moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kurtev stopping the sweep attempt from Zaire.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zaire wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Zaire wants to sweep here but Kurtev controlling him for the moment.
Zaire looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zaire wants to get back to his feet but Kurtev is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kurtev is working Zaire over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kurtev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kurtev throws a big right hand that misses.
Zaire controlling the position.
Let's hope that Zaire has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Kurtev throwing strikes from guard but Zaire blocks nicely.
Zaire is controlling Kurtev's posture.
Zaire is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Zaire preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kurtev stopping the sweep attempt from Zaire.
Kurtev is fighting to break Zaire's control of his arms but Zaire is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kurtev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kurtev looks for a takedown but Zaire sprawls well.
Kurtev misses with a takedown attempt
and Zaire counters with a good, hard body kick but Kurtev shrugs it off.
Kurtev with a poor takedown
and Zaire counters with a stiff right hand.
Kurtev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Zaire counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kurtev shoots in for a takedown but Zaire shows good takedown defense.
Zaire now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Kurtev goes for a double leg but Zaire avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Zaire continues to drive forward.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Abdullah Zaire dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kurtev misses with a takedown attempt
and Zaire counters with an outside leg kick.
Abdullah Zaire seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kurtev shoots in for a double leg but Zaire sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Zaire now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Kurtev tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kurtev shoots and misses
and Zaire makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Krisko Kurtev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zaire throws a right and a left that Kurtev avoids nicely.
Nice body kick from Zaire.
Zaire displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kurtev.
Zaire ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zaire cracks Kurtev with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Zaire scores with a shot to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Zaire darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kurtev tries for a takedown but Zaire circles away easily
and Zaire counters with a good low kick that Kurtev was not able to check.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaire changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A jab from Zaire misses.
A good leg kick by Zaire.
Kurtev darts in looking for a takedown but Zaire gets double underhooks and turns Kurtev into the cage.
Kurtev has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Zaire avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Zaire lands a body punch in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Zaire.
Zaire lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Zaire doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kurtev drops down looking for an ankle pick but Zaire pulls his leg out and moves away.
Zaire lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Zaire defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kurtev.
Abdullah Zaire is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zaire circles away from the clinch attempt.

Zaire lands a big head kick that sends Kurtev tumbling to the mat! Zaire takes a step backwards and waves Kurtev back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Kurtev is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zaire delivers a nice body kick.
Oh Kurtev is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Zaire cracks a nice hook into Kurtev's ribs.
Zaire weaves into range and cracks Kurtev right on the temple with a beautiful overhand right! Kurtev goes down! He's out cold! Wow, what a beautiful knockout! Zaire is strutting round the canvas like a movie star as the camera bulbs flash frantically.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:14 of round 2, 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.