PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ralphie Maldonado (ranked 1313 p4p, 1453 weight class) and Abdullah Zaire (ranked 195 p4p, 216 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Maldonado
vs
Zaire

179 cm
36
176
22 - 15 - 1

189 cm
38
206
19 - 13 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Brooklyn Threads

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 22 - 15 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ralphie Maldonado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Abdullah Zaire!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zaire connects with a right hand. Maldonado shakes it off.
Zaire misses with a low kick.
Maldonado ducks under a wild hook from Zaire.
Maldonado moves in looking to clinch but Zaire pushes him off.
A slapping leg kick lands for Zaire.
Maldonado misses with a hook. Zaire ducked under it nicely.
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.
Maldonado avoids the body shot from Zaire.
Maldonado checks a low kick from Zaire.
Zaire swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Maldonado lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Nice defenses there by Maldonado.
Maldonado thinks about countering with a body kick.
Maldonado moves out of range of the body kick from Zaire.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zaire tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maldonado was well out of range. Poor timing from Zaire.
Zaire throws a chopping leg kick but Maldonado manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Maldonado misses with a wild body shot.
Zaire cracks Maldonado with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Zaire misses with a hook to the body
and Maldonado counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zaire takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldonado uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zaire.
Zaire misses with a low kick.
Zaire throws a leg kick but Maldonado moved away.
Maldonado looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Zaire throws a right hand that misses
and Maldonado connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nice jab there from Zaire.
Zaire bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zaire throws out a counter right but Maldonado avoids it with no problem.
Zaire dips to his left and cracks Maldonado with an uppercut!
Zaire tried to score with a low kick but Maldonado checks it.
Zaire punishes Maldonado's body with a nice straight punch.
Zaire misses with a low kick.
Zaire tests Maldonado's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Zaire misses with an uppercut.
Zaire staying out of range there.
Abdullah Zaire seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maldonado doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Zaire misses with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaire keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Maldonado takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Zaire fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Maldonado throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Zaire attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Maldonado gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Zaire.
Zaire walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Maldonado checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Maldonado is looking to counter punch.
Zaire thumps Maldonado with a low kick.
Zaire looks to land a left hand but Maldonado moved out of range nicely.
Zaire looks to land a right hand but Maldonado moved out of range.
Maldonado looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Maldonado tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zaire paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zaire tries a quick counter leg kick but Maldonado is wise to it.
Zaire throws a looping overhand right but Maldonado ducks down to avoid it.
Zaire waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Maldonado.
Maldonado was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Maldonado checks a leg kick.
Zaire lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Maldonado's corner calls for a 1-2. Maldonado obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Zaire takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Zaire thows a leg kick but Maldonado checks it
and Maldonado counters with a right hand to the body.
Zaire thows a leg kick but Maldonado checks it
and Maldonado cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Maldonado throws a push kick but Zaire slaps the foot to one side.
Good leg kick by Zaire.
Zaire throws a body punch but Maldonado moves out of range.
Zaire lands with a straight right. Maldonado didn't see that one coming.
Maldonado takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Maldonado doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Zaire moves out of range of the body kick.
Zaire misses with a low kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zaire scores with a nice head shot.
A big right from Zaire misses.
Maldonado connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaire tries to score with a low kick but Maldonado moves his leg out of the way.
And Maldonado counters with a quick kick to the body but Zaire blocks it.
Maldonado works the jab nicely.
Maldonado throws a body kick that misses.
Zaire fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Maldonado looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Zaire misses with a body kick.
Maldonado throwing a counter right hand but Zaire manages to avoid it.
Maldonado misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zaire.
Zaire keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Maldonado tests Zaire's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Maldonado blocks a jab.
Maldonado moves out of range as Zaire strikes.
Zaire needs to keep his hands up - Maldonado had a free shot at his head there.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zaire walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A swing and a miss from Maldonado.
Maldonado avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Maldonado on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Abdullah Zaire dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Maldonado on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zaire. Zaire obviously looking to wear him down.
Maldonado misses with a looping right.
Zaire has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zaire ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maldonado moves away.
Maldonado lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Maldonado throws a chopping leg kick but Zaire manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Zaire throws the kick towards the body but Maldonado avoids it.
Zaire misses with a leg kick.
Zaire tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maldonado was well out of range. Poor timing from Zaire.
Zaire swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Maldonado counters with a head kick.
Maldonado checks a leg kick nicely.
Maldonado wants to land a leg kick but Zaire is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zaire connects with a nice looking jab.
Zaire throws a leg kick but Maldonado sees it coming and moves out of range.

Maldonado closes the distance and pushes Zaire back into the cage.
Maldonado tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zaire lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Maldonado on the inside.
Maldonado blocks an uppercut.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Zaire.
Maldonado misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zaire lands a left hand that snaps the head of Maldonado backwards.
Maldonado scores with a nice hook to the head.
Zaire cracks Maldonado with a nice body shot.
Zaire tries to work over Maldonado's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Maldonado misses with a punch to the body.
Maldonado is struggling to control the position.
Maldonado working aggressively here.
Zaire lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Maldonado backwards.
Zaire misses with some punches.
Zaire looking to stall.
Maldonado taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado blocking some punches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Zaire.
Maldonado prevents a body shot from Zaire.
Zaire swings wildly with an uppercut but Maldonado uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zaire is struggling to control the position.
Maldonado trying to stall but Zaire improves his position.
Zaire holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Maldonado blocks a body shot from Zaire.
Maldonado displaying some good clinch control by pressing Zaire up against the cage.
Maldonado blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zaire fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short right from Zaire.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zaire breaks from the clinch.
A slow jab from Zaire misses its intended target.
A head kick misses from Maldonado.
Zaire staying out of range there.
Maldonado throws a sloppy body shot
letting Zaire counter with a right hand.
Maldonado misses with a looping left.
Maldonado displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zaire throws out the jab.
Zaire thows a leg kick but Maldonado checks it
and Maldonado counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Zaire misses with a straight right.
Zaire throws a leg kick but Maldonado moved away.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Maldonado checks a leg kick.
Maldonado throws a head kick but Zaire moves out of range.
Zaire throws a body punch but Maldonado moves out of range.
Maldonado misses with a hook. Zaire ducked under it nicely.
The fighters circling - Maldonado throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maldonado fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zaire, pushing him back against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Maldonado.
Maldonado is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Zaire is keeping busy.
A body shot lands from Maldonado.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zaire lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Maldonado prevents a body shot from Zaire.
Zaire misses with a short punch on the inside.
Maldonado misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Zaire fails to land.
Maldonado trying to control the position but instead, Zaire has worked for underhooks and has pushed Maldonado into the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zaire.
Zaire works on Maldonado's body with a couple of short punches.

Zaire escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zaire scores with a shot to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Abdullah Zaire showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Zaire throws a leg kick
and Maldonado counters with a nice uppercut.
Zaire thows a left - swing and a miss!
Maldonado was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Maldonado walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Zaire throws a hook but Maldonado blocks it.
Maldonado tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zaire paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zaire tried to score with a low kick but Maldonado checks it.
Zaire takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Maldonado moves into the clinch.
Zaire misses with a hook from the clinch.
Maldonado tries to stall but Zaire uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Maldonado doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zaire breaks from the clinch.
Zaire stuns Maldonado with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Zaire throws a leg kick
and Maldonado counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zaire tests Maldonado's chin there with a solid looking shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zaire works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldonado misses with a body shot.

Maldonado has closed the distance and engaged Zaire in a clinch.
Maldonado lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zaire backwards.
Maldonado scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Abdullah Zaire seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Zaire lands with a light punch inside.
Maldonado dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Maldonado swings wildly with an uppercut but Zaire uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zaire scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Maldonado misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Maldonado gets through Zaire's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Zaire's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ralphie Maldonado has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Zaire misses.
Zaire attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Maldonado looks to land a right hand but Zaire moved out of range.
Maldonado misses the shot to the body.
Zaire keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Maldonado.
Zaire looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A punch lands to the side of Maldonado 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maldonado connects with a crisp jab.
Zaire circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zaire misses with an uppercut. Maldonado saw that one coming.
Zaire lands an overhand right.
Zaire throws a leg kick but Maldonado sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Maldonado thinks about countering with a body kick.
The fighters circling - Maldonado throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Maldonado ducks under a wild hook from Zaire.
Maldonado throwing a counter right hand but Zaire manages to avoid it.
Nice straight punches there by Zaire. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Zaire.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire thows a left - swing and a miss!
Maldonado keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Maldonado drops Zaire with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Zaire looks back up at him and smiles so Maldonado waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

It looks like Abdullah Zaire has been cut.
Maldonado uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zaire.
Zaire throws a leg kick but Maldonado moved away.

Maldonado takes the fight into the clinch.
Zaire misses with a punch to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Maldonado.
Maldonado softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Zaire breaks the clinch.
Maldonado misses with a looping right.
Maldonado checks the leg kick nicely there.
Zaire misses with a right hand
and Maldonado counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zaire misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maldonado.
A quick step to the side and Maldonado tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Abdullah Zaire seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado walks forward and throws a big overhand right! Zaire drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes! Maldonado swarms on him with more punches until the referee wrestles him away from Zaire's unconscious body! Wow, that was brutal!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:06 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ralphie Maldonado!
In his post fight interview, Ralphie Maldonado started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.