PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Don Frye (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zahir Nolam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Frye comes to the cage accompanied by The Bleeding - Five Finger Death Punch. Nolam has chosen Mo Money mo Problems as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Frye
vs
Nolam

185 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Don Frye!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zahir Nolam!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Frye misses with the combination.
Nolam tries to close the distance and clinch up but Frye swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Frye shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Nolam moves into the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nolam.
Nolam using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Frye has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Frye fails to pull guard.
Nolam with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Nolam is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Frye is defending well for now.

Nolam is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Frye can't fight it off and eventually Nolam manages to take the fight to the floor. Frye looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Frye utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nolam postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nolam working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Frye wants to stand and escape but Nolam is having none of it.
Frye wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Nolam is now in half guard.
Nolam throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nolam is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Nolam lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nolam lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
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.
Ground and pound from Nolam.
Nolam wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Frye uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Frye is trying to control the position but Nolam postures up.
Nolam stops Frye from standing up.
Nolam postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nolam throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Don Frye.
Frye shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nolam pinned against the cage. Nolam gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Don Frye. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nolam stuffs the takedown attempt from Frye. Frye gets slowly back to his feet.

Frye gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Frye on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nolam has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Frye avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Frye tries to pull guard but Nolam holds him up against the cage and eventually Frye drops back down to his feet.
Frye looking to throw knees to the head but Nolam is blocking nicely.
Nolam keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Frye's efforts to push away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zahir Nolam dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Frye closes the distance and clinches.
Frye wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nolam scores with a knee to the head.

Nolam has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Frye is trying to keep an underhook but Nolam manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Frye wants to control but Nolam is keeping busy.
Nolam winds up and cracks Frye with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Frye is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nolam stands up from half guard.
Frye throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nolam's waist but Nolam gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Frye off to one side.

Frye clinches up against the cage.
Frye wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nolam tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Frye avoids it.

Nolam has Frye pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Nolam pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Frye tumbling to the mat - Nolam dives into Frye's guard.
Nolam preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Frye working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nolam.
Nolam with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Frye is looking to sweep but instead, Nolam has passed into half guard.
Nolam thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nolam lands a nice short elbow.
Frye is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nolam's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nolam's back!
Will Frye go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Zahir Nolam has got the better of the ground game so far.

Frye is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Frye thows a strike but Nolam uses the opportunity to reverse the position! Great move by Nolam as he ends up in Frye 's guard!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Frye pulls Nolam in close to prevent any damage.
Frye is trying to keep Nolam in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Frye looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Nolam passes into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Frye is looking for a sweep. Nolam is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zahir Nolam showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Frye closes the distance and pushes Nolam back into the cage.
Nolam is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Frye pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Nolam drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Frye gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nolam missing with knees to the body.

Frye drags the fight down to the ground.
Nolam working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Nolam postures up and lands a big shot to Frye's brow.
Frye tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nolam throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Frye wants to stand but Nolam is controlling the position.
Nolam missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Frye working a defensive guard but Nolam passes into half guard.
Frye is looking for a sweep. Nolam is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nolam is thwarting Frye's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Don Frye has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Frye misses with an attempted mid kick.
Frye has his takedown stuffed

and Nolam counters with a shoot takedown. Frye fights it but they end up in guard.
Nolam must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nolam throwing strikes from guard but Frye blocks nicely.
Frye bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nolam's guard.
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!
Nolam wants to stand but Frye is controlling the position.
Nolam takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Frye advances position into side control!
Frye laying and praying for a moment but Nolam takes advantage and regains half guard.
Nolam pushes Frye off looking to stand but Frye dives back in and keeps control.
Zahir Nolam is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Frye is looking to take a break and control but Nolam is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Frye misses with a head shot. Nolam uses the momentum to regain guard.
Don Frye has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Frye stands and throws Nolam's legs to the side, diving into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Zahir Nolam.
I've got Nolam 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 Suge Night scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zahir Nolam!