PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zahir Nolam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyson Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nolam's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Mo Money mo Problems. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nolam
vs
Black

185 cm
27
213 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

195 cm
31
209 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Very quick

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
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 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zahir Nolam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tyson Black!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Steve Smith and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Black keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Nolam pushes Black up against the cage in a clinch.
Black misses with the head strike.
Nolam lands a shoulder strike.
Black has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Nolam after a bit of a struggle.
Black changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nolam fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nolam tries to clinch up.
Nolam tries to clinch up.
Black circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nolam tries to clinch but Black moves out of range.
Nolam is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Nolam looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Black!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Black manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Black wants to improve his position but Nolam is controlling well.
Nolam thows a huge punch but Black dodges it nicely.
Nolam scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Black is trying to control but can't.
Black tries to roll over but Nolam keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nolam.
Nolam misses with a head shot. Black uses the momentum to regain guard.

Black is looking for a triangle but Nolam pushes his legs off easily.
Black tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nolam trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Black is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Nolam on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nolam tries to get out of the position.
Black landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Black stops Nolam from getting back to his feet.
Nolam trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black wants to free his trapped foot but Nolam is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Black takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Nolam wants to get back to his feet.
Nolam is refusing to be controlled, as Black sits in half guard.
Black lands strikes from half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Black not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Black throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Black passes to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Nolam dodges the ground and pound from Black.
Black scoring with punches from side control.
Nolam takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Black wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nolam keeps working.
Nolam is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Black has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Nolam taking a bit of punishment here - Black scoring with strikes.
Black throwing strikes but Nolam manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Black takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Nolam looks up at the clock and then as Black takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Nolam smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Black is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Nolam off and has taken his back!
Black scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Nolam is looking for a way out.
Nolam grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Black lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.

Nolam is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Black has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Black goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Nolam escapes and is now in half guard on top.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Black has hold of Nolam's hands but Nolam slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyson Black dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nolam is looking to clinch but Black is avoiding it.
Nolam dodges the punch combination from Black.
Nolam fails with an attempt to clinch.
Good work by Nolam as he checks the leg kick.
Black swats away the attempt to clinch by Nolam.
Nolam has a takedown stuffed.
Nolam tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zahir Nolam seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Black throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nolam tries to clinch but Black is having none of it.
Black throws a leg kick but Nolam sees it coming and moves out of range.
Nolam keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Black.
Nolam wants to clinch up but Black keeps it at a distance.
Black circles away from the clinch attempt
and Black counters with a nice uppercut.
Black ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nolam moves away.
Black fails to land the takedown.
Black circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nolam fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Black throws a hook but Nolam blocks it.
Nolam moves to clinch but Black breaks away

so Black counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Black throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nolam keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.
Black stops Nolam from standing up.
Black working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nolam is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Black is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Black content to stall in guard here.
Black working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Black is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Black won't allow Nolam to get back to his feet.
Black throwing strikes but missing.
Black throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nolam works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Black is working Nolam over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Nolam wants to stand and escape but Black is having none of it.
Black scoring with some ground and pound.
Black in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black pushing down on Nolam's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Black scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Black missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nolam on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Black prevents Nolam from standing back up.
Black not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nolam wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Black is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Black scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Nolam?
Black lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Nolam hang on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Black won't let Nolam get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
A nice elbow there by Black.
Black unloading with bombs!
Nolam is squirming around, avoiding Black's attempts to control the action.
Black with shots to the head and body - Nolam looks very uncomfortable down there.
Black breaks from Nolam's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Black raining down shots from the mount!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Black unloading with bombs!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyson Black showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Nolam has taken the fight to the clinch.
Black goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nolam prevents it.

Nolam is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Black can't fight it off and eventually Nolam manages to take the fight to the floor. Black looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Black is on top in guard.
Nolam wants to get back to his feet but Black is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Black throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nolam works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Black keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nolam's head.
Black prevents Nolam from getting back to his feet.
Black stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nolam swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black landing with the ground and pound.
Black postures up in Nolam's guard and throws a big left but Nolam blocks it.
Nolam has momentary wrist control but Black slips an elbow through the middle.
Nolam has momentary wrist control but Black slips an elbow through the middle.
Nolam can't keep his opponent in guard - Black advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Black looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Black throwing shots but Nolam is blocking nicely.
Nolam has hold of Black's hands but Black slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black misses with a head shot. Nolam uses the momentum to regain guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
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 get back to his feet but Black is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Black has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Black content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Nolam being controlled here, momentarily.
Black cracks Nolam with a solid left hand.

Nolam kicks Black off and gets to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nolam tries to clinch up.
Nolam wants to clinch up but Black keeps it at a distance.
Nolam tries to clinch there but Black circles away.
Black lands with a nice combination. Nolam backs away looking to recover.
Black throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Nolam on the side of the head.
A swing and a miss from Black.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nolam looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nolam tries to close the distance and clinch but Black swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nolam fails in his attempt to clinch.
Black scores with a jab.

Black tries to sprawl but Nolam drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Black 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!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nolam is trying to get back to his feet but Black has full control of the position and if anything, Nolam has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Black scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black cracks Nolam with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Nolam from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Nolam wants to get back to his feet.
Zahir Nolam has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Black scores with punches and elbows.
Black has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Nolam.
Black controls the action.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Black scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Nolam is looking for a way out.
Tyson Black is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nolam is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tyson Black comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Black 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyson Black!