PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Colt Jones (ranked 2657 p4p, 1733 weight class) and Abdullah Zaire (ranked 359 p4p, 233 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.

Jones
vs
Zaire

183 cm
35
200
22 - 6 - 0

189 cm
28
202
3 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Colt Jones !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abdullah Zaire!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Aafke Stam and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zaire swats away the attempt to clinch by Jones .
Jones loads up on a big right hand but Zaire slips the punch.
Zaire throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Jones stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Jones moves in looking to clinch but Zaire pushes him off.
Zaire takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Jones throws a shot from downtown. Zaire moves away and avoids it.
Jones backing away here, and Zaire unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Zaire looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Zaire keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Jones .
Jones throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Zaire misses with a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zaire thows a leg kick but Jones checks it
and Jones cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jones keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Jones closes the distance and pushes Zaire back into the cage.
Jones takes a shot to the head.
Jones working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zaire controlling the action here for a moment.
Jones lands an uppercut.
Jones has a couple of punches blocked by Zaire.
Jones misses with a punch on the inside.
Zaire misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Jones fails to land.
Jones misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Zaire fails to land.
Jones swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zaire lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Zaire breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jones keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zaire.
Colt Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zaire tries a low kick but Jones avoids it.
Jones is looking to counter the offense by Zaire and move into the clinch.
Zaire scores with a jab to the body.
Zaire throws the left hand but Jones avoids the punch easily.
Jones tries to clinch but Zaire is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaire throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Jones pushes Zaire up against the cage in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head punch on the inside from Zaire fails to land.
Jones misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zaire has a couple of punches blocked by Jones .
Zaire pressing his opponent against the cage.
Zaire scores with a shoulder strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zaire.
A head punch on the inside from Jones fails to land.
Zaire tries to work over Jones 's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Jones gets through Zaire's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Jones misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zaire swings wildly with an uppercut but Jones uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zaire misses with some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jones .

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Jones as Zaire tries to tie him up.
Zaire is trying to maintain a safe position but Jones gets an underhook and turns Zaire into the cage.
Jones lands an uppercut.
Jones tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zaire lands a left hand.
Zaire lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zaire is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A head punch on the inside from Zaire fails to land.
A shot in the inside from Jones .
Zaire misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Zaire lands an uppercut.
Zaire is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Zaire creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Zaire lands with a light punch inside.
Jones swings wildly with an uppercut but Zaire uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jones swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaire makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

It looks like Colt Jones has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jones misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Jones fails to land.
Zaire can't find room to land a body shot as Jones controls the action.
Jones blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short left from Jones .
Jones swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Jones misses with a punch on the inside.
Zaire blocking some punches.
Jones makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Zaire lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Zaire's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zaire cracks Jones with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Jones misses with a wild body shot.
Jones uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zaire.
Zaire wants to slow Jones down by chopping away at his legs.
Jones misses with a hook to the body
and Zaire counters with a stiff right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Abdullah Zaire will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Colt Jones 's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jones scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Zaire loads up on a big right hand but Jones slips the punch.
Zaire ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jones moves away.
Zaire throws a poor cross that misses
and Jones counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Jones tries to clinch up.
Zaire scores with a push kick.
Jones changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Zaire throws a hook to the side of Jones 's head but Jones sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Jones gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zaire.
Zaire misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zaire can't find room to land a body shot as Jones controls the action.
Jones misses with a hook from the clinch.
Jones misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zaire blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Zaire.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zaire blocking some punches.
Zaire lands with a right to the head.
Jones misses with some punches.
Jones misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zaire blocking some punches.
Zaire blocks an uppercut.
Jones lands a left hand.
Jones lands a left hand.
Zaire misses with a punch on the inside.
Jones tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zaire is looking to control Jones 's arms but Jones gets an underhook and turns him. Now Zaire has his back to the cage.
A shot in the inside from Jones .
Zaire misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Jones swings wildly with an uppercut but Zaire uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zaire stalling in the clinch but Jones improves position.
Zaire is stalling here.
Jones working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones working aggressively here.
Zaire working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zaire.
Jones misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zaire lands a nice uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zaire can't find room to land a body shot as Jones controls the action.
Zaire swings wildly with an uppercut but Jones uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jones working aggressively here.
Zaire tries to stall but Jones uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Zaire breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jones moves in looking to clinch but Zaire pushes him off.
Zaire defending well as Jones loads up on a big left hand.
Jones swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Zaire.
Zaire misses with an uppercut. Jones saw that one coming.
Jones tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zaire steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Zaire lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Jones has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Jones and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Zaire lands a nice looking body shot.
Jones swings for the body but Zaire moves out of range.
Jones comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Jones uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zaire.
Jones lands a nice shot to the body.
Zaire misses with a hook. Jones ducked under it nicely.
Abdullah Zaire seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zaire keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jones misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Zaire connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jones cracks Zaire with a good jab.
Jones lands a slapping body shot.
Jones ducks under a wild hook from Zaire.
Jones connects with a single shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones lands a right hook to the body.
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!
Jones tests Zaire's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Zaire throws a hook but Jones blocks it.
Zaire moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Zaire avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jones takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Jones misses with a straight right.
Zaire was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Jones connects with a single shot there.
A low kick from Zaire misses
and Jones connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jones tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Zaire scores with a kick to the midsection.
Jones dips to his left and cracks Zaire with an uppercut!
Jones loads up on a big right hand but Zaire slips the punch.
Zaire doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Colt Jones dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Colt Jones 's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Jones misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zaire.
Zaire looks to land a left hand but Jones moved out of range nicely.
A jab from Jones misses.
Zaire throws a body punch but Jones moves out of range.
Jones tries to clinch but Zaire is having none of it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Zaire! But no joy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zaire. Jones does a little dance to reset his feet.

Jones moves into the clinch successfully.
Zaire wants to stall.
Zaire throws a punch but it's blocked by Jones .
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zaire blocks an uppercut.
Jones lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Zaire stalling in the clinch but Jones improves position.
Zaire struggles to land a body shot inside as Jones controls his hands.
Jones blocking some punches.
Jones fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaire has a couple of punches blocked by Jones .
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jones .
Jones working aggressively here.
Zaire works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Jones misses with a punch on the inside.
Jones throws a punch but it's blocked by Zaire.
Jones being controlled against the cage.
Zaire misses with a hook to the ribs.
Jones misses with a hook from the clinch.
Jones lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Zaire misses with a punch on the inside.
Zaire taking a breather.
Zaire misses with a hook from the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Zaire - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Zaire blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zaire tries to throw a body punch but Jones avoids it by throwing Zaire back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Zaire working hard to break the clinch.
Jones lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Zaire scores with a shoulder strike.
Still in the clinch, Jones scores with a nice short uppercut.
Zaire lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zaire lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Zaire works on Jones 's body with a couple of short punches.
A head punch on the inside from Zaire fails to land.

Zaire's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zaire scores with a hook to the body. Jones takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Jones clinches up against the cage.
Zaire lands a hook to the side of the head.
Jones misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zaire misses with a punch to the body.
Jones lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Jones swings wildly with an uppercut but Zaire uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire trying to control the position but instead, Jones has worked for underhooks and has pushed Zaire into the cage.
Jones working aggressively here.
Zaire misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zaire misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zaire swings wildly with an uppercut but Jones uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jones has a couple of punches blocked by Zaire.
Zaire goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Jones misses with a hook from the clinch.
Jones swings wildly with an uppercut but Zaire uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zaire is looking to control Jones 's arms but Jones gets an underhook and turns him. Now Zaire has his back to the cage.
Zaire blocking some punches.
Zaire wants to stall.
Zaire tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaire blocks an uppercut.
Zaire lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Zaire lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Jones prevents a body shot from Zaire.
Jones lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zaire blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zaire lands a shoulder strike.
Jones blocks an uppercut.
Zaire blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zaire tries to throw a body punch but Jones avoids it by throwing Zaire back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zaire.
A head punch on the inside from Jones fails to land.
Zaire misses with a punch to the body.
Zaire gets through Jones 's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A shot in the inside from Jones .
Jones tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zaire blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zaire scores with a hook to the body.
Zaire displaying some good clinch control by pressing Jones up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Abdullah Zaire.
I think Zaire has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!