PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Caspian Tennessen (ranked 1814 p4p, 1825 weight class) and Abdullah Zaire (ranked 243 p4p, 244 weight class). Tennessen comes to the cage accompanied by Manowar - Warriors of the World. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tennessen
vs
Zaire

185 cm
27
185
9 - 13 - 0

189 cm
29
202
3 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

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 9 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Caspian Tennessen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abdullah Zaire!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Albert Achterberg and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tennessen misses with a wild body shot.
Tennessen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zaire manages to avoid it.
A big right from Tennessen misses.
Zaire avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zaire steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Tennessen.
A shot to the body from Tennessen misses
and Zaire counters with a slapping leg kick.
Tennessen tries for a takedown but Zaire sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nice uppercut there from Tennessen.

Tennessen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Zaire gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Tennessen has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Tennessen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zaire defending well though.
Tennessen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zaire is trying to get back to full guard.
Tennessen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zaire is looking for a sweep. Tennessen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
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!
Zaire has his hands clasped together around Tennessen's back. He's all about the action.
Zaire has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tennessen is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaire keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Tennessen is trying to work for a kimura but Zaire is defending well.
Zaire has his hands clasped together around Tennessen's back. He's all about the action.
Tennessen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zaire wants to control but Tennessen is keeping busy.
Tennessen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Tennessen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tennessen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zaire's head.
Zaire trying to hold on to Tennessen's head to control him but Tennessen postures up.
Tennessen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zaire's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaire is looking for a sweep. Tennessen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zaire works his way to full guard. Good work.
Zaire controlling Tennessen's posture.
Tennessen looking to pass the guard.
Tennessen throws a big elbow that misses.
Tennessen throwing strikes but missing.
Tennessen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zaire pulls Tennessen in close to prevent any damage.

Tennessen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tennessen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tennessen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Tennessen throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire pulls Tennessen in close to his closed guard and prevents Tennessen from doing any damage or advancing position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tennessen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zaire wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Tennessen postures up in Zaire's guard and throws a big left but Zaire blocks it.
Zaire is pulling down on Tennessen's head to control his posture.
Tennessen is in close to Zaire's body, working some short punches and elbows.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zaire is on top in guard.

Tennessen looking to control.
Zaire passes Tennessen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Zaire slows the pace down in half guard.
Tennessen wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tennessen actively working from the bottom here.
Zaire sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tennessen defending well though.
Tennessen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Zaire stays in close to Tennessen's body and controls the position.
Tennessen controls Zaire momentarily but Zaire frees himself.
Zaire not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Tennessen wants to sweep here but Zaire controlling him for the moment.
Tennessen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zaire showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Zaire won't allow Tennessen to sweep him here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

A lazy body kick from Zaire

and Tennessen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Zaire pushes Tennessen off and gets back to his feet.
Zaire keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zaire uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tennessen.
It seemed like Zaire was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Caspian Tennessen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zaire uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tennessen.
Tennessen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zaire.
Zaire blocks a jab.
A punch combination from Tennessen misses.
Tennessen blocks a jab.
Zaire throws a looping overhand right but Tennessen ducks down to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tennessen misses with a straight right.
Tennessen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zaire but Zaire pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tennessen throws the left hand but Zaire avoids the punch easily.
Tennessen throws a predictable looking body shot
and Zaire counters with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tennessen scores with a jab to the body.
Tennessen fails with a takedown attempt.
Tennessen lands a nice looking body shot.
Tennessen throws a sloppy body shot
and Zaire counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tennessen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zaire was well out of range. Poor timing from Tennessen.
Zaire lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tennessen at a distance.
Tennessen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Caspian Tennessen is winning the standup battle so far.
Tennessen throws a body shot but no joy.
Zaire throws out a counter right but Tennessen avoids it with no problem.
Tennessen misses with a hook
and Zaire makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Tennessen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zaire was well out of range. Poor timing from Tennessen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by Zaire.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tennessen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tennessen connects with a looping right hand.
Zaire scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Tennessen throws an off balance right hand
and Zaire cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zaire uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Tennessen has time to react.

Tennessen is rocked!
Tennessen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Oh Tennessen is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Tennessen throws a right hand that misses
and Zaire counters with a nice low kick that buckles Tennessen's knee momentarily.
Tennessen misses with a left hand
and Zaire counters with a nice leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tennessen loads up on a big right hand but Zaire slips the punch.
Today's fight clock is brought to you by... OOOH that's a huge shot by Zaire! Tennessen is in big trouble here - the ref steps in to save him and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Abdullah Zaire!
An out of breath Abdullah Zaire thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.