PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Knuckles (ranked 968 p4p, 826 weight class) and Amir Ziyaeddin (ranked 144 p4p, 126 weight class). Ziyaeddin is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Roswell's Spell by Chevelle. The key to victory for Bobby Knuckles has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Knuckles
vs
Ziyaeddin

182 cm
29
185
11 - 4 - 0

186 cm
27
199
12 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Brooklyn Apothecary
Conviction

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 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bobby Knuckles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Amir Ziyaeddin!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ziyaeddin misses with a left hand
and Knuckles counters with a straight right hand.
Ziyaeddin lands with an overhand left.
Ziyaeddin moves away from the strike by Knuckles.
Nice uppercut there from Ziyaeddin.
Knuckles ducks under a wild hook from Ziyaeddin.
Knuckles steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ziyaeddin.
Ziyaeddin blocks the body kick.
Ziyaeddin missing with a left hand there. Knuckles was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ziyaeddin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ziyaeddin misses with an uppercut.
Knuckles dodges the punch combination from Ziyaeddin.
It appears Knuckles was looking to counter with a kick there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ziyaeddin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Knuckles.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ziyaeddin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've been hearing reports that Knuckles has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
No luck for Ziyaeddin with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Knuckles.
Ziyaeddin throws a shot from downtown. Knuckles moves away and avoids it.

Knuckles tries to keep at a distance but Ziyaeddin has taken the fight into the clinch.

Ziyaeddin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ziyaeddin misses with an uppercut. Knuckles saw that one coming.
Ziyaeddin keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Knuckles scores with a punch to the head.
A bone on bone clash there as Ziyaeddin blocks the leg kick.
Ziyaeddin 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.
Ziyaeddin stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Knuckles.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ziyaeddin darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Knuckles with the inside leg kick.
Ziyaeddin tries to clinch but Knuckles is having none of it.
Knuckles jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ziyaeddin throws a combination that misses
and Knuckles connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ziyaeddin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Knuckles was well out of range. Poor timing from Ziyaeddin.
Knuckles slips a jab from Ziyaeddin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knuckles looks for the body kick but Ziyaeddin saw that one coming.
Ziyaeddin connects with a looping right hand.
Ziyaeddin avoids a kick to the body.

Ziyaeddin manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Knuckles on his heels. He'll look to pass Knuckles's guard now, I'm sure.

Knuckles kicks Ziyaeddin off and gets to his feet.
Ziyaeddin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Knuckles connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ziyaeddin throws a hook but Knuckles blocks it.
Ziyaeddin throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Knuckles sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Knuckles thinks about countering with a body kick.
Knuckles thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ziyaeddin with the counter takedown but Knuckles avoids it easily.
Ziyaeddin might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Ziyaeddin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Knuckles.
Knuckles takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A telegraphed right hand from Knuckles misses the target.
Ziyaeddin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Knuckles.
Ziyaeddin shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ziyaeddin looks to land a right hand but Knuckles moved out of range.
Knuckles moves away from the strike by Ziyaeddin.
Knuckles throwing a counter right hand but Ziyaeddin manages to avoid it.
Knuckles avoids the body shot from Ziyaeddin.
Ziyaeddin wants to land a leg kick but Knuckles is out of range.
Good shot there by Ziyaeddin.
Ziyaeddin looks to land a combination. Knuckles sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Knuckles uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Ziyaeddin has time to react.
Knuckles feints and then cracks Ziyaeddin's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Ziyaeddin down.
Knuckles walks into a straight right hand from Ziyaeddin.
Knuckles slips under a jab from Ziyaeddin.
A quick step to the side and Knuckles tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
The fighters circling - Ziyaeddin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ziyaeddin with a hook.
A jab lands there for Knuckles.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ziyaeddin lands an overhand right.
Ziyaeddin misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ziyaeddin throws a combination that misses
and Knuckles counters with a straight right hand.
Ziyaeddin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Knuckles moves away.
The fighters circling - Knuckles throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Knuckles walks into a stiff left hand from Ziyaeddin.
Bobby Knuckles is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Knuckles slips a straight right by Ziyaeddin.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Ziyaeddin.
Ziyaeddin fails with the takedown
and Knuckles counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bobby Knuckles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Amir Ziyaeddin.
Ziyaeddin throws a body shot but no joy.
Ziyaeddin swings away with a body shot that misses
and Ziyaeddin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
An inside leg kick lands from Knuckles.
Ziyaeddin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Knuckles manages to avoid it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knuckles keeps the fight on the outside.
Ziyaeddin wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Ziyaeddin throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Knuckles tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ziyaeddin is in Knuckles's guard.

Knuckles has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Ziyaeddin has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Amir Ziyaeddin will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Knuckles does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Knuckles waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ziyaeddin.
Ziyaeddin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Knuckles manages to avoid it.
Ziyaeddin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Knuckles moves away.
Knuckles lands a leg kick that knocks Ziyaeddin off balance momentarily.
Ziyaeddin darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Ziyaeddin misses with a straight right.
Amir Ziyaeddin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Knuckles takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Knuckles showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ziyaeddin.
Ziyaeddin ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Ziyaeddin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Knuckles.
Ziyaeddin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Knuckles.
Ziyaeddin throws a poor cross that misses
and Knuckles counters with an inside leg kick.
Knuckles walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knuckles takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Ziyaeddin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Knuckles takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A shot to the liver by Ziyaeddin. Beautiful body shot.
Ziyaeddin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ziyaeddin takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Ziyaeddin moves out of range of the body kick.
Ziyaeddin fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ziyaeddin swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Knuckles counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Knuckles ducks under a wild hook from Ziyaeddin.
Ziyaeddin tries to clinch but Knuckles moves out of range.
Ziyaeddin takes a swing at Knuckles's ribcage but misses.
Knuckles goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ziyaeddin scores with a jab. Knuckles acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Knuckles takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Knuckles dodges the punch combination from Ziyaeddin.
Ziyaeddin throws a combination that misses
and Knuckles counters with a three punch combo that has Ziyaeddin backing up. Ziyaeddin nods at Knuckles to acknowledge the strikes.
Ziyaeddin tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Knuckles swivels and escapes.
Knuckles tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Ziyaeddin is able to avoid easily.
Ziyaeddin's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Ziyaeddin duly obliges.
Knuckles loads up on a big right hand but Ziyaeddin slips the punch.
Knuckles throws a leg kick but Ziyaeddin checks it.
Ziyaeddin takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Ziyaeddin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Knuckles moves away.
Knuckles misses with a low kick.
Ziyaeddin fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nice shot lands for Knuckles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ziyaeddin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Knuckles as he jumps to the side.
Knuckles is looking to counter punch.
Bobby Knuckles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Amir Ziyaeddin.
Knuckles has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Ziyaeddin finds it's way round the side to connect with Knuckles's head.
Knuckles with the inside leg kick.
Knuckles steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ziyaeddin.
Ziyaeddin walks into a stiff left hand from Knuckles.
Ziyaeddin fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Knuckles looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ziyaeddin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ziyaeddin lands a slapping body shot.
Ziyaeddin moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Ziyaeddin's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Knuckles misses the jab.
Ziyaeddin rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Knuckles counters with a nice low kick that buckles Ziyaeddin's knee momentarily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ziyaeddin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Knuckles manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ziyaeddin scores with a nice right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ziyaeddin shoots in and drives through. Knuckles sprawls well.
Ziyaeddin on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Ziyaeddin looks to score with a jab to the body but Knuckles is just out of range.
Knuckles with a jab.
Knuckles lands a jab to the nose.

Ziyaeddin is rocked!

It looks like Amir Ziyaeddin has been cut.
Ziyaeddin misses with a hook
and Knuckles counters with a nice leg kick.
Ziyaeddin is breathing heavily.
Knuckles misses with a body shot.
Knuckles lands an overhand right.
Ziyaeddin is still on wobbly legs! Can Knuckles finish him?
BAM! Knuckles delivers a spinning backfist that drops Ziyaeddin like a ragdoll! This is all oooooveeeer! He was out before he hit the ground!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Spinning Backfist). Bobby Knuckles!
After winning the bout, Bobby Knuckles thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.