PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abdullah Zaire (ranked 1334 p4p, 1172 weight class) and Kyle Chapman (ranked 37 p4p, 33 weight class). Kyle Chapman told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Zaire
vs
Chapman

180 cm
26
215
7 - 3 - 0

189 cm
26
199
7 - 6 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

PWNAGEâ„¢
Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Abdullah Zaire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kyle Chapman!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Skip Squint and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zaire has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Chapman finds it's way round the side to connect with Zaire's head.
Zaire fails with the takedown
enabling Chapman to counter with a crisp jab.
Zaire is looking to clinch.
Donk. Chapman catches Zaire right on the button with a cross.
Chapman misses with a body shot.
As Chapman tries to get set, Zaire tries to push him back and clinch up but Chapman manages to avoid the attempt.
Chapman has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Zaire takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Zaire misses with a takedown attempt
and Chapman counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Zaire doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Chapman counter with a right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdullah Zaire. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zaire changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Chapman tries to avoid it but Zaire manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Chapman to the ground. Chapman escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zaire shoots and misses
and Chapman counters with a stiff right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Zaire shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Zaire was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Chapman is looking to reverse the position.

Zaire tries for a kimura but Chapman is defending well.
Chapman really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zaire. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Chapman managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Zaire.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chapman gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Chapman holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Zaire tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Chapman is desperately trying to improve his position but Zaire has a good base and remains in mount.

Zaire is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Chapman is surviving well by controlling Zaire's body position as best he can.
Zaire content just to control the position here.
Chapman tries to hold on but Zaire pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zaire with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Chapman tries to lock up and control but Zaire gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Zaire has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Zaire trying to control but Chapman is having none of it.
Zaire content just to control the position here.
Zaire misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zaire fails to move to back control.

Zaire working for a submission but Chapman is keeping him at bay.
Chapman is in all sorts of trouble here.

Zaire jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Chapman is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Chapman and Zaire has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Sloppy strikes there by Zaire.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zaire tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Zaire advances to mount.
Zaire thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Chapman prevents Zaire from taking his back.
Zaire wants to control the pace but Chapman is squirming around nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Abdullah Zaire will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kyle Chapman's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Zaire feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Chapman has his hands on Zaire's head, controlling the position.
Chapman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zaire is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chapman is trying to keep Zaire in close.
Zaire slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaire passes Chapman's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Zaire trying to control from half guard but Chapman is working away.

Zaire is trying to work for a kimura but Chapman is defending well.
Zaire uses his free foot to push down on Chapman's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Chapman.
Zaire is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Chapman can do to turn this around?

Zaire is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Chapman can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chapman is in all sorts of trouble here.
Zaire looking to ground and pound but Chapman is blocking nicely.
Chapman is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Zaire controlling from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chapman tries to reverse the position but Zaire maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Chapman wants to hold on but Zaire pushes him away.
Abdullah Zaire overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zaire can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Chapman is looking to escape.

Zaire is working for a guillotine from mount but Chapman frees his head quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zaire has control of Chapman's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Chapman regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Zaire with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Chapman reaches up to try and control the position but Zaire seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Chapman rolls and tries to escape and now Zaire has his back!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zaire not allowing Chapman to control his hands.

Chapman won't enjoy being in this position. Zaire looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - Chapman is tapping - it's over boys! Zaire picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). 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.