PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abdullah Zaire (ranked 745 p4p, 3405 weight class) and Ben Askrew (ranked 103 p4p, 409 weight class). Ben Askrew has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Zaire
vs
Askrew

180 cm
27
215
11 - 5 - 0

185 cm
28
217
11 - 10 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Conquer
PWNAGE™

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 11 - 5 - 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 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ben Askrew!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zaire pushes Askrew up against the cage in a clinch.
Zaire pushes Askrew back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Askrew lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Zaire punching from the bottom.

Askrew is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Zaire sees it coming and defends easily.

Askrew is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Zaire is just riding it out for now. Askrew eventually gives up the hold.

Askrew is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Zaire has managed to free his arm - good work.

Zaire looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Zaire punching from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Askrew is looking for a kimura here.

Askrew is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Askrew is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Zaire has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zaire looking for submissions off his back.
Zaire wants to control but Askrew is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Zaire is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

Zaire looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Askrew is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Zaire doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Askrew.

Zaire looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Zaire looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Askrew is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Zaire looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Zaire is controlling Askrew's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Zaire looking for submissions off his back.
Zaire moves into full guard.

Askrew got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zaire has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Askrew has managed to get both his arms back between Zaire's legs - danger averted.
Zaire trying to keep a closed guard but Askrew is proving a slippery customer.

Askrew drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Askrew jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Askrew postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire controlling Askrew's posture.

Zaire looking for a guillotine here but Askrew defends easily.

Askrew is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Zaire scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.

Zaire has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Askrew should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Zaire has tightened it up now! Askrew should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Abdullah Zaire!
Our winner, Abdullah Zaire, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.