PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marko Zrinski (ranked 2169 p4p, 2301 weight class) and Khadem Abdul Karim (ranked 295 p4p, 315 weight class). Zrinski kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Devil eyes. Abdul Karim has chosen Window (Where The Sea Falls Forever) - Jucifer as his entrance music. Khadem Abdul Karim has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Zrinski
vs
Abdul Karim

183 cm
26
185
10 - 5 - 1

190 cm
23
203
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 10 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marko Zrinski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Khadem Abdul Karim!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Bruno Lombardi and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abdul Karim lands a head shot.
Abdul Karim takes one to the side of the head.
Khadem Abdul Karim seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Abdul Karim connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Abdul Karim's coach down at Brotherhood MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Abdul Karim's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Abdul Karim moves into range and clinches up with Zrinski.
Zrinski gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Abdul Karim.

Abdul Karim breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Abdul Karim looks to score with a jab to the body but Zrinski is just out of range.
Zrinski throws a head kick that misses.

Abdul Karim clinches up with Zrinski and pushes him back against the cage.
Abdul Karim lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Zrinski backwards.

Abdul Karim turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Abdul Karim manages to end up in side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zrinski defending against the ground and pound.
Zrinski holding on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdul Karim is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Zrinski will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Abdul Karim is trying to get an arm triangle but Zrinski is defending well.
Abdul Karim trying to control the position but Zrinski is working away.
Zrinski is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Abdul Karim sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Zrinski is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

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.

Abdul Karim swings around for an armbar but Zrinski sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Abdul Karim's guard.
Abdul Karim is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Zrinski slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Abdul Karim throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Zrinski trying to control the position from guard on top but Abdul Karim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Abdul Karim looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Zrinski knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Abdul Karim on the ground.
Zrinski controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Abdul Karim trying to keep a closed guard but Zrinski is proving a slippery customer.

Abdul Karim throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Abdul Karim is trying to keep Zrinski in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Zrinski got a little sloppy there for a moment and Abdul Karim has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Zrinski has managed to get both his arms back between Abdul Karim's legs - danger averted.
Abdul Karim working a defensive guard here.
Abdul Karim looking to control but Zrinski passes into half guard.
Abdul Karim wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zrinski not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Abdul Karim tries to roll over but Zrinski keeps him under control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Khadem Abdul Karim dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Abdul Karim fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Zrinski swings for the body but Abdul Karim moves out of range.
Abdul Karim shoots in for a takedown but Zrinski shows good takedown defense.

Abdul Karim shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Khadem Abdul Karim has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zrinski is refusing to be controlled, as Abdul Karim sits in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abdul Karim keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Abdul Karim has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zrinski is in trouble now - Abdul Karim has advanced to mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdul Karim looking to control but Zrinski is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Abdul Karim is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Abdul Karim looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zrinski is squirming around, avoiding Abdul Karim's attempts to control the action.
Abdul Karim lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Zrinski tries to control the position but Abdul Karim now has his back.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Abdul Karim controlling the positon.
Abdul Karim tries to keep control of the position but Zrinski is staying busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zrinski trying to control the action but Abdul Karim just sinks the hooks in.

Abdul Karim is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Zrinski defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Abdul Karim lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Abdul Karim keeps control of the position as Zrinski tries to break free.
Abdul Karim lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Zrinski hold on?!

Abdul Karim looking for the choke but no joy.
You can see the frustration on Zrinski's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zrinski looking very determined here, making life difficult for Abdul Karim.
Well, with Abdul Karim on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Zrinski is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

Zrinski is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Abdul Karim gets his way!
Zrinski trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zrinski takes a big shot to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Khadem Abdul Karim showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Zrinski falls off balance throwing a combination
and Abdul Karim counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Abdul Karim closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Abdul Karim lands in his opponent's guard.
Abdul Karim chips away with some ground and pound.
Abdul Karim stays in close to Zrinski's body and controls the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abdul Karim throwing strikes but missing.
Zrinski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdul Karim throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Abdul Karim throwing strikes but missing.
Abdul Karim trying to control the position from guard on top but Zrinski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Abdul Karim missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Abdul Karim wants to control from the top but Zrinski keeps moving.
Abdul Karim throws a big right hand that misses.
Zrinski seems keen to control Abdul Karim's posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Marko Zrinski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Khadem Abdul Karim is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zrinski takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Abdul Karim fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zrinski avoids it really well and circles away.
Abdul Karim tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zrinski swivels and escapes.
A little feinted left hand from Zrinski on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Zrinski displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Abdul Karim.
Zrinski quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Marko Zrinski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khadem Abdul Karim.
Nice sprawl there from Zrinski as Abdul Karim shoots in.
Abdul Karim blocks a low kick nicely.
Abdul Karim only half commits to the counter leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abdul Karim keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Abdul Karim takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Abdul Karim has his takedown stuffed
letting Zrinski counter with a right hand.
A low kick from Abdul Karim is predictable there
and Zrinski counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A good leg kick by Abdul Karim.
Zrinski pivots, looking for a leg kick but Abdul Karim is out of range and Zrinski settles back down.
Abdul Karim shoots and misses
enabling Zrinski to counter with a crisp jab.

Abdul Karim drives through and clinches with Zrinski against the cage.

Zrinski's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Abdul Karim doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zrinski counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Marko Zrinski is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abdul Karim fails with the takedown.
Abdul Karim moves away from the strike by Zrinski.
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!
Abdul Karim shoots for a takedown but Zrinski saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Zrinski is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Abdul Karim.
Zrinski seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Abdul Karim is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zrinski sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Zrinski was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Zrinski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zrinski loads up on a big right hand but Abdul Karim slips the punch.
A jab from Zrinski misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marko Zrinski showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Abdul Karim 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight for Khadem Abdul Karim!
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight for Khadem Abdul Karim!
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight for Khadem Abdul Karim!

Khadem Abdul Karim wins by unanimous decision!
A very excited looking Khadem Abdul Karim made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.