PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abdullah Zaire (ranked 2173 p4p, 4265 weight class) and Fernand Legrand (ranked 293 p4p, 475 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Zaire
vs
Legrand

180 cm
35
215
22 - 15 - 0

190 cm
30
212
5 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

Furnace Performance 🔥

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

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 22 - 15 - 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 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fernand Legrand!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Franklyn Lucas and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Legrand ducks under a wild hook from Zaire.

Legrand scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Zaire tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Legrand wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
You can see the frustration on Zaire's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Legrand looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Zaire is avoiding damage well.
Zaire managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Legrand.

Legrand decides to stand back up. Legrand steps back and let's Zaire get back to his feet.
Zaire throws a big shot that misses.

Legrand scores with a takedown into Zaire's guard.
Legrand has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zaire is proving hard to escape from.

Legrand gets to his feet - Zaire follows without any prompting.
Legrand takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legrand staying out of range there.

Zaire closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Legrand did well to prevent Zaire getting side control.
Legrand tries to get to full guard but Zaire has control of the leg.
Legrand wants to get back to his feet.
Legrand works his way to full guard. Good work.
Legrand has momentary wrist control but Zaire slips an elbow through the middle.
Legrand wants to sweep but no luck.
Zaire postures up in Legrand's guard and throws a big left but Legrand blocks it.
We've been hearing good reports from Zaire's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Legrand is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Zaire scoring with some ground and pound.

Legrand working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zaire doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zaire manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Zaire stopping the sweep attempt from Legrand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Legrand is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Legrand tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Legrand trying to keep a closed guard but Zaire is proving a slippery customer.
Legrand looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zaire with a nice head shot there.
Zaire throwing strikes from guard but Legrand blocks nicely.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zaire stops Legrand from standing up.

Legrand wants to improve his position here. There's a bit of a scramble and Zaire has taken Legrand's back! He's locked on a rear naked choke here and Legrand has been forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Abdullah Zaire!
During a confident post fight interview, Abdullah Zaire thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.