PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gregoire Aebersold (ranked 5506 p4p, 2261 weight class) and Abdullah Zaire (ranked 512 p4p, 269 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Aebersold
vs
Zaire

190 cm
30
214
7 - 11 - 0

180 cm
36
215
23 - 15 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Furnace Performance ðŸ”¥

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 7 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gregoire Aebersold!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Abdullah Zaire!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Joseph Jones and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zaire misses with a straight right.
Aebersold tries to counter by clinching up but Zaire breaks away and moves out of range.
Zaire fails with the takedown.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zaire. Aebersold does a little dance to reset his feet.

Aebersold gets the takedown into side control.
Aebersold fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Zaire is looking to regain half guard here but Aebersold keeps moving and retains side control.
Aebersold creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Zaire sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Zaire manages to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Aebersold is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Zaire sees it coming and defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Aebersold is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Aebersold 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 tries to roll over but Aebersold keeps him under control.

Aebersold is working for a kimura but Zaire is defending it quite comfortably.
Zaire is trying to get back to full guard.
Aebersold is pressing down on Zaire's thigh, looking to free his foot. Zaire is holding on for now.
Aebersold passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaire tries to hold on but Aebersold postures up.
Aebersold wants to control the action but instead Zaire gets a body lock and reverses into Aebersold's guard! Nice work!
Zaire won't allow Aebersold to sweep him here.
Zaire landing some decent shots from guard.

Aebersold looking for subs off his back but Zaire has passed one foot through into half guard.
Zaire missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Aebersold trying to get back to full guard but Zaire takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aebersold sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Aebersold avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zaire.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Aebersold is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zaire pulls his head out easily.

Aebersold looking for submissions off his back.
Aebersold avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zaire.
Zaire has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Aebersold tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Aebersold is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zaire goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Aebersold turns into him and now he's in Zaire's guard.
Aebersold in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Aebersold lands a couple of digs.
Aebersold wants to pass the guard but Zaire is keeping the position.

Zaire is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Zaire looking for a guillotine here but Aebersold defends easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aebersold pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zaire is keeping the position for now.
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 Gregoire Aebersold will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Zaire fails with a takedown attempt.
Zaire just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromAebersold.

Aebersold gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Aebersold jumps into guard, dragging Zaire to the mat.
Aebersold controls Zaire momentarily but Zaire frees himself.
Zaire lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zaire sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Aebersold working a defensive guard here.
Aebersold lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aebersold trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Zaire escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Aebersold gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Aebersold looking to sit in guard and control but Zaire gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Zaire missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Aebersold avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Aebersold not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Aebersold 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 passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aebersold gets back to half guard.
Zaire working the head and body with strikes.
Aebersold is trying to get back to full guard.
Aebersold gets back to full guard.
Zaire looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Zaire 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.
Aebersold looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zaire is one step ahead there.
Aebersold avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Zaire thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire trying to control the position from guard on top but Aebersold is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aebersold wants to hit a sweep here but Zaire passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Aebersold there!
Zaire working the ground and pound effectively.
Aebersold tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Aebersold is working hard here to advance position.
Zaire working Aebersold over with strikes here.
Aebersold is looking to improve his position but Zaire isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Zaire connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Abdullah Zaire has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zaire working the ground and pound effectively.
Aebersold is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aebersold bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Aebersold trying to control but Zaire is working from the bottom.

Aebersold avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aebersold is looking to advance position but Zaire has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Abdullah Zaire showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Aebersold's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Zaire enables Aebersold to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Zaire manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Zaire looking to control but Aebersold passes into half guard.
Zaire blocking the ground and pound attempt from Aebersold.
Zaire trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zaire manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Aebersold content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Zaire working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Aebersold.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zaire can't keep his opponent in guard - Aebersold advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Aebersold is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Zaire is in trouble now - Aebersold has advanced to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aebersold lands a big elbow.
Aebersold trying to control but Zaire is having none of it.
Zaire is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Aebersold unloads with some shots from mount but Zaire bucks and avoids them well.
Aebersold throws some wild stikes that Zaire manages to avoid easily.
Aebersold with the ground and pound from mount.

Aebersold goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Zaire turns into him and now he's in Aebersold's guard.

Aebersold working for a triangle but Zaire defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zaire thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Aebersold has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Zaire is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Aebersold.
Aebersold is looking for a sweep.
Zaire misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The strikes coming from Zaire are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Aebersold tries to improve position but can't.

Zaire is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Aebersold has escaped the position, nice work there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zaire throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Zaire tries for a kimura but Aebersold is defending well.
Zaire is working Aebersold over with some ground and pound from side control.
Aebersold is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Zaire is looking for a kimura but Aebersold is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Zaire to get the leverage.
Aebersold slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Aebersold keeping moving, preventing Zaire from controlling successfully.

Aebersold looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Aebersold is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aebersold looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zaire working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Aebersold is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Zaire avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Aebersold.
Aebersold throwing shots but Zaire is blocking nicely.
Aebersold trying to mount his opponent but Zaire defends it.
Aebersold is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Zaire has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zaire trying to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gregoire Aebersold showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Aebersold has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gregoire Aebersold!
Gregoire Aebersold thanked the fans post fight for their support.