PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jose Zayas (ranked 4457 p4p, 23937 weight class) and Justin Peter (ranked 490 p4p, 651 weight class). Justin Peter will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Zayas
vs
Peter

180 cm
19
170
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
170
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jose Zayas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Justin Peter!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Peter misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Peter shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zayas defends it nicely.
Zayas avoids the head kick by Peter.
Peter throws a head kick that misses.
Peter shoots in for a takedown but Zayas shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Zayas closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Peter to the mat! Peter manages to get full guard.

Peter is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Zayas is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zayas seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Peter for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zayas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Peter is keeping the position for now.
Zayas works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Zayas knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Peter on the ground.

Zayas decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Peter throws a head kick but Zayas moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Peter is defended easily by Zayas.
Jose Zayas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Peter.

Zayas shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Peter looks winded!
Zayas makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Peter looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zayas is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Peter preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Zayas gets to his feet - Peter follows without any prompting.
Peter tries to clinch up but Zayas circles away and keeps his distance.
Zayas swats away the attempt to clinch by Peter.
Peter fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zayas fires out a quick counter leg kick but Peter just manages to avoid it.
Peter throws a head kick that misses.

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

Zayas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zayas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zayas 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.
Zayas showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Zayas stands and throws Peter's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Zayas decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Zayas clinches up with Peter and pushes him back against the cage.
Peter looking for a takedown.
Zayas stalling in the clinch.

Peter is fighting off a takedown attempt but Zayas is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Peter to the mat. Peter regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Zayas sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Zayas gets to his feet - Peter follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zayas closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Zayas in particular looking to stall.
Peter wants to get back to full guard.

Zayas looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zayas working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Zayas dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Peter tries to clinch but Zayas moves out of range.
Peter throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Zayas.

It looks like Jose Zayas has been cut.
Peter fails with a takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Peter.
Zayas seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
A low kick lands for Zayas.
A head kick from Peter lands but Zayas takes it in his stride.
Peter tries a head kick but it misses.
Jose Zayas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No joy there for Zayas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Zayas clinches up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Peter wants to take the fight to the mat but Zayas manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Zayas is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Come on Zayas - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Zayas for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Peter goes for a takedown in the clinch but Zayas prevents it.
Jose Zayas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Peter.
Peter is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zayas breaks the clinch.

Zayas clinches with his opponent.
Zayas wants to break free but Peter has control.
Zayas is pressed up against the cage. Peter has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Zayas down to the mat. Zayas avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Zayas shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zayas showed some decent athleticism there.
Zayas takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Zayas scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Zayas slips a nice elbow through Peter's hands, connecting with Peter's forehead.
Zayas working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Well, if Zayas is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Zayas lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zayas decides to stand and escape the position.

Zayas looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Peter!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Peter tries to buck Zayas off but Zayas is having none of it.
Zayas controls the position from side control.
Zayas cracks Peter with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zayas decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Zayas misses with a wild combination.

Peter gets caught flat footed, as Zayas shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Zayas lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zayas slips nicely into half guard.

Peter is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zayas pulls his head out easily.

Zayas is looking for a kimura here.

Zayas wants to work for an arm triangle but Peter is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Peter is looking for a sweep. Zayas is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zayas is taking a breather. Peter says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Zayas seems to be looking for submissions.
Zayas controlling the pace.

Peter looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Zayas prevents Peter from improving his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Zayas dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jose Zayas'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. And we move into the final round!

Zayas closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Peter to the mat! Peter manages to get full guard.
Zayas pushing down on Peter's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Peter taking some punishment here, with Zayas in his half guard.
Peter is looking to improve his position.

Peter actively working from the bottom here.
Zayas is taking a breather. Peter says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Peter actively working from the bottom here.
Zayas is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Zayas decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Peter takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zayas clinches.
Peter keeps control of Zayas as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Peter drops down looking for an ankle pick but Zayas pulls his leg out and moves away.

Zayas shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Zayas lands a nice short elbow.
Zayas with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Zayas is nestled in close to Peter, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Justin Peter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zayas content to control rather than advance.

Zayas stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Peter shoots in and drives through. Zayas sprawls well.

Zayas shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Peter napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Zayas decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Zayas closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Peter's guard.
Zayas advances position into side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Peter tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zayas wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zayas is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Peter has escaped the position, nice work there.

Zayas decides to stand up, so the ref orders Peter to his feet.

Zayas closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Peter to the mat! Peter manages to get full guard.
Zayas is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Peter is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zayas defends well.

Peter is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zayas is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zayas lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Peter looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Zayas has picked Peter up and slammed him! Peter can't keep hold of the triangle and Zayas manages to pass to side control!
Zayas scores with a couple of short elbows.
Zayas controls the position.
Peter is looking for a sweep.
Jose Zayas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Zayas scoring with punches from side control.
Peter is trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zayas taking a breather here.
Jose Zayas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Peter tries to strike but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Zayas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Zayas 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Zayas!