PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zach Anner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ramon Dekker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Anner
vs
Dekker

175 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 1

173 cm
24
135 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 1, fighting out of New York, Zach Anner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ramon Dekker!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Columbo Gatti and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Anner misses the target.
Anner shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dekker but Dekker pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Dekker tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Anner swivels and escapes.
Dekker pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dekker keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Anner takes a head kick and keeps coming.

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

Anner's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dekker stuffs the takedown attempt from Anner. Anner gets slowly back to his feet.
Dekker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dekker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Anner throws a right and a left that Dekker avoids nicely.
Dekker is looking to slow Anner down with leg kicks.
Dekker is looking to land body kicks.
Dekker tries a head kick but it misses.
Anner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Anner looks to land a body kick but Dekker moved away.
Dekker is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dekker moves out of range of the body kick from Anner.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dekker avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Anner lands a nice leg kick that just misses Dekker's sensitive parts.

Anner clinches up against the cage.
Dekker tries to break free but Anner pushes him back against the cage.

Anner breaks from the clinch.

Anner moves into range and clinches up with Dekker.
Anner putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Dekker in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Dekker is trying to break the clinch but Anner has him pressed against the cage.
Anner throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Anner obliges.
Anner is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Dekker looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Anner landing knees to the body.
Dekker avoiding damage as Anner throws knees to the body.
Dekker can't break the clinch.
Dekker blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Anner successfully pulls guard.

Anner scrambles and gets back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Dekker.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Anner moves into the clinch successfully.
Knees in the clinch landing for Anner.
Anner with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Anner has Dekker pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Dekker manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zach Anner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Anner is breathing heavily.
Knees in the clinch landing for Anner.
Dekker tries to break free but Anner pushes him back against the cage.
Dekker is looking to break free of the clinch but Anner has double underhooks.
Anner tries to land knees in the clinch but Dekker avoids the damage to the body.
Anner changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Dekker fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Dekker falls off balance throwing a combination

and Anner moves into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dekker looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Dekker blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Dekker wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Anner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dekker shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Anner as he jumps to the side.
Anner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Anner dodges the punch combination from Dekker.
Dekker tries to clinch up but Anner circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dekker scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Dekker throws a head kick that misses.
Dekker throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Dekker blocks a leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Anner.
Anner shoots in for a double leg but Dekker sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Dekker lands with a slapping head kick.
Anner throws a sloppy head kick and Dekker moves out of range easily.
Anner shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Dekker doesn't manage to clinch there - Anner circles away.
Anner avoids a punch combination nicely.
Dekker throws a head kick but Anner moves out of range.
Anner blocks a head kick by Dekker.
Anner stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Anner wants it to stay on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Anner darts in and clinches Dekker up against the cage.
Dekker tries to break free but Anner pushes him back against the cage.
Anner tries to land knees in the clinch but Dekker avoids the damage to the body.
Dekker wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Anner tries to land knees in the clinch but Dekker avoids the damage to the body.
Dekker tries to break free but Anner pushes him back against the cage.

Anner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Anner takes a kick to the side of the head.
Dekker misses with a jab, cross combination.
Dekker lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Dekker misses with a head kick.
Anner shoots in for a takedown but Dekker shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Anner takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Dekker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Anner tries to work over Dekker's front leg with a kick but Dekker checks it.
No joy there for Dekker, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Dekker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Zach Anner will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Dekker.
Dekker tries to score a power double leg takedown but Anner sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dekker somewhat.
Nice takedown defense from Anner. No joy for Dekker on that attempt.
Dekker misses with a looping right.
Anner misses with a body kick.
Anner misses with the body kick
and Dekker counters with a nice body kick.
Dekker lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Dekker fails to land with a series of punches.
Anner moves out of range as Dekker throws a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anner shoots in but no luck this time.
Anner misses with a kick to the body
and Dekker counters with a solid body kick.
Anner takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Anner slips a jab and a cross from Dekker.
Anner is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Dekker.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anner blocks a head kick by Dekker.
Dekker misses with a head kick.

Anner darts in and clinches Dekker up against the cage.
Anner lands a nice knee to the body.
Dekker is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Anner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Anner tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dekker sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Anner somewhat.
Dekker avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Dekker fails to land with a series of punches.
Dekker takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Anner attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
No luck for Anner with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zach Anner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dekker fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Anner tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dekker sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Anner somewhat.
Dekker throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Anner.
Dekker throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Dekker tries to bum rush Anner with a series of wild strikes but Anner uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zach Anner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dekker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Anner swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Dekker counters with a one-two to the body.
Anner throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dekker.
Dekker plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Dekker wants to clinch but Anner slips to the side
and Anner counters with an inside leg kick.
Anner tries to land a body kick
and Dekker counters with a body kick that stops Anner in his tracks momentarily.
Dekker throws a series of punches but Anner avoids them all with ease.
Dekker plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Dekker lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dekker bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Anner's head.
Anner throws a head kick that misses
and Dekker counters with a nice kick to the body.
Anner tries to close the distance and clinch but Dekker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dekker tries a head kick but it misses.
Dekker looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Anner is fending him off so far but Dekker persists. Nope, Anner circles away and we're back to standing.
Dekker throws a head kick that misses.
Anner shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Dekker defends it nicely.
Dekker jabs at Anner's body.
Anner will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Some wild striking there from Dekker.
Dekker lands a nice leg kick that just misses Anner's sensitive parts.
Anner will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Dekker checks a leg kick nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Dekker fakes the leg kick and cracks Anner in the body.
Dekker looks for the body kick but Anner saw that one coming.
Dekker throws a half hearted mid kick.
Anner moves out of range as Dekker throws a body kick.
Dekker lets loose with a powerful body kick. Anner will feel that in the morning.
Dekker plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Anner throws a sloppy head kick and Dekker moves out of range easily.

Anner pushes Dekker up against the cage in a clinch.

Anner's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Anner blocks a head kick by Dekker.
Ramon Dekker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A combination from Dekker does no damage.

Anner moves into range and clinches up with Dekker.
Dekker tries to break the clinch but Anner is controlling the position.
Dekker wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Anner has him pressed against the cage.
Anner missing with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ramon Dekker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Dekker throws a right hand that Anner ducks under and follows up with a left that Anner also avoids with ease.

Anner has Dekker up against the cage in a clinch.

Anner's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dekker tries to clinch but Anner moves out of range.
Dekker tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick by Anner misses
and Dekker counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Dekker throws a head kick but Anner moves out of range.
Dekker lands with a kick to the temple. Anner shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Dekker chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Anner can pounce on him.
Dekker throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Anner misses with a leg kick
and Dekker counters with a body kick.
Anner avoids a kick to the body.

Anner has taken the fight to the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dekker looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Dekker letting Anner take a breather here.
Dekker has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Anner breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Anner avoids a punch combination nicely.
Dekker blocks a leg kick.

Anner closes the distance and clinches.
Anner prevents Dekker from breaking the clinch.
Dekker is looking to break free of the clinch but Anner has double underhooks.
Anner is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Dekker is defending well for now.
Dekker is trying to break free.

Anner pulls guard.
Dekker would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Anner holds on and takes a little breather.
Dekker must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Dekker has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Anner is proving hard to escape from.

Anner uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Dekker staying out of range there.
Dekker throws a head kick that half lands.
Dekker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dekker throws a sloppy head kick and Anner moves out of range easily.

Anner rushes Dekker and presses him up against the cage.

Anner breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dekker throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Anner lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Dekker fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anner thows a leg kick but Dekker checks it
and Dekker counters with a leg kick.
Dekker throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Dekker moves out of range as Anner throws a body kick.
Anner shoots for a takedown but Dekker saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dekker will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Dekker is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Anner.
Dekker lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Anner moves into the clinch.
Anner tries to land knees in the clinch but Dekker avoids the damage to the body.
Anner keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Dekker's efforts to push away.
Anner has Dekker pressed against the cage, preventing Dekker from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Dekker has had enough of the clinch but Anner keeps him there for the moment.
Anner putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Dekker in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Dekker wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Anner throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Dekker is looking to break free of the clinch but Anner has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Anner manages to break the clinch.
Anner blocks a head kick by Dekker.
Dekker misses with a body kick.
Dekker throws a sloppy head kick and Anner moves out of range easily.
Dekker checks a low kick from Anner.
Dekker displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Anner.
Dekker tries to clinch but Anner is having none of it.
Dekker throws a right hand that Anner ducks under and follows up with a left that Anner also avoids with ease.
Dekker connects with a high kick.
Dekker throws a head kick that misses.
No luck for Anner with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zach Anner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dekker goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Dekker misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Zach Anner.
I think Anner has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zach Anner!