PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Datu Bayani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Burt Reynolds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bayani comes into the arena with Falling Out Theme - boysetsfire blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bayani
vs
Reynolds

168 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
19
184 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

Russian Experiments

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 Rio de Janeiro, Datu Bayani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Burt Reynolds!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bayani misses with the combination.
Nice sprawl there from Reynolds as Bayani shoots in.
Bayani keeps the fight on the outside.

Reynolds has Bayani up against the cage in a clinch.
Reynolds blocks a body shot from Bayani.
Reynolds misses with an elbow strike.
Bayani tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Reynolds's elbow.
Bayani has Reynolds pressed against the cage.
Bayani tries to land knees in the clinch but Reynolds avoids the damage to the body.
Bayani tries to stall but Reynolds uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Bayani misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Reynolds.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bayani breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Reynolds doesn't manage to clinch there - Bayani circles away.
Bayani tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Reynolds counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Reynolds throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Reynolds wants to take a breather but Bayani is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reynolds is looking to advance position but Bayani won't allow it.
Bayani keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bayani is looking to control Reynolds's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bayani avoid being mounted?
Reynolds working over Bayani with some ground and pound. Bayani looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Reynolds thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Reynolds is looking to advance position but Bayani won't allow it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bayani looks to clinch

and Reynolds counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Reynolds.

Bayani escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Reynolds gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Reynolds pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bayani is keeping the position for now.
Bayani looking for a sweep. Not yet Bayani, not yet.
Bayani avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bayani keeping moving, preventing Reynolds from controlling successfully.
Bayani avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bayani working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Reynolds.
Reynolds in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bayani darts in trying to clinch

and Reynolds moves into the clinch.
Bayani avoids the elbow strike from Reynolds, against the cage.
Reynolds scores with a hook to the body.
Bayani tries to break the clinch but Reynolds is controlling the position.
Reynolds throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Bayani looking to slow down the pace here.
Reynolds connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bayani's face.
Bayani misses with some punches.
Reynolds tries a knee to the head but Bayani blocks it.
Bayani blocks the elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bayani swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Reynolds wants a takedown.
Bayani tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bayani wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bayani misses with the head strike.
Reynolds lands a damaging elbow.
Reynolds tries to land a knee to the head but Bayani blocks with his arms.
Reynolds looks gassed!
Bayani dodges an elbow strike from Reynolds.
Reynolds blocks an uppercut.
Bayani blocks the elbow strike.
Reynolds misses with an elbow strike.
Bayani tries to break the clinch but Reynolds is controlling the position.
Reynolds tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
With the fighters up against the cage, Reynolds throws an elbow but misses.
Reynolds looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Bayani stalling against the cage.
Bayani tries to score a body lock takedown but Reynolds shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Bayani prevents the takedown attempt.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Bayani just misses with a elbow thrown towards Reynolds's brow.
Reynolds lands an elbow inside.
Reynolds trying to land knees to the body.
Bayani is working Reynolds over against the cage.
Bayani doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Bayani lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Bayani lands with a punch from half guard.
Reynolds wants to control but Bayani is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds is looking to improve his position.
Bayani trying to control from half guard but Reynolds is working away.
Reynolds manages to get to full guard.
Reynolds thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Reynolds trying to keep a closed guard but Bayani is proving a slippery customer.
Bayani throwing strikes but missing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Bayani pushes Reynolds up against the cage in a clinch.

Bayani manages to break the clinch.
An inside leg kick from Bayani misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Burt Reynolds dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bayani wants to clinch

and Reynolds moves into the clinch.
Bayani can't break the clinch.
Bayani tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Bayani breaks the clinch.

Bayani shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bayani showed some decent athleticism there.
Reynolds is refusing to be controlled, as Bayani sits in half guard.
Bayani thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Reynolds's head.
Bayani seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Reynolds moves into full guard.
Bayani trying to control but Reynolds is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reynolds looking for a sweep. Not yet Reynolds, not yet.
Reynolds is breathing heavily.
Bayani trying to control but Reynolds is working from the bottom.

Reynolds throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Reynolds circles away from the clinch attempt

and Reynolds counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bayani won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bayani throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Bayani regains half guard.

Bayani looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Reynolds throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Reynolds throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Reynolds wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bayani keeps working.
Bayani could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Bayani tries to roll over but Reynolds keeps him under control.
Bayani works his way to full guard. Good work.
Bayani is trying to control the position but Reynolds postures up.
Bayani looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bayani pivots, looking for a leg kick but Reynolds is out of range and Bayani settles back down.
Bayani tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Reynolds counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bayani's guard now.
Bayani might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bayani controls Reynolds momentarily but Reynolds frees himself.
Burt Reynolds has got the better of the ground game so far.
Reynolds stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bayani swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bayani is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Reynolds landing some decent shots from guard.
Reynolds trying to control the position from guard on top but Bayani is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reynolds stopping the sweep attempt from Bayani.
Reynolds postures up in Bayani's guard and throws a big left but Bayani blocks it.

Bayani looking for a guillotine here but Reynolds defends easily.
Reynolds stands up over Bayani, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Reynolds clinches with his opponent.

Reynolds has clasped his hands together around Bayani's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Bayani is looking to reverse the position.
Reynolds scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Bayani to see if he's OK.
Reynolds trying to control the position but Bayani is working away.
Bayani manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Reynolds is positioning himself well to prevent Bayani advancing to mount.
Bayani with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Reynolds tries to roll over but Bayani keeps him under control.
Bayani passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Reynolds!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Burt Reynolds 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 eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Reynolds fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bayani, pushing him back against the cage.
Reynolds blocks the elbow strike.
Reynolds throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Bayani misses with a punch on the inside.
Reynolds fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Reynolds missing with knees to the body.
Bayani managing to block the knees to the body from Reynolds.

Bayani breaks from the clinch.

Reynolds has managed to clinch.
Bayani on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bayani jumps guard but Reynolds stands there with Bayani around his waist. Bayani gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bayani blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Reynolds blocks an elbow strike from Bayani.
Bayani wants to get back to striking at distance but Reynolds won't allow it.
Bayani wants to break free but Reynolds has control.

Bayani has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Reynolds uses from the top position.
Reynolds trying to control the position from guard on top but Bayani is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bayani looking for a sweep. Not yet Bayani, not yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reynolds scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Reynolds with a nice head shot there.
Reynolds postures up.
Reynolds trying to control but Bayani is working from the bottom.
Bayani keeping full guard, as Reynolds tries to pass.
Reynolds postures up in Bayani's guard and throws a big left but Bayani blocks it.
Bayani is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Reynolds makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Reynolds.
Reynolds tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bayani wants to control from the top but Reynolds keeps moving.
Bayani wants to pass the guard but Reynolds is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds is pulling down on Bayani's head to control his posture.
Reynolds looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bayani is one step ahead there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bayani accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bayani is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Bayani stopping the sweep attempt from Reynolds.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bayani misses with a takedown

and Reynolds counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Reynolds.
Reynolds lands a nice uppercut.
Bayani blocks the elbow strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bayani.
The is referee keeping an eye on Bayani - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bayani avoids the elbow strike from Reynolds, against the cage.
Bayani blocks an uppercut.
Bayani fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Datu Bayani. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bayani swings wildly with an uppercut but Reynolds uses good head movement to avoid it.
Reynolds lands a nice elbow.
Bayani blocks an elbow strike.

Bayani pulls guard.
Reynolds advances position into side control!
Bayani tries to improve position but can't.
Reynolds trying to control the position but Bayani is working away.
Reynolds wants to stand but Bayani is controlling his arm.
Reynolds working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Reynolds trying to control the position but Bayani is working away.
Bayani is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Reynolds scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bayani keeps working.
Reynolds working the head and body with strikes.
Reynolds is working Bayani over with some ground and pound from side control.
Reynolds working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Bayani tries to bench press Reynolds off him but Reynolds keeps the position.
Reynolds landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Reynolds passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Bayani!
Reynolds tries to control but Bayani wriggling away.
Reynolds looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Bayani is working to get back to half guard.
Reynolds is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Bayani can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Datu Bayani has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bayani throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Burt Reynolds comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Reynolds winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Burt Reynolds!