PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Brad Reyes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Zakarian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Reyes
vs
Zakarian

175 cm
22
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
24
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Brad Reyes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ryan Zakarian!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zakarian gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Reyes to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Reyes is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Reyes connects with a couple of short punches.
Zakarian trying to keep a closed guard but Reyes is proving a slippery customer.
Reyes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Reyes drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Zakarian manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Reyes has Zakarian in his guard.
Zakarian stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Reyes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zakarian in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zakarian wants to control from the top but Reyes keeps moving.
Zakarian controls from within his opponent's guard.
Reyes is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

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.
Zakarian trying to control the position from guard on top but Reyes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ryan Zakarian.
Zakarian tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Reyes swivels and escapes.
Reyes connects with the punch.
Reyes throws a right and a left that Zakarian avoids nicely.
Zakarian bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zakarian walks into a stiff left hand from Reyes.
Zakarian swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zakarian tries to close the distance and clinch but Reyes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Brad Reyes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Reyes throws a lazy right hand but Zakarian sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Reyes drives through and clinches with Zakarian against the cage.

Zakarian gets control of Reyes's arms and successfully pulls guard. Zakarian will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Reyes has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Reyes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Reyes trying to control the position from guard on top but Zakarian is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zakarian is looking for a triangle but Reyes pushes his legs off easily.
Zakarian is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Reyes throws and elbow that misses. Zakarian uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Reyes's guard. Nice move by Zakarian!
Reyes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zakarian manages to get himself to full guard.
Reyes trying to control the position from guard on top but Zakarian is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reyes working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reyes slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reyes lands a nice forearm strike.
Zakarian takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
An elbow from Reyes crashes against the mat.
Reyes tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Reyes scoring with punches from side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Reyes.
Zakarian is looking for a sweep.
Zakarian looks gassed!
Reyes throws an elbow but Zakarian slips to the side and avoids it well.
Reyes in side control, throwing shots but Zakarian defends.
Zakarian is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Reyes scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Zakarian to see if he's OK.
Reyes lands an elbow.
Reyes in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Reyes dominated that round.
That's time! Reyes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zakarian will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Reyes throws a left and a right that both miss

and Zakarian counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Zakarian.
Zakarian tries to pull guard but Reyes won't allow it.
Zakarian is pressed up against the cage. Reyes has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Zakarian down to the mat. Zakarian avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Reyes fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Zakarian checks it well.

Zakarian rushes Reyes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Zakarian controlling the action here for a moment.
Reyes goes for a takedown attempt but Zakarian pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Zakarian shoots in and drives through. Reyes sprawls well.
Brad Reyes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Zakarian.
Reyes thows a body shot but no joy.
Reyes lands with a thumping leg kick.
Zakarian fails in his attempt to clinch.
Reyes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zakarian was well out of range. Poor timing from Reyes.
A shot to the body from Reyes misses

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reyes looking to control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zakarian tries to free his leg and advance position but Reyes is retaining full guard.

Reyes uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Zakarian throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Reyes's waist but Reyes gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zakarian off to one side.
Zakarian checks a leg kick.
Zakarian shoots in for a double leg but Reyes sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Reyes throws a series of punches but Zakarian moves out of range.
Reyes attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Zakarian slips under a jab.
Jab by Reyes.
Reyes connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reyes throws a front kick aimed at Zakarian's knee but Zakarian avoids it well.
Reyes slaps away a takedown attempt from Zakarian, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Reyes has taken the fight to the clinch.

Reyes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zakarian takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Zakarian moves out of range as Reyes throws a body kick.
Reyes throws a front kick aimed at Zakarian's knee but Zakarian avoids it well.
Zakarian fails with the takedown.
Zakarian changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Reyes tries to avoid it but Zakarian manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Reyes to the ground. Reyes escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Reyes fails to land with a series of punches.
Nice body punch from Zakarian.
Reyes connects with a good right hand that stumbles Zakarian. Zakarian circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Ryan Zakarian is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Reyes shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Reyes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zakarian tries to clinch there but Reyes circles away.
Zakarian checks a leg kick nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Reyes. No joy for Zakarian on that attempt.
Reyes fails to land the takedown.
Zakarian misses with a body kick.
Reyes tries to land a leg kick but Zakarian saw it coming and moves away.
Zakarian shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zakarian tries to close the distance and clinch but Reyes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Reyes shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zakarian as he avoids it easily.

Reyes feints and as Zakarian raises his hands in defense, Reyes changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Reyes with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reyes postures up in Zakarian's guard and throws a big left but Zakarian blocks it.
Zakarian trying to keep a closed guard but Reyes is proving a slippery customer.
Zakarian is pulling down on Reyes's head to control his posture.
Zakarian keeping moving, preventing Reyes from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Reyes postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Reyes postures up in Zakarian's guard and throws a big left but Zakarian blocks it.
Reyes lands a couple of digs.
Zakarian preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zakarian working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Reyes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Reyes dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Reyes misses with a looping right.
Zakarian takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Zakarian scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Reyes doesn't seem bothered though.
A telegraphed right hand from Reyes misses the target.
Zakarian tried to score with a low kick but Reyes checks it.
Reyes missing with a left hand there. Zakarian was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A jab lands there for Zakarian.
Reyes stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Reyes wants it to stay on the feet.
A swing and a miss from Reyes.
Zakarian looks to clinch
and Reyes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zakarian has a takedown stuffed.
Reyes jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Reyes shoots for a takedown but Zakarian saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Reyes cracks Zakarian with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Reyes bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reyes has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Zakarian fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Reyes manages to avoid it.
Reyes moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Reyes has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Zakarian ducks under a wild hook from Reyes.
Reyes tries to clinch up.
Zakarian tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Reyes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Reyes lands a nice leg kick that just misses Zakarian's sensitive parts.
Reyes scores with a hook.
Zakarian wants to clinch up but Reyes keeps it at a distance.
Zakarian misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zakarian pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Reyes misses with an uppercut. Zakarian saw that one coming.

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.
Zakarian shoots for a double leg takedown but Reyes sprawls well. He's pushed Zakarian's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Brad Reyes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Zakarian.
Reyes takes a swing at Zakarian's ribcage but misses.
Zakarian walks into a straight right hand from Reyes.
Zakarian tries to close the distance and clinch up but Reyes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zakarian tries to close the distance and clinch up but Reyes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A punch combination from Reyes misses.

Zakarian fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Reyes, pushing him back against the cage.

Reyes has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Zakarian regains guard immediately.
Zakarian preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zakarian controls Reyes momentarily but Reyes frees himself.
Reyes wants to control from the top but Zakarian keeps moving.
Zakarian is trying to keep Reyes in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reyes landing some decent shots from guard.
Zakarian is trying to control the position but Reyes postures up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Reyes passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Zakarian struggling a bit here.
Zakarian takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Zakarian is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Reyes has just dragged him back down to the mat.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zakarian can do anything to dispel that myth.
Zakarian is trying to control Reyes's posture but Reyes avoids it.
Reyes landing a few strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Zakarian on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Reyes landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Reyes working the head and body with strikes.
Reyes looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Zakarian is avoiding damage well.
Reyes lands a nice forearm strike.
Brad Reyes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Reyes creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Zakarian sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Reyes scores with punches from side control.
You can see the frustration on Zakarian's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Zakarian is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Reyes is controlling him well.
Ryan Zakarian has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Brad Reyes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Reyes, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brad Reyes!