PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Numero Nueve (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zak Drezner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Drezner comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Cypress Hill - Checkmate kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Nueve
vs
Drezner

173 cm
27
162 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

175 cm
23
162 lbs
13 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Rivers Edge Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Numero Nueve!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zak Drezner!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Tiny Johnson and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nueve throws a leg kick that is checked
and Drezner counters with a nice uppercut.
Nueve takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Nueve throws a sloppy head kick
and Drezner counters with a thumping low kick.
Drezner throws a nice looking combination but Nueve bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Drezner throws a nice head kick!
Drezner throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Drezner shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Drezner is looking to clinch.
Nueve misses with a few strikes there.
Drezner misses with a jab to the body

and Nueve counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nueve thows a huge punch but Drezner dodges it nicely.
Drezner avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nueve.
Drezner blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nueve.
Drezner trying to control from the bottom.
Nueve not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nueve missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nueve landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Drezner is looking for a sweep. Nueve is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nueve throwing shots but Drezner is blocking nicely.
Nueve winds up and cracks Drezner with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nueve throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nueve is nestled in close to Drezner, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nueve missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Drezner is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Drezner manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Nueve scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Nueve won't allow Drezner to sweep him here.
Nueve missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nueve pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Drezner is keeping the position for now.
Drezner looking for a sweep. Not yet Drezner, not yet.
Drezner looking to control.
Nueve throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Drezner works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Drezner pushes Nueve off and gets back to his feet.
Zak Drezner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nueve throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Drezner misses with a low kick.
Drezner throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Zak Drezner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nueve ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Drezner moves away.
Drezner throws a wild body kick that Nueve sees coming a mile off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Drezner misses with a body kick.
Drezner looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Nueve misses with a wild body shot.
Drezner does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A slapping leg kick lands for Drezner.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nueve. Drezner does a little dance to reset his feet.
Drezner misses with an uppercut. Nueve saw that one coming.
Drezner throws a body kick that misses.
Some bone on bone action there as Nueve checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Zak Drezner will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Drezner throws a left and a right that both miss
and Nueve counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Drezner thinking.
Drezner tries a head kick but it misses.
Nueve throws an ugly left hook that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Nueve checks a leg kick.
A head kick misses from Drezner.
Nueve thows a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drezner pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Drezner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nueve is looking to wear down Drezner with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Drezner.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drezner gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Nueve to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Drezner keeping moving, preventing Nueve from controlling successfully.
Nueve thows a big elbow that misses.
Drezner looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nueve throwing strikes from guard but Drezner blocks nicely.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Drezner is on top in guard.
Nueve keeping moving, preventing Drezner from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nueve is looking for a triangle but Drezner pushes his legs off easily.
Drezner tries to stand but Nueve is controlling from the bottom.
Drezner trying to control but Nueve is working from the bottom.
Nueve looking for a sweep. Not yet Nueve, not yet.
Drezner showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Zak Drezner.

Nueve drives through with a takedown into guard.
Drezner manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nueve can't escape the position.
Drezner controlling his opponent.
Drezner trying to control but he's not successful this time.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Drezner controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Zak Drezner wasn't active enough on the ground.
Drezner ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Drezner lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Nueve fails with the takedown
and Drezner counters with a head kick.
Nueve moves out of range as Drezner throws a body kick.
Drezner is looking to slow Nueve down with leg kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zak Drezner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Drezner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nueve takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Drezner lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Nueve moves out of range of the body kick.
Nueve throws a leg kick
and Drezner counters with a good low kick that Nueve was not able to check.
Drezner clobbers Nueve with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Drezner lands a leg kick that knocks Nueve off balance momentarily.

Nueve is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Drezner's half guard.
Drezner moves into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drezner utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nueve postures up in Drezner's guard and throws a big left but Drezner blocks it.
Drezner trying to keep a closed guard but Nueve is proving a slippery customer.
Drezner looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nueve working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Drezner pulls Nueve in to control the position.
Nueve missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nueve 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.
Nueve stopping the sweep attempt from Drezner.
Nueve postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Drezner has his feet on Nueve's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nueve.
Nueve tries to work over Drezner's front leg with a kick but Drezner checks it.
Nueve shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Drezner counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drezner connects with a single shot there.
Drezner works over Nueve's head and body with a nice combination.
Nueve throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Drezner lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Nueve avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nueve avoids the head kick by Drezner.
Drezner moves out of range of the strikes.
Nueve checks a low kick from Drezner.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drezner scores with a spinning back kick!
Drezner thuds a left hand into Nueve's body.
Nueve throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Drezner's corner calls for a 1-2. Drezner obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Nueve uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Drezner.
Drezner throws a head kick that misses.
Drezner cracks the inside of Nueve's front leg.
Drezner slaps away a takedown attempt from Nueve, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zak Drezner really dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nueve throws a head kick but Drezner moves out of range.
Nueve looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Drezner is fending him off so far but Nueve persists. Nope, Drezner circles away and we're back to standing.
Sloppy strikes from Nueve. Those never looked like landing.
Drezner throws a body punch but Nueve moves out of range.
Drezner connects with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drezner cracks the inside of Nueve's front leg.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Drezner.
Nice takedown defense from Drezner. No joy for Nueve on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drezner throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nueve is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Good work by Nueve as he checks the leg kick.
Drezner throws a series of punches but Nueve moves out of range.
Drezner throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nueve swings away with a body shot that misses
and Drezner counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Drezner throws a low kick but Nueve avoids it.
Drezner finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Drezner lands a head kick. Nueve smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nueve.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Numero Nueve. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nueve shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Drezner defends it nicely.
Nueve moves forwards but Drezner connects with a nice, crisp jab.
An inside leg kick from Nueve misses.
Nueve checks a leg kick nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drezner tried to score with a low kick but Nueve checks it.
Nueve cracks a nice hook into Drezner's ribs.
Drezner misses with a head kick.
Nueve shoots for a double leg takedown but Drezner sprawls well. He's pushed Nueve's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nueve takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Drezner throws a front kick that sends Nueve stumbling back into the cage.
Drezner throws a head kick that Nueve semi-blocks.
Nueve blocks a head kick by Drezner.
Drezner goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drezner misses with a leg kick.
Drezner misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nueve.
Drezner defending well as Nueve loads up on a big left hand.
Nueve shoots in for a takedown but Drezner shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nueve throws a leg kick that is checked
and Drezner counters with a stiff right hand.
Nueve closes this distance looking for a takedown but Drezner circles away.
A combination from Drezner does no damage.
A shot to the body from Nueve misses
and Drezner counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zak Drezner dominated that fourth round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Drezner lands the left hand.
Drezner throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Nueve avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Drezner misses with a body shot.
Drezner misses with a body shot.
Drezner tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nueve was well out of range. Poor timing from Drezner.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nueve has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Drezner.
Drezner fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nueve checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nueve blocks a head kick by Drezner.
Nueve avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Drezner throws the kick towards the body but Nueve avoids it.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Nueve.
Nueve with the ground and pound but Drezner regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Nueve throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Drezner wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nueve is thwarting Drezner's attempts to control the position.
Nueve looks to land a strike but Drezner avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Nueve in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nueve scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Drezner trying to control the position.
Nueve postures up in Drezner's guard and throws a big left but Drezner blocks it.
Drezner is looking to sweep but instead, Nueve has passed into half guard.
Drezner avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nueve.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drezner is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nueve scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nueve throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nueve is thwarting Drezner's attempts to control the position.
Nueve thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Drezner to regain full guard.
Nueve in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nueve loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nueve makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Drezner holds on and takes a little breather.
Nueve tries to free his leg and advance position but Drezner is retaining full guard.
Numero Nueve has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zak Drezner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nueve missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Drezner trying to control the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nueve accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Drezner looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Zak Drezner has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Drezner misses with a body kick.
Zak Drezner seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nueve walks into a jab.

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 Numero Nueve.
I think Drezner has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 46:49
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 46:49
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zak Drezner!
Zak Drezner is the new lightweight champion!