PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nathaniel Dawkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Zaylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ben Zaylor told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Dawkins
vs
Zaylor

172 cm
20
156 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

174 cm
26
155 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nathaniel Dawkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ben Zaylor!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Alan Glass and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dawkins throws a hook but Zaylor blocks it.

Zaylor closes the distance and clinches.
Zaylor is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Dawkins jumps guard but Zaylor stands there with Dawkins around his waist. Dawkins gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Zaylor will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Dawkins up against the cage.
Zaylor stops a takedown attempt from Dawkins.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaylor stalls.
Dawkins tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathaniel Dawkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zaylor is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Ben Zaylor.
Dawkins tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zaylor swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Dawkins gets tackled into the cage by Zaylor. Zaylor maintains the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dawkins tries to pull guard but Zaylor forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Zaylor leaning his opponent against the cage.
Dawkins is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Zaylor to keep the fight standing.
Dawkins is trying to pull guard but Zaylor has him pressed against the cage.
Zaylor pressing his opponent against the cage.
Dawkins is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Zaylor to keep the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaylor stalls.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Ben Zaylor.
Zaylor is looking to clinch but Dawkins is avoiding it.

Dawkins tries to keep at a distance but Zaylor has taken the fight into the clinch.
Dawkins fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Dawkins drops down looking for an ankle pick but Zaylor pulls his leg out and moves away.

Zaylor closes the distance and clinches.
Dawkins is trying to break the clinch but Zaylor is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Dawkins tries to stall but Zaylor uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Zaylor misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dawkins can't get the takedown.
Dawkins doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Dawkins being controlled against the cage.
Zaylor tries to work over Dawkins's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Zaylor dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Dawkins has his takedown stuffed

and Zaylor moves into the clinch.
Dawkins taking a breather.
Zaylor has Dawkins pressed against the cage, preventing Dawkins from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Zaylor slowing the pace effectively.
Dawkins drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The referee is keeping an eye on Zaylor - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Ben Zaylor.
Zaylor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zaylor tries to close the distance and clinch but Dawkins swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dawkins wants to clinch.
Ben Zaylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Zaylor takes the fight into the clinch.
Zaylor is pressed up against the cage. Dawkins has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Zaylor down to the mat. Zaylor avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathaniel Dawkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zaylor tries to clinch but Dawkins moves out of range.

Zaylor gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaylor throws a punch but it's blocked by Dawkins.
Dawkins wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zaylor has him pressed against the cage.
Zaylor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The referee calls for Zaylor to work.
Dawkins working hard to break the clinch.
Zaylor is struggling to control the position.
Ben Zaylor seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Ben Zaylor.

Zaylor has managed to clinch.
Zaylor tries to throw a body punch but Dawkins avoids it by throwing Zaylor back against the cage.
Dawkins tries to work over Zaylor's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Dawkins wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zaylor stalling.
Zaylor gets underhooks to prevent Dawkins's takedown attempt.
The referee is keeping an eye on Zaylor - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Zaylor avoiding damage as Dawkins throws knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaylor leaning his opponent against the cage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Dawkins can't break the clinch.
Zaylor misses with a body punch.
Dawkins wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zaylor has him pressed against the cage.
Zaylor tries a knee to the head but Dawkins blocks it.
Dawkins fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Dawkins can't break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Zaylor 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. This is the final round!

Zaylor rushes Dawkins and presses him up against the cage.
Zaylor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dawkins working hard to break the clinch.
Zaylor creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Dawkins is trying to break the clinch but Zaylor has him pressed against the cage.
Zaylor doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Dawkins tries for a takedown. No joy.
Dawkins prevents a body shot from Zaylor.
Dawkins tries to pull guard but Zaylor holds him up against the cage and eventually Dawkins drops back down to his feet.
Dawkins is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawkins wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Dawkins is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Zaylor lands a body punch.
Dawkins tries to break the clinch but Zaylor is controlling the position.
Dawkins tries to score a body lock takedown but Zaylor shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathaniel Dawkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dawkins tries to circle away but Zaylor has him pinned against the cage.
Dawkins looking to stall.
Zaylor slowing the pace effectively.
Dawkins prevents a body shot from Zaylor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaylor's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Ben Zaylor.

Zaylor has Dawkins up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaylor is pressed up against the cage. Dawkins has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Zaylor down to the mat. Zaylor avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Zaylor tries to clinch there but Dawkins circles away.
Zaylor tries to clinch there but Dawkins circles away.

Zaylor has managed to clinch.
Dawkins blocking some punches.
Dawkins tries to pull guard but Zaylor forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Dawkins tries to land knees in the clinch but Zaylor avoids the damage to the body.
Zaylor misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dawkins avoiding damage as Zaylor throws knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaylor slowing the pace effectively.
The crowd are getting on Zaylor's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Dawkins tries to pull guard but Zaylor won't allow it.
Zaylor working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Zaylor lands with a left to the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Dawkins is looking to control Zaylor's arms but Zaylor gets an underhook and turns him. Now Dawkins has his back to the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Zaylor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zaylor has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Zaylor!
Ben Zaylor thanked the fans post fight for their support.