PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Devils Reaper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Wait (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wait has chosen Danger Zone as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Reaper
vs
Wait

186 cm
25
210 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

205 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good elbows
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Devils Reaper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Danny Wait!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Micheangelo Fripello and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reaper moves away from the strike by Wait.
Wait ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Reaper fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Wait to the ground. Reaper is now in Wait's guard.
Reaper trying to control the position from guard on top but Wait is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reaper stays in close to Wait's body and controls the position.
Wait really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Reaper. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Reaper trying to control but Wait is working from the bottom.
Reaper postures up in Wait's guard and throws a big left but Wait blocks it.
Wait looking to control.

Devils Reaper has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Wait swings widly with a right hand
and Reaper counters with a series of strikes. Wait will be more careful next time no doubt.
Danny Wait is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wait misses with a right hand
and Reaper counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Wait tries to clinch but Reaper moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Wait as Reaper shoots in.
Reaper avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Good shot there by Wait.
A looping hook to the body misses from Reaper. Wait does a little dance to reset his feet.
Wait is looking to clinch.
Wait tries to land a leg kick but Reaper saw it coming and moves away.
Reaper changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Wait tries to avoid it but Reaper manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Wait to the ground. Wait escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Wait jabs Reaper right on the nose. Reaper blinks but takes it well.

Reaper is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Wait's half guard.
Reaper slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reaper prevents Wait from improving his position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wait looks like he's trying to stand up.
Wait is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Reaper's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Reaper's back!
Wait misses with an elbow to the head.
Wait is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
You can see the frustration on Reaper's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Reaper defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wait wants to control but Reaper is keeping busy.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Wait misses with a punch to the head.

Wait is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Wait missing with strikes.
Reaper is really stuck here.
Reaper looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Wait misses with punches from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reaper breaks Wait's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Reaper in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Reaper trying to control the position from guard on top but Wait is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

We're going to have a standup here because Devils Reaper wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Wait jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Wait throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Reaper shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Devils Reaper. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Wait moves into the clinch.
Wait content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Reaper takes an elbow to the temple.
Reaper is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Wait lands an elbow inside that Reaper shrugs off.
Reaper takes an elbow to the temple.
Reaper drops down looking for an ankle pick but Wait pulls his leg out and moves away.
Wait throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Wait looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Reaper is breathing heavily.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Wait scores with a jab to the jaw.
Wait tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Reaper paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wait tries to clinch but Reaper is having none of it.
Wait lands with a thumping leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Reaper walks into a jab.
Reaper uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Wait.
Wait connects with a solid leg kick.
Wait tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Reaper manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Jab, jab by Wait - just one landing.
Wait wants to clinch.

Reaper scores with a takedown into Wait's guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Reaper wants to control from the top but Wait keeps moving.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Wait wants to sweep but no luck.

Wait looking for a guillotine here but Reaper defends easily.
Reaper's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Devils Reaper just wasn't active enough.
Reaper uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Wait.
Reaper slips a straight right by Wait.
Wait is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Reaper moves away from the strike by Wait.
Danny Wait seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wait connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Reaper takes one to the side of the head.
A good leg kick by Wait.
Wait showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Reaper.
Reaper takes one to the chin there.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Wait throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Wait throws a low kick but Reaper avoids it.
Some wild striking there from Wait.
Reaper avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Wait gets a clinch.
Wait lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Wait lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Wait lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Devils Reaper has been cut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Reaper as Wait tries to tie him up.
Reaper blocks an elbow strike from Wait.
Wait misses with an elbow over the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Wait dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Devils Reaper's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Wait tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Reaper paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wait is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Wait enables Reaper to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Wait manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Reaper is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Wait is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Wait has escaped and now he's on top!
Devils Reaper overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wait is looking to stand up but Reaper won't let him.
Wait throws a big right hand that misses.
Reaper managing to control the position.
Wait has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Reaper is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reaper looking for a sweep. Not yet Reaper, not yet.
Wait is looking to stand up but Reaper won't let him.
Wait wants to stand and escape but instead Reaper has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Wait is breathing heavily.
Reaper trying to control the position from guard on top but Wait is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reaper might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Reaper slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Devils Reaper just wasn't active enough.
Reaper misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Reaper shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Reaper postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Wait is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Reaper, into his guard.
Wait is looking to stand up but Reaper won't let him.

Wait avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Reaper is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Wait is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wait trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Wait wants to get up but he can't break Reaper's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Reaper is on top in guard.
Reaper controlling from the top position.
Wait keeping moving, preventing Reaper from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Devils Reaper just wasn't active enough.
Wait keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Wait misses with a wild combination.
Wait throws a hook but Reaper avoids it easily.
Wait connects with a nice looking jab.
Wait connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Reaper momentarily.
Reaper lands with a nice body punch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Reaper. Wait does a little dance to reset his feet.
Reaper is looking to wear down Wait with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Wait gets a clinch.
Wait lands an elbow inside that Reaper shrugs off.
Wait lands an elbow inside.
Wait displaying some good clinch control by pressing Reaper up against the ropes.
Wait lands an elbow inside that Reaper shrugs off.
Reaper takes an elbow to the forehead.
Wait avoiding damage.
Reaper takes an elbow to the temple.
Wait makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Wait keeps control of Reaper as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Reaper takes an elbow to the temple.
Wait gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Reaper dodges an elbow strike from Wait.
Wait lands an elbow inside that Reaper shrugs off.
Reaper takes an elbow to the forehead.
Reaper avoids a wild elbow strike from Wait.
A short right from Wait.
Wait creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Reaper's defenses.
Reaper avoiding damage as Wait throws knees to the body.
Wait lands a damaging elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Reaper is trying to stall.
Reaper blocks an elbow strike from Wait.
Wait lands an elbow that stopped Reaper in his tracks for a moment.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Reaper is trying to drag Wait to the mat but Wait just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Reaper takes an elbow to the temple.
Wait pushes Reaper back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Wait lands a damaging elbow.
Wait comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Wait stops a takedown attempt from Reaper.
Wait landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Wait.
Wait lands with a left to the head.
Nice elbow from Wait.
Wait is pushing Reaper up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Danny Wait seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wait comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Wait leaning against his opponent.
Wait lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Wait lands a damaging elbow.
Wait stalling in the clinch.
Wait lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Wait.

Devils Reaper's cut is getting worse.
Wait lands an elbow that stopped Reaper in his tracks for a moment.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Wait lands an elbow inside that Reaper shrugs off.
Wait gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Wait scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Reaper has had enough of the clinch but Wait keeps him there for the moment.
Wait gets through Reaper's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Reaper is rocked!
Wait looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Oh Reaper is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Wait throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Reaper blocks an elbow strike from Wait.
Wait lands a right hand.
Wait throws an elbow that misses.
Wait misses with an elbow strike.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Reaper blocks the elbow strike.
Wait throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Reaper blocks an elbow strike.
Reaper wants to break the clinch but can't.
A short left from Wait.
Reaper blocks an elbow strike from Wait.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wait pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Reaper avoids a wild elbow strike from Wait.
Wait misses with an elbow over the top.
Wait throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Wait manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Reaper avoids the elbow strike from Wait, against the ropes.
Devils Reaper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wait lands a shoulder strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Danny Wait comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Wait 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight for Danny Wait!
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Danny Wait!
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight for Danny Wait!

Danny Wait wins by unanimous decision!
In his post fight interview, Danny Wait started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.