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). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dawkins
vs
Zaylor

172 cm
21
156 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

174 cm
27
155 lbs
7 - 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 - 5 - 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 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ben Zaylor!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Alan Glass and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dawkins shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Zaylor counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Zaylor.

Zaylor breaks from the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Zaylor. No joy for Dawkins on that attempt.
Zaylor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Zaylor clinches.

Zaylor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zaylor tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Dawkins manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Zaylor gets a clinch.

Zaylor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Zaylor closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Zaylor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zaylor tries to clinch but Dawkins is having none of it.

Zaylor rushes Dawkins and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawkins tries to circle away but Zaylor has him pinned against the cage.
Dawkins has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Zaylor after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathaniel Dawkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Zaylor has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Dawkins regains guard immediately.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Zaylor stands and steps away. Dawkins gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Zaylor gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Zaylor is trying to trip Dawkins. He has hold of a leg but Dawkins is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Zaylor persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Dawkins is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Zaylor decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Dawkins, up you get!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Zaylor has Dawkins up against the cage in a clinch.
Dawkins wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zaylor breaks the clinch.

Dawkins gets tackled into the cage by Zaylor. Zaylor maintains the clinch.
Dawkins managing to block the knees to the body from Zaylor.

Zaylor manages to break the clinch.

Zaylor moves into range and clinches up with Dawkins.
Dawkins can't get the takedown.

Zaylor manages to break the clinch.
Zaylor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dawkins has a takedown stuffed.
Zaylor tries to clinch but Dawkins is having none of it.
Dawkins shoots and misses

and Zaylor counters by moving into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zaylor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dawkins doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Zaylor counters by moving into the clinch.
Zaylor has Dawkins pushed against the cage.

Dawkins is fighting off a takedown attempt but Zaylor is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Dawkins to the mat. Dawkins regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Dawkins is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Zaylor stands and steps away. Dawkins gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Zaylor clinches up with Dawkins and pushes him back against the cage.

Zaylor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dawkins looking for a takedown.
Dawkins is trying to push Zaylor away but Zaylor has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Zaylor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dawkins will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zaylor tries to clinch
and Dawkins counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The fight stays on the outside here - Zaylor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Zaylor has taken the fight to the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Zaylor breaks the clinch.
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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Zaylor dominated that round.
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.

Zaylor takes the fight into the clinch.

Zaylor has clasped his hands together around Dawkins's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Zaylor stands up and beckons Dawkins to his feet.

Zaylor moves into range and clinches up with Dawkins.

Zaylor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dawkins fails with a takedown attempt.
Zaylor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dawkins paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zaylor moves in looking to clinch but Dawkins pushes him off.
Zaylor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dawkins swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zaylor moves in looking to clinch but Dawkins pushes him off.

Dawkins gets tackled into the cage by Zaylor. Zaylor maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zaylor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dawkins circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dawkins is looking to clinch but Zaylor is avoiding it.

Zaylor moves into range and clinches up with Dawkins.

Dawkins is fighting off a takedown attempt but Zaylor is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Dawkins to the mat. Dawkins regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Zaylor decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Zaylor tries to clinch up.
Dawkins fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zaylor manages to avoid it.
Ben Zaylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dawkins rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zaylor moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Zaylor gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Zaylor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dawkins tries to pull guard but Zaylor won't allow it.
Zaylor content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Dawkins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zaylor avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zaylor has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Dawkins clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Zaylor gets to his feet and calls for his opponent to stand and trade! Heeeere we go!
Dawkins fails in his attempt to clinch.

Dawkins gets tackled into the cage by Zaylor. Zaylor maintains the clinch.
Dawkins has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Zaylor after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathaniel Dawkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Zaylor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dawkins dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Dawkins shoots in and drives through. Zaylor sprawls well.
Dawkins misses with a hook.

Zaylor has managed to clinch.
Ben Zaylor seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Zaylor has Dawkins pushed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zaylor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Zaylor takes the fight into the clinch.

Zaylor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dawkins throws a low kick, looking for Zaylor's leg but Zaylor calmly moves out of range.

Zaylor closes the distance and clinches.

Zaylor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Zaylor moves into the clinch.
Dawkins fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Zaylor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dawkins throws a body kick that misses.

Zaylor moves into range and clinches up with Dawkins.

Zaylor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ben Zaylor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dawkins shoots and misses

and Zaylor moves into the clinch.
Zaylor is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Dawkins is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Zaylor gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Dawkins struggles to land a body shot inside as Zaylor controls his hands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Zaylor breaks the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dawkins tries for a takedown but Zaylor sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Zaylor is looking to take this fight into 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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're 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.

Zaylor avoids the head kick by Dawkins.

Zaylor clinches with his opponent.
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 breaks from the clinch.

Zaylor moves into the clinch.

Zaylor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Zaylor drives through and clinches with Dawkins against the cage.

Zaylor has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Dawkins clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Zaylor gets back to his feet. Dawkins is certainly not going to complain about that decision.

Zaylor closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawkins changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Zaylor fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Horrible takedown by Dawkins or perhaps it was just good defense by Zaylor which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathaniel Dawkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Zaylor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Zaylor gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Dawkins tries to score a body lock takedown but Zaylor shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Zaylor tightens his grip and picks Dawkins up, before dumping him to the ground. Dawkins manages to land in guard.

Zaylor decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Dawkins, up you get!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zaylor moves into the clinch successfully.
Dawkins takes an elbow to the temple.

Zaylor decides to stand up.
Nathaniel Dawkins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zaylor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ben Zaylor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zaylor is looking to clinch.

Zaylor moves into range and clinches up with Dawkins.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Dawkins. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

Zaylor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Dawkins gets tackled into the cage by Zaylor. Zaylor maintains the clinch.
Dawkins wants a takedown but no success here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaylor prevents a takedown attempt there.

Zaylor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Zaylor clinches up against the cage.
Zaylor displaying some good clinch control by pressing Dawkins up against the cage.

Zaylor breaks the clinch.
Dawkins shoots in but no luck this time.

Zaylor rushes Dawkins and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zaylor turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Zaylor manages to end up in side control.

Zaylor has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Dawkins tries for a takedown but Zaylor circles away easily

and Zaylor counters by moving into the clinch.
Dawkins tries to pull guard but Zaylor holds him up against the cage and eventually Dawkins drops back down to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dawkins on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Zaylor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Zaylor moves into the clinch successfully.

Zaylor has Dawkins pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Zaylor pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Dawkins tumbling to the mat - Zaylor dives into Dawkins's guard.
Nathaniel Dawkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zaylor must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Zaylor stands up and waves to Dawkins to follow him.

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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Zaylor!
After winning the bout, Ben Zaylor thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.