PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zak Drezner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenny Gomi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Drezner kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Cypress Hill - Checkmate. Gomi comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Slaap lekker! kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.

Drezner
vs
Gomi

175 cm
36
162 lbs
32 - 13 - 3

175 cm
38
167 lbs
36 - 22 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 32 - 13 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zak Drezner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kenny Gomi!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Atkins and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drezner looks to land a body kick but Gomi moved away.
We've been informed that Gomi has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Gomi slips under a jab from Drezner.
Drezner slips a jab and a cross from Gomi.

Gomi bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
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Gomi working the ground and pound from side control.
Drezner struggling a bit here.
Drezner is looking to regain half guard here but Gomi keeps moving and retains side control.
Drezner is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Not Yours, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Drezner can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drezner sneaks back into half guard.
Drezner is trying to stand.
Drezner is pressing down on Gomi's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gomi works over Drezner with some ground and pound from guard.
Gomi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gomi stopping the sweep attempt from Drezner.
Gomi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomi is looking to work some ground and pound but Drezner has wrist control.
Gomi scoring with punches to the head and body.
Drezner looking for a sweep. Not yet Drezner, not yet.
Gomi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Drezner is keeping the position for now.
Drezner wants to sweep but no luck.
Drezner not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gomi wants to control from the top but Drezner keeps moving.
Drezner is trying to keep Gomi in close.
Drezner looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Drezner lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gomi!
Drezner can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gomi is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drezner controlling the position easily from mount.
Drezner can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gomi is looking to escape.
Drezner controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Zak Drezner has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Gomi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zak Drezner dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Drezner scores with a jab to the jaw.
Drezner misses the shot to the body.
An inside leg kick from Drezner misses.
Drezner misses with a hook
and Drezner takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gomi checks a low kick from Drezner.

Gomi moves into the clinch.
Gomi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Drezner gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Drezner taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Gomi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Gomi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Gomi drops down looking for an ankle pick but Drezner pulls his leg out and moves away.
Zak Drezner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenny Gomi.
Gomi misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drezner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Drezner.
An inside leg kick lands from Drezner.
Drezner looks to land a body kick but Gomi moved away.
Drezner fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Drezner swings for the body but Gomi moves out of range.
Drezner throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gomi.
Gomi takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Nice shot lands for Drezner.
Gomi blocks a head kick by Drezner.
Zak Drezner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zak Drezner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gomi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gomi throws a head kick that misses.
Drezner thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gomi doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Drezner counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Drezner tries to land a front kick but Gomi steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Drezner throws a jab but it's blocked by Gomi.
Drezner scores with a kick to the midsection.
Drezner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drezner stuffs the takedown.
Drezner fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gomi has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Drezner lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gomi circles away quickly and effectively.
Drezner misses with a wild body shot.
Zak Drezner is winning the standup battle so far.
Drezner turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Drezner misses with a looping right.
Gomi thows a body shot but no joy.
Drezner throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Gomi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Drezner's guard now.
Drezner 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.
Drezner manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Drezner tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Drezner has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Drezner's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zak Drezner dominated that second 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 tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Drezner displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gomi.
Drezner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Drezner is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A good leg kick by Drezner.
Drezner with a hook.
Gomi on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Drezner throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drezner fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gomi manages to avoid it.
Drezner tries to land a leg kick but Gomi saw it coming and moves away.
Gomi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Drezner is fending him off so far but Gomi persists. Nope, Drezner circles away and we're back to standing.
Gomi takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Drezner lands a right hook to the body.
Drezner misses with a hook

and Gomi counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Drezner!
Drezner is looking for a sweep.
Zak Drezner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gomi misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Drezner manages to work his way to half guard, despite Gomi's best efforts.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Drezner wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomi prevents Drezner from standing back up.
Gomi stalling away here and it's allowed Drezner to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Drezner wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Drezner has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Gomi has passed into side control.
Gomi tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Gomi working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Drezner's shoulder. That is not cool.
Drezner struggling a bit here.
Drezner dodges the ground and pound from Gomi.
You can see the frustration on Drezner's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gomi fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Zak Drezner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomi misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Drezner struggling a bit here.

Gomi wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Drezner, who protects the arm well.
Drezner struggling a bit here.
Drezner is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gomi's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Kenny Gomi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Drezner works his way to full guard. Good work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zak Drezner showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Drezner, 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27

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