PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Saint Ezekiel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yunel Runyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ezekiel has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Saint Ezekiel has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Ezekiel
vs
Runyan

185 cm
19
135 lbs
0 - 10 - 0

165 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Saint Ezekiel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yunel Runyan!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Emerson Jorge and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Runyan instigates a clinch.

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

Runyan shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ezekiel's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Runyan being controlled here momentarily.
Runyan engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Runyan wants to pass the guard but Ezekiel is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Runyan trying to control but Ezekiel is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Runyan engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Runyan trying to control but Ezekiel is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Runyan fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ezekiel has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Runyan closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Runyan lands in his opponent's guard.
Ezekiel is breathing heavily.
Ezekiel working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Runyan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Runyan sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Runyan stopping the sweep attempt from Ezekiel.

Runyan stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Nice body kick there by Runyan.

Runyan shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Runyan was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ezekiel holds on to Runyan's head and controls the position momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ezekiel is letting Runyan control him for a moment.

Runyan tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Runyan has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Runyan tries to advance to mount but can't.
Ezekiel tries to improve position but can't.
Runyan tries to move into full mount but can't pass Ezekiel's legs.
Runyan is looking to take a break and control but Ezekiel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Runyan is putting a hurting on Ezekiel here, landing some big shots from side control.
Runyan controlling the position.

Runyan stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Ezekiel gets caught napping as Runyan dives in and scores a takedown. Ezekiel manages to retain guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Runyan trying to control the position from guard on top but Ezekiel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ezekiel is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Runyan rushes Ezekiel and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ezekiel really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

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

Runyan decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ezekiel trying to control but Runyan postures up.
Runyan controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ezekiel works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Runyan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Runyan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ezekiel is keeping the position for now.
Runyan postures up and lands a big shot to Ezekiel's brow.
Ezekiel is trying to control the position but Runyan postures up.
Runyan showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Runyan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Runyan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Runyan landing with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

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

Runyan closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Runyan in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Runyan trying to control the action but Ezekiel is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Ezekiel's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ezekiel taking a bit of punishment here - Runyan scoring with strikes.
Runyan taking a breather here.

Runyan is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ezekiel has escaped the position, nice work there.
Runyan in side control, throwing shots but Ezekiel defends.
Ezekiel is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Ezekiel's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Runyan taking a breather here.

That's four 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.
Runyan working the ground and pound.
Ezekiel tries to improve position but can't.
You can see the frustration on Ezekiel's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Runyan just content to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
What's Ezekiel going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Ezekiel gets caught napping as Runyan dives in and scores a takedown. Ezekiel manages to retain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yunel Runyan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Runyan.

Runyan stands up and beckons Ezekiel to his feet.

Runyan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Runyan showed some decent athleticism there.
Runyan wants to pass the guard but Ezekiel is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Runyan is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Ezekiel is trying to control but Runyan manages to pass to mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Runyan has hold of Ezekiel's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Ezekiel manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Runyan scoring with strikes but Ezekiel is staying in there.
Runyan avoids the attempt from Ezekiel to control.
Runyan lands a big shot there that rocks Ezekiel but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Runyan moves to back control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Runyan working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Runyan throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Yunel Runyan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ezekiel is trying to break free.
Ezekiel is working hard here to advance position.
Ezekiel tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Ezekiel really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Runyan landing strikes, looking to finish!
Runyan tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Runyan trying to control but Ezekiel is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ezekiel tries to lock up and control but Runyan gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ezekiel is wriggling around trying to escape.

Runyan has control of Ezekiel's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Ezekiel regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Ezekiel in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Runyan has control of Ezekiel's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Ezekiel regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Runyan tries to push Ezekiel's head away but Ezekiel is holding on tight.
Runyan throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Ezekiel because Runyan loaded up on that one.
Saint Ezekiel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yunel Runyan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ezekiel throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yunel Runyan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Runyan 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 24:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 24:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yunel Runyan!