PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rayford Zimmerman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jaxon Kelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Zimmerman
vs
Kelly

172 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rayford Zimmerman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jaxon Kelly!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kelly closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Zimmerman to the mat! Zimmerman manages to get full guard.

Zimmerman pushes Kelly off and gets back to his feet.

Kelly moves into the clinch.
Zimmerman is trying to push Kelly away but Kelly has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Zimmerman tries to pull guard but Kelly forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Zimmerman could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Zimmerman tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Kelly's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zimmerman goes for a double leg but Kelly avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kelly continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rayford Zimmerman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Zimmerman clinches up against the cage.
Zimmerman fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kelly as Zimmerman tries to tie him up.
Zimmerman is trying to pull guard but Kelly turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Kelly gets control of Zimmerman's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kelly will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zimmerman stands and steps away. Kelly gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Zimmerman tries to clinch there but Kelly circles away.
Kelly lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Rayford Zimmerman has been cut.
Zimmerman tries to clinch but Kelly is having none of it.
Zimmerman connects with a leg kick. Kelly looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Zimmerman drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kelly looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zimmerman is one step ahead there.

Kelly working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zimmerman doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zimmerman manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kelly 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zimmerman content to stall in guard here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zimmerman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kelly throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Zimmerman has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kelly is proving hard to escape from.
Zimmerman is looking to work some ground and pound but Kelly has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelly tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zimmerman working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Zimmerman might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zimmerman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zimmerman throwing strikes but missing.
Zimmerman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kelly works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kelly 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.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

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

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kelly clinches with his opponent.
Zimmerman fails to pull guard.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Zimmerman is trying to pull guard but Kelly has him pressed against the cage.

Zimmerman pulls Kelly into guard.

Zimmerman pushes Kelly off and scrambles back to his feet.
Kelly looks winded!
Kelly comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Zimmerman moves into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

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

Zimmerman manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Zimmerman pulls Kelly into guard.
Kelly preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rayford Zimmerman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rayford Zimmerman's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zimmerman fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kelly, pushing him back against the cage.
Zimmerman tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Zimmerman is trying to pull guard but Kelly has him pressed against the cage.
Zimmerman is trying to pull guard but Kelly turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rayford Zimmerman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kelly breaks the clinch.

Kelly moves into the clinch.
Zimmerman jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kelly walks away with a smile on his face. Zimmerman gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Kelly gets a clinch.
Zimmerman fails to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kelly content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Zimmerman breaks the clinch.

Kelly has taken the fight to the clinch.
Zimmerman jumps guard but Kelly stands there with Zimmerman around his waist. Zimmerman gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zimmerman pulls guard effortlessly.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kelly trying to control the position from guard on top but Zimmerman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zimmerman wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Kelly manages to pass to side control.

Kelly is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Zimmerman still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Zimmerman has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
You can see the frustration on Kelly's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zimmerman misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Zimmerman landing a few strikes.
Zimmerman looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Kelly is avoiding damage well.
Kelly looks to move to half guard but instead Zimmerman has passed into mount! Damn!
Kelly is desperately trying to improve his position but Zimmerman has a good base and remains in mount.
Zimmerman scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Kelly tries to lock up and control but Zimmerman gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
A nice elbow there by Zimmerman.
Kelly is in a horrible position here. Zimmerman smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelly wants to control but Zimmerman is having none of it.
Rayford Zimmerman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kelly takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Zimmerman raining down shots from the mount!
Zimmerman working the ground and pound effectively.
Zimmerman lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Zimmerman takes Kelly's back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
What can Kelly do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Zimmerman is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Kelly. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Zimmerman keeps control of the position as Kelly tries to break free.
Zimmerman is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Zimmerman has Kelly flattened out and is raining down punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zimmerman lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Kelly is trapped and Zimmerman is scoring with shots to the head and body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rayford Zimmerman dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rayford Zimmerman's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Zimmerman swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A left and a right from Zimmerman both land. Nice combination.

Zimmerman instigates a clinch.

Zimmerman manages to pull guard.
Zimmerman controlling Kelly's posture.
Kelly wanted to stand there but Zimmerman had control of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zimmerman working a defensive guard here.
Kelly wanted to stand there but Zimmerman had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zimmerman wants to stand up but Kelly is controlling him.
Kelly trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Zimmerman wants to stand but Kelly is controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Zimmerman tries to clinch there but Kelly circles away.

Kelly closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kelly lands in his opponent's guard.

Zimmerman uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kelly is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Zimmerman's half guard.
Zimmerman has his hands clasped together around Kelly's back. He's all about the action.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zimmerman moves into full guard.
Kelly won't allow Zimmerman to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zimmerman throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Zimmerman uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Kelly keeps the fight on the outside.
Zimmerman tries to close the distance and clinch but Kelly swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zimmerman wants to clinch up but Kelly keeps it at a distance.

Zimmerman has closed the distance and engaged Kelly in a clinch.

Kelly turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Kelly manages to end up in side control.
Zimmerman struggling a bit here.
Zimmerman wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zimmerman explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zimmerman moves in looking to clinch but Kelly pushes him off.

Zimmerman gets a clinch.
Zimmerman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kelly can do to turn this around?

Kelly is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Zimmerman can't fight it off and eventually Kelly manages to take the fight to the floor. Zimmerman looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Zimmerman wants to sweep here but Kelly controlling him for the moment.
Kelly trying to control but Zimmerman is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rayford Zimmerman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zimmerman, 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rayford Zimmerman!
Jaxon Kelly was interviewed post fight and said 'We may have lost but we are going to rise from the ashes'.