PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Buddy Brandon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Rekis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brandon comes into the arena with All Summer Long blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Rekis's choice of entrance music: AC/DC - Thunderstruck. John Rekis has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Buddy Brandon's chin.

Brandon
vs
Rekis

188 cm
39
210 lbs
13 - 21 - 0

190 cm
36
210 lbs
22 - 18 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Buddy Brandon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Rekis!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rekis scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rekis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Rekis is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Brandon has managed to free his arm - good work.
Brandon is refusing to be controlled, as Rekis sits in half guard.
Brandon is trying is best to control the position here.
Rekis is keen to just control but Brandon is a slippery customer.

Rekis is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Brandon defends it well.
Rekis is looking to advance position but Brandon won't allow it.
We've been hearing good reports from Brandon's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brandon controlling the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rekis is looking to take a break and control but Brandon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rekis connects with a nice short shot to Brandon's temple.
Rekis is trying to control. Brandon wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rekis looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Brandon with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rekis thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Brandon trying to control but Rekis postures up.
Rekis sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Brandon trying to control but Rekis postures up.

That's two 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.
Rekis is keen to just control but Brandon is a slippery customer.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Brandon is trying to control but can't.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Brandon swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Rekis drives through and clinches with Brandon against the cage.
Rekis has Brandon pressed against the cage, preventing Brandon from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rekis prevents Brandon from breaking the clinch.

Rekis has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Brandon regains guard immediately.

Brandon wriggles free and stands up.
A punch combination from Brandon misses.
Brandon fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rekis.
Brandon misses the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brandon tries to close the distance and clinch but Rekis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Brandon lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rekis circles away quickly and effectively.
Brandon jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Brandon slaps away a takedown attempt from Rekis, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A punch combination from Brandon misses.
Brandon tries to bum rush Rekis with a series of wild strikes but Rekis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rekis's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Brandon connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Rekis scrambles back to his feet.

Rekis shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rekis showed some decent athleticism there.
Rekis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Rekis is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rekis working Brandon over with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brandon trying to control but Rekis postures up.
Ground and pound from Rekis.
Rekis missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Brandon is trying to maintain the position but Rekis is very close to passing his half guard.
Rekis trying to control the action but Brandon is working from the bottom.
Brandon trying to control from the bottom.
Brandon slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rekis wants to control from the top but Brandon keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Buddy Brandon will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rekis dodges the punch combination from Brandon.
Rekis avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rekis looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Brandon listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
An inside leg kick lands from Brandon.
Brandon misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rekis takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Buddy Brandon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rekis takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Brandon delivers a nice body kick.
Brandon is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rekis can do to turn this around?
Nice straight punches there by Brandon. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Brandon.
Brandon clobbers Rekis with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
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!
Rekis tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A cross from Brandon lands.
Brandon works over Rekis's head and body with a nice combination.
Brandon lands with a nice combination. Rekis backs away looking to recover.
Rekis defending well as Brandon loads up on a big left hand.
Rekis tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Brandon swivels and escapes.
Rekis looks to clinch
and Brandon counters with a straight right hand.
Rekis has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Brandon finds it's way round the side to connect with Rekis's head.
Rekis is trying hard to land a takedown here. Brandon sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Buddy Brandon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Rekis.
Rekis closes this distance looking for a takedown but Brandon circles away.
Rekis closes this distance looking for a takedown but Brandon circles away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Brandon lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Brandon clobbers Rekis with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Jab from Brandon.
Rekis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Brandon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brandon stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Brandon wants it to stay on the feet.
Brandon throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Rekis counters with a nice double leg into side control. Brandon won't be happy with that.

Brandon bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Brandon lands with a nice combination. Rekis backs away looking to recover.

Rekis feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Brandon pushes Rekis off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Brandon throws a series of punches but Rekis avoids them all with ease.
Brandon rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rekis moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rekis unleashes a big counter combination but Brandon bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Rekis with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Brandon counter with a right hand.
Rekis has a takedown stuffed.
Rekis is breathing heavily.
Rekis fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rekis tries to sprawl but Brandon drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Brandon keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Brandon frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rekis is squirming around, avoiding Brandon's attempts to control the action.
Rekis regains half guard.
Brandon is trying to control the action in half guard but Rekis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rekis is looking for a sweep. Brandon is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Brandon sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rekis trying to control from the bottom.

Brandon looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Brandon wants to take a breather but Rekis is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buddy Brandon dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rekis fails with the takedown.
An inside leg kick lands from Brandon.
Buddy Brandon is winning the standup battle so far.
Brandon thumps Rekis with a low kick.
Rekis takes one on the button.

Rekis moves into range and clinches up with Brandon.
Rekis has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Brandon avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Brandon is pressed up against the cage. Rekis has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Brandon down to the mat. Brandon avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Buddy Brandon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Rekis.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rekis fails with a takedown attempt.

Rekis gets tackled into the cage by Brandon. Brandon maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Brandon escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Brandon misses with a kick to the body.
Rekis tries to close the distance and clinch but Brandon swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Brandon throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rekis.
Brandon chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Brandon misses with the combination.
Rekis slips a jab and a cross from Brandon.
Rekis tries to clinch up
and Brandon connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Brandon looks to land a combination but Rekis avoids it well.

Rekis drives through and clinches with Brandon against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rekis is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Brandon gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Brandon successfully pulls guard.
Rekis is looking to work some ground and pound but Brandon has wrist control.

Rekis avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rekis wants to control from the top but Brandon keeps moving.
Brandon preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rekis wants to control from the top but Brandon keeps moving.
Brandon pulls Rekis in to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rekis in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rekis's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Brandon.
Brandon throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Brandon lands a high kick!
Nice takedown defense from Brandon. No joy for Rekis on that attempt.
Brandon throws a series of punches but Rekis moves out of range.
Rekis tries to clinch
letting Brandon counter with a right hand.
Brandon cracks Rekis with a good jab.

Brandon forces Rekis back against the cage and clinches.
Brandon is trying to break the clinch but Rekis has him pressed against the cage.
Rekis is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Brandon gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brandon taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Buddy Brandon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rekis is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Brandon escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rekis doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Brandon to counter with a crisp jab.
John Rekis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Brandon pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Rekis has a couple of punches blocked by Brandon.

And that's the end of the fight!
Buddy Brandon showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Brandon has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Buddy Brandon!
An out of breath Buddy Brandon thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
John Rekis was interviewed post fight and said 'I'll be back!!!'.