PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ahmad Lazzez (ranked 5285 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathaniel Dempsey (ranked 5283 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Lazzez
vs
Dempsey

179 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ahmad Lazzez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nathaniel Dempsey!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Joseph Jones and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lazzez stuffs the takedown.

Lazzez clinches up with Dempsey and pushes him back against the cage.

Lazzez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dempsey throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Lazzez closes the distance and clinches.
A shot in the inside from Lazzez.
Dempsey looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lazzez is looking to take this one to the mat.
Lazzez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Dempsey gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Dempsey wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lazzez has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dempsey drops down looking for an ankle pick but Lazzez pulls his leg out and moves away.

Dempsey clinches up with Lazzez and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lazzez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lazzez looks for a takedown but Dempsey sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ahmad Lazzez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lazzez leaves Dempsey with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Dempsey throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lazzez's waist but Lazzez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dempsey off to one side.
Lazzez tried to counter with a leg kick but Dempsey avoided it.

Lazzez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Dempsey tries to break free but Lazzez pushes him back against the cage.

Lazzez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lazzez throws a series of punches but Dempsey moves out of range.
Dempsey changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Dempsey shoots in for a double leg but Lazzez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Lazzez moves into range and clinches up with Dempsey.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lazzez manages to pull guard.
Lazzez has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Lazzez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dempsey is fighting to break Lazzez's control of his arms but Lazzez is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Lazzez keeping moving, preventing Dempsey from controlling successfully.
Lazzez has control of Dempsey's left arm, preventing Dempsey from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lazzez is looking to sweep but instead, Dempsey has passed into half guard.
Lazzez is controlling Dempsey's trapped leg to prevent Dempsey from advancing to side control.
Lazzez wants to get back to full guard.
Lazzez has his hands clasped together around Dempsey's back. He's all about the action.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lazzez fails to land the takedown.
Dempsey is looking to clinch.
Lazzez shoots for a double leg takedown but Dempsey sprawls well. He's pushed Lazzez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lazzez lands a high kick!
Dempsey shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lazzez as he jumps to the side.
Nice takedown defense from Lazzez. No joy for Dempsey on that attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lazzez.
Dempsey tries to close the distance and clinch but Lazzez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmad Lazzez dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Dempsey fails to land the takedown.
Dempsey cracks Lazzez with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Dempsey tries to close the distance and clinch but Lazzez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dempsey changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lazzez tries to avoid it but Dempsey manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lazzez to the ground. Lazzez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lazzez appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Dempsey with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Dempsey goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Lazzez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dempsey steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Lazzez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dempsey fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lazzez stuffs the takedown attempt from Dempsey. Dempsey gets slowly back to his feet.
Ahmad Lazzez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nathaniel Dempsey.
Dempsey tries to land a front kick but Lazzez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dempsey changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lazzez tries to avoid it but Dempsey manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lazzez to the ground. Lazzez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lazzez changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Lazzez moves into the clinch.
Dempsey is breathing heavily.
Dempsey tries for a takedown but Lazzez manages to get underhooks.
Dempsey drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lazzez gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Lazzez is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Dempsey has had enough of the clinch but Lazzez keeps him there for the moment.
Dempsey tries to circle away but Lazzez has him pinned against the cage.

Lazzez breaks from the clinch.
Lazzez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dempsey can do to turn this around?
Lazzez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dempsey pinned against the cage. Dempsey gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lazzez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dempsey sprawls well. Dempsey wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lazzez gets slowly back to his feet.
No luck for Lazzez with that takedown attempt.
Dempsey tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lazzez swivels and escapes.
Lazzez is looking for a counter combo.

Lazzez has Dempsey up against the cage in a clinch.
Lazzez effectively controlling the action here.
Dempsey gets underhooks to prevent Lazzez's takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dempsey trying to land knees to the body.
Dempsey wants to get back to striking at distance but Lazzez won't allow it.
Dempsey tries to break the clinch but Lazzez is controlling the position.
Dempsey has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Lazzez after a bit of a struggle.
Lazzez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dempsey gets underhooks to prevent Lazzez's takedown attempt.

Lazzez drags the fight down to the ground.
Dempsey preventing the sweep.
Lazzez has his hands on Dempsey's head, controlling the position.
Dempsey trying to control but Lazzez is working from the bottom.
Lazzez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Dempsey on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dempsey throwing strikes but missing.
Lazzez tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Lazzez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Dempsey is aware though and is defending well.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Lazzez is trying to control the position but Dempsey postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Lazzez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dempsey slaps away a takedown attempt from Lazzez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Dempsey throws a counter combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmad Lazzez dominated that second round.
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!

A cross from Lazzez lands.
Dempsey shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lazzez changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Dempsey wants to clinch up but Lazzez keeps it at a distance.
Lazzez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Lazzez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Lazzez shoots in and bounces Dempsey off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Dempsey is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lazzez tries a body shot but Dempsey blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dempsey goes for a takedown attempt but Lazzez pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Left hook, right uppercut from Dempsey.

Lazzez clinches.
Lazzez is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ahmad Lazzez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lazzez stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Dempsey wants a takedown.
Lazzez displaying some good clinch control by pressing Dempsey up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lazzez fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Lazzez breaks the clinch.
Dempsey tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lazzez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Dempsey or perhaps it was just good defense by Lazzez, which made it look bad.
Lazzez throws a head kick that half lands.
Dempsey fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lazzez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dempsey swivels and escapes.
Dempsey tries to clinch but Lazzez moves out of range.
Lazzez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dempsey's waist but Dempsey gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lazzez off to one side.
Ahmad Lazzez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dempsey throws a sloppy head kick and Lazzez moves out of range easily.
Dempsey fails in his attempt to clinch.

Lazzez moves into the clinch successfully.
Lazzez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Dempsey is defending well for now.
Lazzez leaning against his opponent.
Stalling in the clinch from Lazzez.
Lazzez gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Lazzez lands a shoulder strike.
Lazzez stalling the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dempsey prevents the takedown attempt.

Lazzez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lazzez is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Dempsey misses with a head kick.
Lazzez stuffs the takedown attempt from Dempsey. Dempsey gets slowly back to his feet.
Dempsey shoots in looking for a takedown. Lazzez tries to sprawl out of it but Dempsey keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lazzez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lazzez looks for a takedown but Dempsey sprawls well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ahmad Lazzez.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lazzez, 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ahmad Lazzez!