PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ahmad Lazzez (ranked 3256 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathaniel Dempsey (ranked 25006 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Lazzez
vs
Dempsey

179 cm
25
157 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
158 lbs
0 - 2 - 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 3 - 1 - 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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nathaniel Dempsey!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Russell Pearce and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Lazzez as Dempsey shoots in.
Lazzez misses the body punch
and Lazzez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A jab from Dempsey finds it's way through Lazzez's defenses.
Dempsey tries to clinch up but Lazzez circles away and keeps his distance.
Dempsey dives in for a single leg takedown but Lazzez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Lazzez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dempsey tries to avoid it but Lazzez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dempsey to the ground. Dempsey escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dempsey tries to clinch there but Lazzez circles away.
Dempsey moves into range and connects with a jab.
Lazzez shoots in and drives through. Dempsey sprawls well.
A countering left hand to the body from Dempsey misses.
Lazzez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ahmad Lazzez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dempsey avoids the head kick by Lazzez.
Dempsey moves in looking to clinch but Lazzez pushes him off.
Dempsey shoots in but Lazzez avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dempsey lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Dempsey tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lazzez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lazzez cracks the inside of Dempsey's front leg.
Dempsey shoots in and drives through. Lazzez sprawls well.
Lazzez has a takedown stuffed.
Lazzez keeps the fight on the outside.
Dempsey throws a head kick that misses.
Lazzez half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Lazzez dives in and grabs Dempsey's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dempsey pushes down on Lazzez's head and hops out.

Lazzez moves into the clinch.

Lazzez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dempsey misses with a few strikes there.
Lazzez closes the distance and clinches up with Dempsey, looking for a takedown. Lazzez pushes Dempsey against the cage but Dempsey circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And Dempsey tries to counter it with a takedown but Lazzez pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Lazzez is breathing heavily.
Dempsey shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lazzez as he avoids it easily.
As Dempsey looks to move away, Lazzez throws a big counter combo but Dempsey just gets out of the way.
Lazzez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Dempsey counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Lazzez!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dempsey working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Dempsey trying to control the position but Lazzez is working away.
Lazzez is looking for a sweep.
Dempsey wants to control but Lazzez is keeping him busy.

Dempsey working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dempsey 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.
Lazzez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Dempsey wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lazzez keeps working.
Lazzez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Dempsey is trying to get an arm triangle but Lazzez is defending well.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Dempsey is looking to take a break and control but Lazzez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dempsey tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lazzez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathaniel Dempsey dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dempsey is looking to clinch.
Lazzez cracks the inside of Dempsey's front leg.
Dempsey takes a kick to the side of the head.
Dempsey misses with a takedown attempt - Lazzez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Dempsey throws a right and a left that both miss.
It looked like Lazzez wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Lazzez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dempsey but Dempsey pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Dempsey throws a leg kick
and Lazzez counters with a big head kick but Dempsey shrugs it off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dempsey shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lazzez as he avoids it easily.
Nathaniel Dempsey seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lazzez goes for a double leg but Dempsey avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Dempsey continues to drive forward.
As Lazzez backs off Dempsey throws a huge counter combo but Lazzez manages to avoid it all.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Dempsey.
Ahmad Lazzez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nathaniel Dempsey.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dempsey stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dempsey wants it to stay on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
No luck for Dempsey with that takedown attempt.
Dempsey tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lazzez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dempsey uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lazzez.
Lazzez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lazzez wants it to stay on the feet.
A quick step to the side and Lazzez tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dempsey tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lazzez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dempsey shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lazzez defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lazzez tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Dempsey defends well and Lazzez ends up having to push Dempsey into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Dempsey tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dempsey throws a low kick but Lazzez avoids it.
Dempsey tries to clinch but Lazzez is having none of it.

Dempsey fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lazzez, pushing him back against the cage.
Dempsey tries for a takedown but Lazzez manages to get underhooks.

Lazzez breaks the clinch.
Dempsey misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lazzez tries to counter by clinching up but Dempsey breaks away and moves out of range.
Dempsey shoots in but Lazzez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lazzez shoots in but Dempsey avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lazzez sets himself, and Dempsey steps forward looking for the clinch! Lazzez avoids it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dempsey slaps away a takedown attempt from Lazzez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Dempsey shoots in and drives through. Lazzez sprawls well.
Lazzez appears to be looking for a big counter.
Lazzez scores with a head kick. Dempsey tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Lazzez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lazzez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dempsey but Dempsey pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Dempsey is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lazzez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Dempsey shoots in for a takedown but Lazzez shows good takedown defense.
Lazzez wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dempsey stuffs the takedown attempt from Lazzez. Lazzez gets slowly back to his feet.
Dempsey drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Lazzez defends it well.
Dempsey tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dempsey shoots in but no luck this time.
Lazzez was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Lazzez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lazzez throws a right hand that Dempsey ducks under and follows up with a left that Dempsey also avoids with ease.
Dempsey lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Lazzez backs up against the cage.
Ahmad Lazzez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lazzez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dempsey.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dempsey dives in for a single leg takedown but Lazzez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dempsey fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Lazzez clinches up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmad Lazzez dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Dempsey with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lazzez counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Dempsey is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Dempsey throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice sprawl there from Dempsey as Lazzez shoots in.
Dempsey throws out a counter right but Lazzez avoids it with no problem.
No luck for Dempsey with that takedown attempt.
Dempsey ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Lazzez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dempsey is trying to push Lazzez away but Lazzez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dempsey prevents the takedown attempt.
Lazzez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ahmad Lazzez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lazzez.
Dempsey tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lazzez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dempsey somewhat.
Dempsey throws a head kick but Lazzez moves out of range.
Dempsey tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lazzez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dempsey tries to clinch up.
Lazzez drops down looking for a counter takedown but Dempsey sprawls and moves away.
Dempsey throws a push kick but Lazzez slaps the foot to one side.

Lazzez darts in and clinches Dempsey up against the cage.

Dempsey successfully pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dempsey is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dempsey wants to stand up but Lazzez is controlling him.

Dempsey is looking for a triangle but Lazzez pushes his legs off easily.
Lazzez forces his way into half guard.
Lazzez not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lazzez decides to stand up.

Lazzez moves into the clinch successfully.

Lazzez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dempsey tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lazzez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lazzez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A slapping leg kick lands for Lazzez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lazzez closes the distance and clinches.
Dempsey tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lazzez smiles and moves away.
Lazzez lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Lazzez clinches up against the cage.

Lazzez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lazzez throws a head kick but Dempsey moves out of range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Lazzez clinches up against the cage.
Lazzez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Dempsey walks away with a smile on his face. Lazzez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Dempsey fails in his attempt to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ahmad Lazzez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lazzez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28

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