PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zakrie Reem (ranked 4975 p4p, 3292 weight class) and Connor Royale (ranked 580 p4p, 456 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Reem
vs
Royale

182 cm
22
174
1 - 4 - 0

175 cm
24
170
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Hot Spunk
Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zakrie Reem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Connor Royale!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Stewart Dunkirk and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Royale dodges the punch combination from Reem.
Good exchange - Reem coming out on top.

Royale clinches up with Reem and pushes him back against the cage.

Reem breaks from the clinch.
Reem misses with a wild body shot.
Reem fails to land with a series of punches.
Royale throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
It looked like Reem was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Reem lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
A left and a right from Royale both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Zakrie Reem has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Reem misses with a series of wild punches.
Royale has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Royale misses with an uppercut. Reem saw that one coming.
Royale rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Reem moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Reem swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Reem fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Royale is out of range.
Reem throws a right hand that Royale ducks under and follows up with a left that Royale also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Royale.
Reem looks to throw the jab but Royale is out of range.
Reem missing with a left hand there. Royale was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Reem moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Reem misses with a right hand
and Royale cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Reem pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Royale lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Royale is looking to slow Reem down with leg kicks.
A nice combination there by Reem.
Reem swats away the attempt to clinch by Royale.
Royale scores with a jab to the body.
Reem misses with the combination.
Reem bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Royale's head backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Reem rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Royale moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reem avoids the head kick by Royale.
A telegraphed right hand from Reem misses the target.
Reem throws a big shot that misses.
Royale slips a jab and a cross from Reem.
Royale uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Reem.
Reem cracks Royale with a good jab.
Royale swinging wildly here.
Reem throwing a counter right hand but Royale manages to avoid it.
Royale cracks a nice hook into Reem's ribs.
Royale on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Royale is looking to clinch but Reem is avoiding it.
Nice body punch from Royale.
Royale throws a body punch but Reem moves out of range.
Reem misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Reem throws a series of punches but Royale moves out of range.
Reem is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reem chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Royale can pounce on him.
Royale dodges the punch combination from Reem.
Reem slips a jab and a cross from Royale.
Royale dodges the punch combination from Reem.
Reem throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Royale counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Reem misses with a wild combination.
Royale throws a good cross that connects.
Reem misses with a hook. Royale ducked under it nicely.
Reem misses with a few strikes there.
Zakrie Reem seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sloppy strikes from Reem. Those never looked like landing.
Reem looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Reem throws a combination that misses

and Royale counters with a crisp one two that drops Reem! Royale thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Reem to his feet! Reem is in big trouble!

Reem is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Royale tries to clinch up.
Royale throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
An inside leg kick from Royale misses.
Royale pivots, looking for a leg kick but Reem is out of range and Royale settles back down.
Reem throws a right hand that Royale ducks under and follows up with a left that Royale also avoids with ease.
Royale throws a series of punches but Reem avoids them all with ease.
Reem throws a body kick that misses
and Royale counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Royale has taken the fight to the clinch.
Royale tries to work over Reem's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Reem misses with some punches.
A hook to the body from Royale.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Reem tries to score a body lock takedown but Royale shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Reem breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Royale avoids the head kick by Reem.
As Reem backs off Royale throws a huge counter combo but Reem manages to avoid it all.
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 Zakrie Reem will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Zakrie Reem's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Reem fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Royale lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Reem misses with a looping right.
Reem throws a nice looking combination but Royale bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Reem throws a nice looking combination but Royale bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Royale now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Royale throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Reem swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Reem lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
A head kick from Royale lands but Reem takes it in his stride.
Zakrie Reem is winning the standup battle so far.
Royale looks to land a left hand but Reem moved out of range nicely.
Royale throws a right and a left that both miss.
Royale tries to clinch up.
Reem misses with a series of wild punches.
Royale looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Reem throws a right hand that Royale ducks under and follows up with a left that Royale also avoids with ease.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Reem ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Royale moves away.
Royale wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reem throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Royale counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Oh Reem is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Royale on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Reem seems to have got his legs back now.
Royale misses with a looping left.
Royale misses with the combination.
Royale misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Reem misses with a few strikes there.
Reem rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Royale moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Reem swinging wildly here.
Reem cracks Royale with a right hand to the side of the head.
Royale misses with a body shot.
Zakrie Reem is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Reem swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reem will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
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!
Royale steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Reem.
Reem is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Zakrie Reem's cut is getting worse.
Reem takes a swing at Royale's ribcage but misses.
Reem looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Royale turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A head kick misses from Royale.

Royale closes the distance and pushes Reem back into the cage.
Reem changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Royale fights it off and pushes away nicely.
No joy there for Royale, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Royale jabs at Reem's body.

Royale clinches up against the cage.

Reem's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Royale throws a left and a right that both miss
and Reem counters with a one-two to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Royale has taken the fight to the clinch.

Royale breaks the clinch.
Royale blocks a head kick by Reem.

Royale has managed to clinch.

Reem's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Royale looks to land a right hand but Reem moved out of range.
Reem throws a series of punches but Royale moves out of range.
A punch combination from Reem misses.
Reem clobbers Royale with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Royale tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Reem.
Reem throws a right and a left that Royale avoids nicely.
Reem throws a left and a right that both miss
and Royale counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Royale misses with a series of wild punches.
Reem appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Royale lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Reem circles away quickly and effectively.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Reem looks to land a combination but Royale avoids it well.
Reem walks into a left hand.
Royale throws a wild body kick that Reem sees coming a mile off.
Royale misses with a head kick.
Reem goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Royale misses with a series of wild punches.
Reem throws a nice looking combination but Royale bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Royale motions for Reem to come forward. Royale throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A punch combination from Royale misses.
Reem was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Reem misses with a few strikes there.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Reem misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Zakrie Reem will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Zakrie Reem's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Royale ducks under a wild hook from Reem.
Reem loads up on a big right hand but Royale slips the punch.
Royale lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Reem at a distance.
A looping hook to the body misses from Royale. Reem does a little dance to reset his feet.
Royale throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Reem stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Royale slips a jab and a cross from Reem.
Royale misses with a body shot.
Reem connects with a jab.
Royale uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Reem.
Royale looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Reem throws a series of punches but Royale moves out of range.
Royale throws a counter combo.
Sloppy strikes from Royale. Those never looked like landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Royale ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Royale has Reem up against the cage in a clinch.

Reem manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Royale has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Royale there as he acknowledges the shot.
Royale digs a good body shot into Reem's ribs.
Reem misses with a two punch combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Reem throws a hook but Royale blocks it.
As Reem backs off Royale throws a huge counter combo but Reem manages to avoid it all.
Royale turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Royale stalks Reem and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Reem's face. Reem staggers backwards, shaken.
Royale takes a jab right on the kisser.
Royale is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Reem rather than just go for the knockout.
Reem moves out of range of the leg kick from Royale.
A punch combination from Reem misses.
Royale will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Reem misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Royale goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head kick misses from Royale.
Royale misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zakrie Reem is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reem swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Royale throws a body punch but Reem moves out of range.
Royale avoids a punch combination nicely.
Royale throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Royale throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Royale throws a low kick but Reem moves out of range easily.
Reem misses with a jab, cross combination.
Reem throws a series of punches but Royale avoids them all with ease.
Royale looks to land a combination but Reem avoids it well.
Reem lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Royale circles away quickly and effectively.
Royale scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Royale is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Royale goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Reem throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Reem misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Royale throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Royale finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Royale looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A nice combination there by Royale.
Reem swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Reem walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Royale checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Royale dips to his left and cracks Reem with an uppercut!
Royale misses with a straight left.
Royale digs a good hook to Reem's body.
Royale will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reem fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Royale throws a head kick but Reem moves out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Reem misses with the combination.
Despite the aggression on Royale's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Reem on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Royale. Royale obviously looking to wear him down.
Royale throws a right and a left that Reem avoids nicely.
Royale with the inside leg kick.
Royale walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Royale misses with the combination.
Reem is looking to counter punch.
Reem throws a right hand that Royale ducks under and follows up with a left that Royale also avoids with ease.
Royale is looking for the big counter here.
Royale tries to bum rush Reem with a series of wild strikes but Reem uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
It looked like Reem was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Connor Royale has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Reem throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Royale.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor Royale comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Reem 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Zakrie Reem!