PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Claudio Puelles (ranked 24701 p4p, 24563 weight class) and Zayaan Reese (ranked 712 p4p, 696 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Puelles
vs
Reese

180 cm
19
170
1 - 1 - 0

189 cm
20
182
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Claudio Puelles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zayaan Reese!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Puelles walks into a stiff left hand from Reese.
Reese lands a nice shot that snaps Puelles's head back.
Reese has a takedown stuffed.
Puelles throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Reese stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Puelles misses with a double jab.
Reese lands a leg kick that knocks Puelles off balance momentarily.
Reese shoots in for a double leg but Puelles sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Reese drives through with a takedown into guard.
Puelles wants to sweep but no luck.

Puelles is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Puelles is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Reese controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like Reese might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Reese passes Puelles's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Reese controlling the action here.
Reese is thwarting Puelles's attempts to control the position.
Reese thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Puelles's head.
Reese seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Puelles waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Reese.
Reese throws a leg kick but Puelles sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Puelles half committed to a counter leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Reese misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Puelles misses its target.
Puelles looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Reese finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Zayaan Reese seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Reese clinches up against the cage.
Puelles takes a shot to the head.
Reese is working for takedown but Puelles is calmly controlling the position for now.
Claudio Puelles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zayaan Reese.

Puelles breaks the clinch.
Reese looks for a takedown but Puelles sprawls well.
A little feinted left hand from Puelles on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Reese is looking to chop away at Puelles's legs.
Puelles takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Reese has managed to clinch.
Reese blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Reese breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice shot by Reese.
Reese throws a looping overhand right but Puelles ducks down to avoid it.
Puelles was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puelles is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
We've been told by Puelles's head coaches at LA Wellness Centre that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Reese looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Puelles is fending him off so far but Reese persists. Nope, Puelles circles away and we're back to standing.
Puelles blocks a low kick nicely.
Reese fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Puelles on the side of the head.
Good shot there by Reese.
Puelles takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Puelles tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Reese swivels and escapes.
Puelles slips under a jab.
Puelles looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Puelles tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Reese was well out of range. Poor timing from Puelles.
Reese scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Reese stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Reese wants it to stay on the feet.
Puelles throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Reese throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Reese misses with a two punch combination.
Puelles seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zayaan Reese dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Puelles looks to land a right hand but Reese moved out of range.
Reese fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Reese misses with a low kick.
Reese tests Puelles's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Puelles misses the shot to the body.
Reese uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Puelles.
Puelles walks into a jab.
Reese tries for a takedown but Puelles circles away easily
and Puelles counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Reese throws a low kick but Puelles avoids it.
Reese has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reese throws a right hand that misses
and Puelles counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Reese lands a jab to the nose.
Zayaan Reese seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Reese connects with a leg kick.
Reese shoots in and drives through. Puelles sprawls well.
Puelles is looking to counter punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reese lunges at Puelles with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Puelles's hand.
Puelles throws the left hand but Reese avoids the punch easily.
Reese throws a lazy right hand but Puelles sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Reese lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Reese connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Puelles scores with a body shot.
Jab by Reese.
Puelles steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Reese.
Puelles throws a hook but Reese avoids it easily.
Puelles with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Reese to score with a decent uppercut.
Puelles leaves Reese with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Claudio Puelles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zayaan Reese.
Puelles avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Reese waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Puelles.
Puelles swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reese throws a shot from downtown. Puelles moves away and avoids it.
Reese throws a big shot that misses.

Reese closes the distance and pushes Puelles back into the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Reese blocking some punches.
A short right from Reese.

Reese breaks the clinch.
Reese throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Puelles's waist but Puelles gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Reese off to one side.
Reese connects with the punch.
Reese misses with the combination.
Puelles defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Reese.
Puelles fires out a quick counter leg kick but Reese just manages to avoid it.
Puelles stuffs the takedown attempt from Reese. Reese gets slowly back to his feet.
Reese throws a lazy right hand but Puelles sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Reese gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Puelles counters with a right hand to the body.
Reese is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puelles avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Puelles was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Puelles shoots in and drives through. Reese sprawls well.
Reese misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Puelles.
Reese ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Reese gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Reese tries to pull guard but Puelles holds him up against the cage and eventually Reese drops back down to his feet.

Puelles pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Reese shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Puelles as he jumps to the side.
As Reese backs away, Puelles returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Puelles throws a leg kick but Reese sees it coming and moves out of range.
Reese moves into range and connects with a jab.
Reese feints a jab promting Puelles to slip. Reese then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Puelles slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puelles has a takedown stuffed.
Puelles tries to score a power double leg takedown but Reese sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Puelles somewhat.
Reese throws a one two combo.
Reese has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Puelles misses the jab.
Puelles walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Puelles throws a body punch but Reese moves out of range.
Reese looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Reese tries to close the distance and clinch up but Puelles swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Puelles keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Puelles appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zayaan Reese showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A slapping leg kick lands for Reese.
Reese looks to land a right hand but Puelles moved out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Puelles misses the target.
Puelles on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A telegraphed right hand from Reese misses the target.
Reese swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Puelles.
Reese jabs Puelles to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Reese lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Puelles lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Puelles walks into a stiff left hand from Reese.
Puelles chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Reese can pounce on him.
Reese tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Puelles defends well and Reese ends up having to push Puelles into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Puelles throwing a counter right hand but Reese manages to avoid it.
Puelles takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Puelles defending well as Reese loads up on a big left hand.
Puelles is looking to chop away at Reese's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puelles walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Reese checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Reese throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Puelles on the side of the head.

Puelles is rocked!
Reese shoots in and drives through. Puelles sprawls well.
Reese throws a series of punches but Puelles moves out of range.
Puelles swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Reese tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Puelles defends well and Reese ends up having to push Puelles into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Claudio Puelles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zayaan Reese.
Reese takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Reese misses with a looping left.
Puelles gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Reese.
Puelles throws a sloppy head kick and Reese moves out of range easily.
Reese works the jab nicely.
Puelles connects with a single shot there.
Reese misses with a hook
and Puelles counters with a nice uppercut.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Reese.
A quick step to the side and Puelles tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Puelles looks to land a left hand but Reese moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reese shoots and misses
enabling Puelles to counter with a crisp jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Puelles stuffs the takedown attempt from Reese. Reese gets slowly back to his feet.
A little feinted left hand from Puelles on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Reese lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A jab from Reese finds it's way through Puelles's defenses.
Reese misses with a looping right.
Reese shoots for a takedown but Puelles saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Puelles looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Reese pivots, looking for a leg kick but Puelles is out of range and Reese settles back down.
Reese shoots in for a takedown but Puelles shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Reese just misses with a punch to the body.
Reese lands an overhand right.
Reese misses with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reese drives through and clinches with Puelles against the cage.
Puelles lands an uppercut.
Reese throws a head punch that misses.
Reese has Puelles pushed against the cage.
Puelles misses with a body punch.
Reese misses with a punch on the inside.

Reese escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Puelles pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Reese throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Reese misses with a low kick as Puelles jumps back.
Reese throws a big shot that misses.
Reese tries for a takedown but Puelles sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Puelles steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Reese.
Reese is looking to score with low kicks.
Puelles swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reese with a hook.
Reese fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Puelles avoids it really well and circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Puelles misses the target.
Puelles walks into a stiff left hand from Reese.
Claudio Puelles has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zayaan Reese is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Reese blocks a low kick nicely.
Reese throws a good cross that connects.
Reese has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Reese comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Reese doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Puelles chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Reese can pounce on him.
Reese lands with an uppercut that bounces Puelles off the cage and back into range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zayaan Reese comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Reese has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zayaan Reese!
Zayaan Reese decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.