PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nick Ackley (ranked 4020 p4p, 4023 weight class) and Jay Reicher (ranked 0 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.

Ackley
vs
Reicher

192 cm
24
201
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
25
208
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nick Ackley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jay Reicher!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reicher tries to clinch there but Ackley circles away.
Reicher misses with a few strikes there.
Reicher is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Reicher closes the distance and clinches.

Ackley pulls guard.
Ackley looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Ackley escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Reicher gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ackley manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Reicher manages to get himself to full guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ackley working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Reicher keeping moving, preventing Ackley from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ackley with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ackley stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Reicher swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ackley has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Reicher wants to stand and escape but Ackley is having none of it.
Ackley throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Reicher is working an open guard so Ackley takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Reicher tries to close the distance and clinch but Ackley swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Reicher tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ackley paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ackley is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Ackley fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Reicher sprawls well initially but Ackley persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ackley prevents Reicher from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ackley thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Reicher's head.

Ackley is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Reicher is just riding it out for now. Ackley eventually gives up the hold.

Ackley seems to be looking for submissions.
Ackley is thwarting Reicher's attempts to control the position.

Ackley is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Reicher as he works his way to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ackley throws a big right hand that misses.
Reicher has Ackley pulled in close to control his posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Reicher is on top in guard.

Reicher cracks Ackley with a solid left hand.
Reicher distracts Ackley with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ackley is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reicher content to stall in guard here.
Ackley wants to sweep here but Reicher controlling him for the moment.
Ackley looking to control.
Reicher with a nice head shot there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ackley is striking off his back. Reicher thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Reicher is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nick Ackley will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ackley tries to clinch but Reicher is having none of it.
Reicher looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Reicher works Ackley's body with a nice hook.

Ackley pushes Reicher up against the cage in a clinch.
Reicher is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Ackley manages to break the clinch.
Reicher misses with a double jab.

Ackley clinches.

Ackley escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Reicher tries to bum rush Ackley with a series of wild strikes but Ackley uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
As Reicher looks to move away, Ackley throws a big counter combo but Reicher just gets out of the way.
Reicher throws a series of punches but Ackley avoids them all with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ackley shoots in and drives through. Reicher sprawls well.
A big left from Reicher misses.
Ackley tries to clinch up.
Reicher blocks a head kick by Ackley.
Reicher misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Some wild striking there from Reicher.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ackley fails with an attempt to clinch.

Reicher closes the distance and clinches.

Reicher breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Reicher misses with a low kick.

Ackley closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Reicher did well to prevent Ackley getting side control.

Reicher makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Reicher is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jay Reicher seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Reicher tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ackley was well out of range. Poor timing from Reicher.

Reicher 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.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ackley looking to control.

Ackley is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Reicher breaks the clinch.
Ackley shoots in looking for a takedown but Reicher manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ackley's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Reicher throws a combination. Ackley tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Nice uppercut lands for Reicher. That snapped Ackley's head back.
Reicher misses with a wild combination.
Ackley shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Reicher pinned against the cage. Reicher gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Ackley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Reicher throws a series of punches but Ackley moves out of range.
Ackley misses with a head kick.
Reicher lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Reicher has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Reicher decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Ackley pushes Reicher off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ackley slips a jab and a cross from Reicher.
Reicher with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ackley moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Ackley stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ackley wants it to stay on the feet.
Nick Ackley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Reicher swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ackley counters with a series of strikes. Reicher will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ackley slips a jab and a cross from Reicher.
Reicher sizes up Ackley with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Reicher avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Reicher swats away the attempt to clinch by Ackley.
Reicher unleashes a big counter combination but Ackley bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Ackley throws a leg kick
and Reicher counters with a two punch combo.
Reicher leaves Ackley with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Reicher misses.
Reicher misses with an attempted mid kick.
Reicher falls off balance throwing a combination
and Reicher takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Ackley 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.

Ackley postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Reicher is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Ackley, into his guard.

Nick Ackley overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Reicher stands up from guard. Let's bang!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ackley pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Reicher changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Reicher showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Reicher misses with a double jab.
Reicher throws a body shot but no joy.
Ackley looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Reicher is fending him off so far but Ackley persists. Nope, Reicher circles away and we're back to standing.
Ackley looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Reicher looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Reicher has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Ackley finds it's way round the side to connect with Reicher's head.
Reicher misses with a double jab

and Ackley holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ackley is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Ackley. 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.

Ackley breaks from the clinch.
Reicher looks to land a combination but Ackley avoids it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ackley doesn't manage to clinch there - Reicher circles away.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Reicher.
Ackley closes the distance and clinches up with Reicher, looking for a takedown. Ackley pushes Reicher against the cage but Reicher circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Reicher fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ackley sprawls well initially but Reicher persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ackley is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Reicher scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ackley tries to get to full guard but Reicher has control of the leg.

Reicher decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Reicher gets a takedown into half guard.
Ackley has hold of Reicher's hands but Reicher slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Reicher lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reicher sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Reicher lands a nice short elbow.
Ackley taking some punishment here, with Reicher in his half guard.

Reicher decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A leg kick checked by Reicher.
Reicher misses with a jab, cross combination.
Horrible takedown attempt by Reicher or perhaps it was just good defense by Ackley, which made it look bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ackley is looking to clinch.
Reicher lands a right hook to the body.
Reicher lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Reicher.
Ackley tries to clinch but Reicher is having none of it.

Reicher closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Ackley throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
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!
Ackley moves in looking to clinch but Reicher pushes him off.
Reicher swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ackley shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Reicher is looking to slow Ackley down with leg kicks.
Reicher is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Ackley rather than just go for the knockout.
Reicher looks for the body kick but Ackley saw that one coming.
Ackley swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Reicher throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ackley.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Reicher checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Reicher misses with a wild combination.
Ackley throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Reicher's waist but Reicher gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ackley off to one side.
Reicher throws a hook to the side of Ackley's head but Ackley sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Reicher circles away from the clinch attempt

and Reicher counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ackley wants to get back to his feet but Reicher passes into half guard.

Reicher lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ackley is trying to escape back to his feet but Reicher uses the scramble to pass into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jay Reicher comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Reicher has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jay Reicher!