PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Reyes Zayas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hannibal Lecter VIII (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zayas comes to the ring accompanied by War is my destiny. Lecter VIII has chosen Getting Away With Murder as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Zayas
vs
Lecter VIII

175 cm
26
182 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

174 cm
25
185 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Core Tokyo

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Reyes Zayas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hannibal Lecter VIII!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lecter VIII lands with a kick to the ribs.
Lecter VIII lands with a cross.
Lecter VIII misses with a body shot.
Lecter VIII paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Lecter VIII tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Zayas to counter with a crisp jab.
Lecter VIII lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Lecter VIII looks to clinch
and Zayas connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Zayas throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Lecter VIII tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Zayas is in Lecter VIII's guard.
Zayas wants to control from the top but Lecter VIII keeps moving.
Lecter VIII working a defensive guard here.
Lecter VIII keeping full guard, as Zayas tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zayas drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Lecter VIII manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Zayas has Lecter VIII in his guard.

Zayas is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lecter VIII is aware though and is defending well.
Lecter VIII would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Lecter VIII pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zayas is keeping the position for now.
Lecter VIII is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Zayas is looking for a triangle but Lecter VIII pushes his legs off easily.
Zayas has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Lecter VIII trying to control but Zayas is working from the bottom.
Lecter VIII wanted to stand there but Zayas had control of the position.
Lecter VIII is fighting to break Zayas's control of his arms but Zayas is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zayas is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Zayas throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Lecter VIII escapes and throws Zayas's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Zayas is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Zayas is trying to control Lecter VIII's posture but Lecter VIII avoids it.
Lecter VIII trying to control the position but Zayas is working away.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
You can see the frustration on Zayas's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Lecter VIII trying to control the position but Zayas is working away.
Zayas is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hannibal Lecter VIII dominated that round.
That's time! Zayas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A solid leg kick lands there for Lecter VIII.
Lecter VIII moves in looking to clinch but Zayas pushes him off.

Lecter VIII instigates a clinch.
Zayas prevents Lecter VIII from breaking the clinch.
Zayas wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Lecter VIII manages to break the clinch.
Lecter VIII swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lecter VIII swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zayas keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Lecter VIII uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zayas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lecter VIII shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Zayas counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Zayas trying to control the position from guard on top but Lecter VIII is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lecter VIII is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zayas thows a big elbow that misses.
Zayas throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lecter VIII keeping moving, preventing Zayas from controlling successfully.
Lecter VIII working a defensive guard here.

Lecter VIII is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zayas defends well.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Zayas drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Lecter VIII manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Zayas has Lecter VIII in his guard.

That's two 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.
Zayas keeping full guard, as Lecter VIII tries to pass.

Zayas has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lecter VIII can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zayas controls Lecter VIII momentarily but Lecter VIII frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zayas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lecter VIII trying to control but Zayas is working from the bottom.

Zayas throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lecter VIII throwing strikes from guard but Zayas blocks nicely.

Lecter VIII stands up from Zayas's guard - Lecter VIII perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Zayas slips a jab and a cross from Lecter VIII.
Zayas closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lecter VIII circles away.
Zayas throws a body punch but Lecter VIII moves out of range.
Lecter VIII loads up on a big right hand but Zayas slips the punch.
A big right from Lecter VIII misses.
Lecter VIII tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zayas connects with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lecter VIII. Zayas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lecter VIII pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lecter VIII lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Zayas backs up against the ropes.
Crunch! Lecter VIII slams his shin into Zayas's torso.
Lecter VIII throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hannibal Lecter VIII will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Zayas swings for the body but Lecter VIII moves out of range.
Hannibal Lecter VIII is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zayas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lecter VIII.
Lecter VIII moves to clinch but Zayas breaks away

so Zayas counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Zayas controls from within his opponent's guard.
Zayas wants to control from the top but Lecter VIII keeps moving.

Zayas drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lecter VIII dives on top into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zayas is trying to control the position but Lecter VIII postures up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Lecter VIII has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zayas is proving hard to escape from.
Lecter VIII wants to control from the top but Zayas keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lecter VIII moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Nice defenses there by Lecter VIII.
Lecter VIII misses with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lecter VIII shoots and misses

and Zayas counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Lecter VIII!

Zayas goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Lecter VIII turns into him and now he's in Zayas's guard.
Lecter VIII preventing the sweep.
Lecter VIII wants to control from the top but Zayas keeps moving.
Lecter VIII looking to pass the guard.
Lecter VIII won't allow Zayas to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lecter VIII landing some decent shots from guard.
Lecter VIII wants to control from the top but Zayas keeps moving.
Hannibal Lecter VIII is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lecter VIII stopping the sweep attempt from Zayas.
Lecter VIII trying to control the position from guard on top but Zayas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Hannibal Lecter VIII was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Lecter VIII tries to clinch there but Zayas circles away.
A swing and a miss from Lecter VIII.
Zayas takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Lecter VIII connects with the punch.
Lecter VIII looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Lecter VIII throws a push kick but Zayas slaps the foot to one side.
A head kick misses from Lecter VIII.
Lecter VIII tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Zayas is able to avoid easily.
Zayas avoids the head kick by Lecter VIII.
Reyes Zayas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zayas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zayas avoids the head kick by Lecter VIII.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reyes Zayas showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lecter VIII 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hannibal Lecter VIII!