|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between James Reign (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Zabuza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.
 |
|
 |
| 175 cm
21
165 lbs
2 - 0 - 0 |
|
178 cm
24
165 lbs
13 - 5 - 0 |
BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine |
|
Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful |
|
| |
|
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
2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, James Reign!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Ricky Zabuza!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Chris Edwards and Colin Fotheringham.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zabuza takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Reign lands a body shot.
Reign closes the distance but Zabuza moves to the side
and Zabuza counters with a series of strikes. Reign will be more careful next time no doubt.
Reign throws a looping overhand right but Zabuza ducks down to avoid it.
Zabuza throws a nice looking combination but Reign bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Reign fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zabuza manages to avoid it.
Reign throws a shot from downtown. Zabuza moves away and avoids it.
Reign throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zabuza throws a right and a left that Reign avoids nicely.
Reign avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zabuza throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Reign's waist but Reign gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zabuza off to one side.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Reign ducks under a wild hook from Zabuza.
Good shot there by Reign.
Reign dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zabuza misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Decent striking displayed by Reign there.
Reign tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Zabuza manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zabuza uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Reign.
Reign misses with a wild combination.
Zabuza with a jab.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reign misses with a looping right.
Reign tries to clinch but Zabuza moves out of range.
Reign throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zabuza lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Reign circles away quickly and effectively.
A looping hook to the body misses from Reign. Zabuza does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zabuza keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
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!
Zabuza throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zabuza dodges the punch combination from Reign.
Reign looks to score with a jab to the body but Zabuza is just out of range.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reign moves in looking to clinch but Zabuza pushes him off.
Reign ducks under a wild hook from Zabuza.
Reign lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
James Reign is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A looping hook to the body misses from Reign. Zabuza does a little dance to reset his feet.
Reign lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Zabuza at a distance.
Zabuza tries to bum rush Reign with a series of wild strikes but Reign uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Reign scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Zabuza lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Reign circles away quickly and effectively.
James Reign seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Reign scores with a jab to the jaw.
Reign stuns Zabuza with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Reign throws a nice looking combination but Zabuza bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reign thuds a left hand into Zabuza's body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Reign scores with a jab to the body.
Zabuza takes one to the chin there.
Reign lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zabuza circles away quickly and effectively.
Zabuza ducks under a wild hook from Reign.
Reign walks into a stiff left hand from Zabuza.
Reign jabs Zabuza to the body, keeping him at a distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reign scores with a hook to the body. Zabuza takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Reign lands a jab to the nose.
Zabuza will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
James Reign dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Zabuza cracks Reign with a good jab.
Reign misses with a wild body shot.
Zabuza throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Reign has Zabuza up against the ropes in a clinch.
Reign jumps guard but Zabuza turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.
Reign is looking for a takedown.
Zabuza pulls guard effortlessly.
Zabuza wants to sweep but no luck.
Reign looking to sit in guard and control but Zabuza gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Zabuza trying to control but Reign is working from the bottom.
Zabuza preventing the sweep.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Reign has his foot on Zabuza's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zabuza works his way back into a safe position though.
Zabuza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Reign is keeping the position for now.
Reign is looking for a triangle but Zabuza pushes his legs off easily.
Zabuza throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Reign works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zabuza working some strikes from top position.
Zabuza throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zabuza keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Reign's head.
Reign is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Reign working a defensive guard here.
Zabuza has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zabuza is pushing down on Reign's leg trying to pass to half guard. Reign is fighting to maintain full guard but Zabuza has managed to sneak the leg through.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zabuza wants to lay and pray for a moment but Reign keeps working.
Zabuza looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Reign tries to get to full guard but Zabuza has control of the leg.
Zabuza is nestled in close to Reign, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Reign trying to control but Zabuza postures up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Reign is trying to get back to full guard.
Zabuza not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Reign is looking to control Zabuza's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Reign avoid being mounted?
Zabuza with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reign is trying to get back to full guard.
Reign pushes Zabuza off looking to stand but Zabuza dives back in and keeps control.
Zabuza is looking for a kimura but Reign is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Zabuza to get the leverage.
Reign trying to control from the bottom.
Reign looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zabuza scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Zabuza not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Reign is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Zabuza landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Reign slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Reign escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zabuza gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reign looking for a sweep. Not yet Reign, not yet.
Zabuza forces his way into half guard.
Ricky Zabuza has got the better of the ground game so far.
Reign is looking to improve his position.
Zabuza slips a nice elbow through Reign's hands, connecting with Reign's forehead.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zabuza takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Zabuza winds up and cracks Reign with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reign is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Zabuza scores with a couple of nice shots.
Zabuza is keen to just control but Reign is a slippery customer.
Reign tries to get to full guard but Zabuza has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Ricky Zabuza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!
Zabuza avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zabuza throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Zabuza avoids the body shot from Reign.
Zabuza throws an off balance right hand
and Reign counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Reign doesn't manage to clinch there - Zabuza circles away.
Reign swings for the body but Zabuza moves out of range.
Reign throws a nice looking combination but Zabuza bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zabuza shoots for a double leg takedown but Reign sprawls well. He's pushed Zabuza's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Reign misses the shot to the body.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Zabuza misses with a hook. Reign ducked under it nicely.
Zabuza smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Reign tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Reign throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
James Reign is winning the standup battle so far.
Zabuza keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Reign keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zabuza.
Zabuza will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sloppy strikes from Reign. Those never looked like landing.
Zabuza avoids the body shot from Reign.
Reign slips under a jab from Zabuza.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reign tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zabuza swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Reign cracks Zabuza with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
Reign throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Reign lands a slapping body shot.
Reign tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zabuza was well out of range. Poor timing from Reign.
Reign jabs at Zabuza's body.
Zabuza might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Nice cross by Reign.
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!
Zabuza ducks under a wild hook from Reign.
Reign looks to score with a jab to the body but Zabuza is just out of range.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zabuza defending well as Reign loads up on a big left hand.
Zabuza keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Reign looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zabuza shoots in for a double leg but Reign sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
James Reign has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricky Zabuza.
Reign misses with a series of wild punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Reign misses the shot to the body.
Reign wants to clinch up but Zabuza keeps it at a distance.
Zabuza shoots in and bounces Reign off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Zabuza scoring with some ground and pound.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reign is trying to control the position but Zabuza postures up.
Reign has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Zabuza is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Reign.
Zabuza is looking to take a break and control but Reign is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zabuza working the ground and pound from side control.
Zabuza working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zabuza lands some shots froms side control.
Zabuza looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Zabuza working the head and body with strikes.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to James Reign.
I think Reign 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by majority decision... James Reign!
During a confident post fight interview, James Reign thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
62% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
