PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between James Rayeed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Lang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Rayeed
vs
Lang

165 cm
27
145 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

158 cm
20
146 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Rayeed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mark Lang!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Emerson Jorge and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rayeed keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lang.
Lang connects with a body shot.
Lang fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rayeed throws a lazy uppercut
and Lang counters with a straight right hand.
No joy there for Lang, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rayeed is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lang sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lang is looking for the big counter here.
Rayeed fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lang lands a lovely overhand right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lang throws a right hand that Rayeed ducks under and follows up with a left that Rayeed also avoids with ease.
Rayeed throwing a counter right hand but Lang manages to avoid it.
Jab by Lang.
Rayeed shoots in and drives through. Lang sprawls well.
Lang lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Rayeed. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lang works Rayeed's body with a nice hook.
Rayeed shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lang as he avoids it easily.
Lang throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Lang ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Rayeed misses with a hook to the body
and Lang counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lang throws a right hand that Rayeed ducks under and follows up with a left that Rayeed also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lang misses with an uppercut. Rayeed saw that one coming.
Rayeed lands a body shot.
Rayeed seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Rayeed slips a jab from Lang.
Rayeed shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lang sprawls well. Lang wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rayeed gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lang misses with the combination.
Rayeed attempts a counter takedown but Lang avoids it well and moves away.
Rayeed ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
An attempted straight right counter from Rayeed misses the target.
Rayeed keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lang.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rayeed takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Mark Lang is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lang throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rayeed shoots and misses
and Lang connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rayeed slips a jab from Lang.
Lang stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lang wants it to stay on the feet.
Rayeed throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Lang counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lang scores with a jab.
Lang works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Lang scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Rayeed misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A swing and a miss from Rayeed.
Lang jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lang punishes Rayeed's body with a nice straight punch.
Rayeed uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lang.
Lang moves away from the strike by Rayeed.
Lang goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Rayeed bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
It looked like Rayeed wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A combination from Lang does no damage.
Rayeed avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rayeed was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Lang dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lang ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rayeed moves away.
Rayeed shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lang as he jumps to the side.
Lang showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rayeed.
Lang throws out a counter right but Rayeed avoids it with no problem.
Lang uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rayeed has time to react.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lang uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rayeed.
Lang is looking for the big counter here.
Lang has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lang comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rayeed swings widly with a right hand
enabling Lang to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rayeed fails with the takedown
and Lang connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rayeed misses with a takedown attempt
and Lang counters with a one-two to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Rayeed. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lang lands with a right hand.
Lang misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lang lands a nice shot that snaps Rayeed's head back.
Rayeed keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rayeed avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lang scores with a punch to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lang takes a swing at Rayeed's ribcage but misses.
Lang changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rayeed rushes Lang and presses him up against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rayeed goes for a takedown attempt but Lang pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Lang feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rayeeds jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Rayeed is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Lang as Rayeed shoots in.
Lang scores with a nice head shot.
Rayeed tries for a takedown but Lang circles away easily
and Lang counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rayeed with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Lang to score with a decent uppercut.
A left and a right from Lang both land. Nice combination.
Rayeed darts in trying to clinch
letting Lang counter with a right hand.
Lang goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lang tries to bum rush Rayeed with a series of wild strikes but Rayeed uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
James Rayeed seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
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!
Lang throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lang moves away from the strike by Rayeed.
Lang swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Lang misses with a looping right.
Lang throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lang scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Rayeed misses with a lunging right hand
and Lang counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rayeed swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lang darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Lang showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Lang misses with a looping right.
Rayeed misses with a straight right.
Lang throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rayeed tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lang swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mark Lang is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lang wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Mark Lang seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sloppy strikes from Lang. Those never looked like landing.
Lang moves away from the strike by Rayeed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lang connects with a body shot.
Rayeed slips a straight right by Lang.
Good exchange - Lang coming out on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lang slips a straight right by Rayeed.
Rayeed misses with a takedown
and Lang connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rayeed shoots in for a takedown but Lang shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lang throws a lazy right hand but Rayeed sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rayeed ducks under a wild hook from Lang.
A swing and a miss from Lang.
An attempted straight right counter from Rayeed misses the target.
Rayeed takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Rayeed misses with a takedown
enabling Lang to counter with a crisp jab.
Lang has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Rayeed. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Lang.
Lang scores with the left hand. Rayeed knows he should have avoided that one.
Lang feints a jab promting Rayeed to slip. Lang then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Rayeed slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Lang thuds a left hand into Rayeed's body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rayeed misses with a right hand
and Lang counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lang lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rayeed backs up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rayeed tries for a takedown but Lang sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rayeed rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lang moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lang missing with a left hand there. Rayeed was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lang lands a slapping body shot.
Rayeed slips under a jab from Lang.
Lang cracks a nice hook into Rayeed's ribs.
Rayeed moves away from the strike by Lang.
Rayeed darts in looking for a takedown but Lang gets double underhooks and turns Rayeed into the cage.
Lang's corner calls for a 1-2. Lang obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rayeed shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
The fighters circling - Lang throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rayeed doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lang counters with a straight right hand.
Lang wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Lang lands a lovely overhand right.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rayeed uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lang.
A little feinted left hand from Rayeed on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Lang lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
James Rayeed has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rayeed misses with a left hand
and Lang counters with a stiff right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Lang comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lang winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 24:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 24:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Lang!