PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zack Fair (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Black has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Black
vs
Fair

175 cm
27
180 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

185 cm
28
178 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

Empire Threads - The Best $15 You've Ever Spent!

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 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zack Fair!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Steve Smith and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Black pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Black is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Fair's half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Fair wants to control but Black is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Fair keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Fair actively working from the bottom here.
Black wants to control but Fair is keeping him busy.
Fair trying to hold on to Black's head to control him but Black postures up.
Black is taking a breather. Fair says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Fair won't allow Black to pass to mount.
Fair moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Fair not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Black knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fair on the ground.

Fair is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black won't allow Fair to sweep him here.
Black missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Black has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Black distracts Fair with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Fair looking for a guillotine here but Black defends easily.

Fair has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Black can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Black looking to pass the guard.

Fair looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Fair has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Black can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Black trying to stand up but can't free himself from Fair's guard.
Black wants to control from the top but Fair keeps moving.

Black avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Black trying to control the position from guard on top but Fair is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Fair looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Fair working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Black doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Black manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fair is looking for a triangle but Black pushes his legs off easily.

Fair looking for subs off his back but Black has passed one foot through into half guard.
Black is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Fair gets full guard.
Black wants to control from the top but Fair keeps moving.

Fair is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Black defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black wants to control from the top but Fair keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

The ref stands the fighters back up. John Black wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Fair takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Black looks to land a combination but Fair avoids it well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Fair keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Black stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Black wants it to stay on the feet.
Fair is trying hard to land a takedown here. Black sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zack Fair dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Black lands a nice shot to the body.
Some wild striking there from Black.
Fair has his takedown stuffed
and Black counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Black stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Black wants it to stay on the feet.
Fair uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Black.
Fair defending well as Black loads up on a big left hand.
Black looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Fair ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Fair misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
John Black has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zack Fair.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fair has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Fair there as he acknowledges the shot.
Fair shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Black sprawls well. Black wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fair gets slowly back to his feet.
Black throws an overhand right that lands on Fair's shoulder, as Fair tries to avoid the shot.
Black connects with a looping right hand.
Jab by Black.
Black misses with a lunging right hand

and Fair counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Black throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Fair blocks it with crossed arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Black.
Fair tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Black presses Fair against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Fair drags the fight down to the ground.
Zack Fair has got the better of the ground game so far.
Black throwing strikes but missing.
Black trying to control but Fair is working from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Black gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Black stuffs the takedown.
John Black seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Black throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Fair counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Black's guard now.
Fair looking to pass the guard.
Fair prevents Black from getting back to his feet.

Fair drops back looking for a leg! Black is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Black manages to kick Fair off! Fair jumps back into Black's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black keeping moving, preventing Fair from controlling successfully.
Fair prevents Black from getting back to his feet.

Black looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Fair passes into half guard.

Fair is trying to work for a kimura but Black is defending well.

Fair is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Black defends it well.
Black trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fair is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Black doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Fair.
Black works his way to full guard. Good work.
Fair wants to pass the guard but Black is keeping the position.

Fair stands up from guard. Let's bang!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Black throws a nice inside leg kick.
Fair walks into a left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Black scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that John Black will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Fair blocks a head kick by Black.
Black throws the left hand but Fair avoids the punch easily.
Black looks to land a combination but Fair avoids it well.

Black dives in and scores a takedown into Fair's guard.
Fair looking to hit a scissor sweep but Black is one step ahead there.
Fair keeping full guard, as Black tries to pass.
Black trying to stand up but can't free himself from Fair's guard.

Fair is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Black throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fair works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Black throwing strikes but missing.

Fair has his foot on Black's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Black works his way back into a safe position though.
Black trying to control the position from guard on top but Fair is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Fair is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Fair looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Black accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Black decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Black misses with a lunging right hand

and Fair counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Black looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Fair wants to work for an arm triangle but Black is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Fair is looking for a kimura here.
Fair is thwarting Black's attempts to control the position.
Black is not content to let Fair control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black is doing well to control the position and prevent Fair from advancing to side control.
Fair slows the pace down in half guard.
Black tries to kick Fair off in order to stand up. Fair Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Fair trying to control the position but Black is working away.

Fair wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Black, who protects the arm well.
Black is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Fair is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Black knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fair tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Fair has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Black is pushing Fair's head away, looking to escape. Fair manages to hold on to the position though.
Black tries to bench press Fair off him but Fair keeps the position.

Fair working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
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!

Fair has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zack Fair comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Fair 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zack Fair!
After the big win, Zack Fair made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Empire Threads - The Best $15 You've Ever Spent! and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.