PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sammy Zakowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Naor Yozem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yozem has chosen Chris Cornell - You Know My Name as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zakowski
vs
Yozem

180 cm
19
215 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

194 cm
22
212 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sammy Zakowski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Naor Yozem!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Reed Andrews and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yozem tries to land a front kick but Zakowski steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Yozem throws a series of punches but Zakowski moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Yozem. No joy for Zakowski on that attempt.
Naor Yozem seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Yozem manages to break the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zakowski.
Yozem stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sammy Zakowski. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Zakowski tries to keep at a distance but Yozem has taken the fight into the clinch.

Yozem manages to break the clinch.
Zakowski throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zakowski looks to clinch

and Yozem counters by clinching up.

Yozem breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Yozem feints and as Zakowski raises his hands in defense, Yozem changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Yozem is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Zakowski looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Yozem postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Yozem must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yozem in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Yozem decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Yozem tries to clinch up.

Yozem pushes Zakowski up against the cage in a clinch.
Zakowski landing knees to the body.
Yozem works on Zakowski's body with a couple of short punches.

Yozem has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Zakowski clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yozem lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Yozem is trying to stick to Zakowski's back but Zakowski is turning into Yozem. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Yozem's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Zakowski.
Yozem looks gassed!
Zakowski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zakowski trying to control but Yozem is working from the bottom.
Zakowski thows a big elbow that misses.
Yozem working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zakowski.
Zakowski could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Zakowski trying to control the position from guard on top but Yozem is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zakowski would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Zakowski trying to control but Yozem is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Yozem misses with a few strikes there.
Yozem tries to clinch but Zakowski moves out of range.

Yozem closes the distance and clinches.
Zakowski jumps guard but Yozem stands there with Zakowski around his waist. Zakowski gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Zakowski fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Zakowski tries to pull guard but Yozem holds him up against the cage and eventually Zakowski drops back down to his feet.
Zakowski tries to pull guard but Yozem holds him up against the cage and eventually Zakowski drops back down to his feet.
Yozem scores a nice knee to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zakowski lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Yozem.

Yozem drags the fight down to the ground.
Yozem wants to get back to his feet but Zakowski is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zakowski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yozem is keeping the position for now.

Yozem has his foot on Zakowski's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zakowski works his way back into a safe position though.
Zakowski is looking to work some ground and pound but Yozem has wrist control.
Zakowski keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Yozem's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zakowski passes Yozem's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Zakowski passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Yozem!

Yozem defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Zakowski.
Yozem sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Zakowski tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yozem wants to get back to his feet.
Yozem missing with punches from the bottom.
Yozem is trying to control but can't.
Yozem looks like he's trying to stand up.
Yozem is looking to improve his position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Yozem scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zakowski is looking for a sweep.
Zakowski manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zakowski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zakowski shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Yozem counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Yozem shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zakowski pinned against the cage. Zakowski gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Zakowski fails in his attempt to clinch.
Yozem circles away from the clinch attempt.

Yozem decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Yozem is thwarting Zakowski's attempts to control the position.
Zakowski gets back to full guard.
Yozem wants to stand but Zakowski is controlling his posture from full guard.
Yozem is breathing heavily.
Yozem scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yozem decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Zakowski rushes Yozem and presses him up against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Zakowski.

Zakowski drags the fight down to the ground.
Zakowski keeping moving, preventing Yozem from controlling successfully.
Zakowski manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Yozem manages to get himself to full guard.
Zakowski lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Zakowski passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Zakowski 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.

Zakowski looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Zakowski wants to control but Yozem is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zakowski decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Zakowski doesn't manage to clinch there - Yozem circles away.

Zakowski looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Yozem!
Yozem holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Zakowski tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Zakowski with good strikes from the mount here!
Zakowski lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Zakowski misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Zakowski working Yozem over with strikes here.
Zakowski thowing shots but they're missing.

Zakowski has hold of Yozem's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Yozem manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yozem keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Zakowski lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Yozem working to try and regain half guard.
Yozem is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Naor Yozem has got the better of the ground game so far.
Yozem slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Yozem makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Yozem has managed to clinch.

Yozem pulls guard successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zakowski won't allow Yozem to get back to his feet.

Yozem has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Zakowski off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Zakowski shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Yozem but Yozem pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Yozem moves into the clinch.
Nice elbow from Yozem.
Zakowski has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Yozem avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sammy Zakowski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yozem throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Yozem drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Zakowski gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Yozem scores with a shot to the side of Zakowski's head.
Yozem is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Yozem breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sammy Zakowski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zakowski wants to clinch.
Zakowski swats away the attempt to clinch by Yozem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Naor Yozem will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Zakowski fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Oooh a lovely combination from Yozem sends Zakowski down but not out. Yozem dives into side control looking to finish.

Zakowski is rocked!

It looks like Sammy Zakowski has been cut.
Yozem scores with a couple of short elbows.
Oh Zakowski is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Yozem stands up and beckons Zakowski to his feet.
Zakowski rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Yozem moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zakowski seems to have got his legs back now.

Zakowski changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Yozem looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Zakowski stands up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yozem throws a combination that misses

and Zakowski counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Zakowski.
Zakowski preventing the sweep.
Yozem is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Yozem is tying to control. Zakowski wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Yozem gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Yozem has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yozem jumps guard and drags Zakowski to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Zakowski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Yozem wants to stand and escape but Zakowski is having none of it.
Yozem is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Yozem is pulling down on Zakowski's head to control his posture.

Yozem pushes Zakowski off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Zakowski shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zakowski tries to clinch but Yozem moves out of range.

Zakowski has Yozem up against the cage in a clinch.
Yozem gets underhooks to prevent Zakowski's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sammy Zakowski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A hook to the body from Yozem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zakowski tries for a takedown but Yozem manages to get underhooks.

Yozem has Zakowski pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Yozem pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Zakowski tumbling to the mat - Yozem dives into Zakowski's guard.
Yozem trying to control but Zakowski is working from the bottom.
Zakowski bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Yozem's guard.
Zakowski trying to control but Yozem is working from the bottom.
Zakowski in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sammy Zakowski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zakowski landing some decent shots from guard.
Zakowski wants to control from the top but Yozem keeps moving.
Yozem utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Zakowski decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Yozem, up you get!
Zakowski tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zakowski shoots in looking for a takedown. Yozem tries to sprawl out of it but Zakowski keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Yozem manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Zakowski wants to clinch

and Yozem counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Yozem.
Yozem wants to get up but he can't break Zakowski's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Zakowski is looking for a triangle but Yozem pushes his legs off easily.
Yozem sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Zakowski's guard.
Zakowski is looking to control Yozem's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zakowski avoid being mounted?
Yozem slips a nice elbow through Zakowski's hands, connecting with Zakowski's forehead.
Yozem is looking to take a break and control but Zakowski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zakowski wants to control but Yozem is keeping busy.

Yozem is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yozem looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Zakowski with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Yozem working Zakowski over with strikes.
Yozem landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Zakowski is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Yozem's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Yozem's back!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Zakowski missing with punches from the back.
Zakowski is trying to stick to Yozem's back but Yozem is turning into Zakowski. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Zakowski's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Yozem.

Yozem avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Yozem stands and steps away. Zakowski gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

And that's the end of the fight!
Naor Yozem comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Yozem has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Naor Yozem!