PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zayaan Reese (ranked 5455 p4p, 5742 weight class) and Sander De Wolf (ranked 567 p4p, 579 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Reese
vs
De Wolf

189 cm
19
182
1 - 3 - 0

183 cm
19
170
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

HELLBENT

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zayaan Reese!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sander De Wolf!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Alan Glass and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

De Wolf closes the distance and clinches.

Reese breaks from the clinch.
A right-left combo lands from Reese.

Reese clinches up against the cage.

Reese breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zayaan Reese seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

De Wolf closes the distance and clinches.
De Wolf tries a body shot but Reese blocks it.
Reese gets underhooks to prevent De Wolf's takedown attempt.
Reese lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Reese scores with a shoulder strike.
De Wolf tries to pull guard but Reese forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Reese is stalling here.
Reese misses with a hook from the clinch.

De Wolf ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. De Wolf no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Reese seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Reese wants to stand but De Wolf has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reese stops De Wolf from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
De Wolf keeping moving, preventing Reese from controlling successfully.
Reese wants to stand but De Wolf has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Reese controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Reese trying to control the position from guard on top but De Wolf is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Reese keeps the fight on the outside.

De Wolf rushes Reese and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Reese prevents a takedown attempt there.
Zayaan Reese has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sander De Wolf.
Reese is trying to stall.

De Wolf pulls guard successfully.
De Wolf can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Reese controls the pace.
Reese looking to sit in guard and control but De Wolf gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

De Wolf loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
De Wolf chips away with some ground and pound.
Reese utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Reese is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as De Wolf accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw De Wolf working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
De Wolf is looking to work some ground and pound but Reese has wrist control.
De Wolf wants to pass the guard but Reese is keeping the position.
De Wolf postures up and lands a big shot to Reese's brow.
Reese preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
De Wolf is in close to Reese's body, working some short punches and elbows.
De Wolf trying to control the position from guard on top but Reese is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reese tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
De Wolf works over Reese with some ground and pound from guard.
De Wolf is working Reese over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
De Wolf working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
De Wolf working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
De Wolf looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Reese thumps De Wolf with a low kick.

De Wolf takes the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sander De Wolf will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Good shot there by Reese.

Reese gets the takedown into side control.
Reese wants to lay and pray for a moment but De Wolf keeps working.

Reese wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by De Wolf, who protects the arm well.
De Wolf is not content to let Reese control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reese throwing strikes but De Wolf manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reese taking a bit of punishment here - De Wolf scoring with strikes.
Sander De Wolf has got the better of the ground game so far.
De Wolf working away.
De Wolf creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
De Wolf lands a decent elbow from side control.
De Wolf lands some shots froms side control.
An elbow from De Wolf crashes against the mat.
De Wolf lands an elbow.
De Wolf wants to lay and pray for a moment but Reese keeps working.
Reese wants to get back to his feet.
Reese seems a little lost for a moment, as De Wolf dominates the positioning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reese is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
De Wolf scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Reese to see if he's OK.
The ground and pound from De Wolf seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Reese seems a little lost for a moment, as De Wolf dominates the positioning.
De Wolf has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The ground and pound from De Wolf seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
De Wolf working the body and head with strikes.
De Wolf lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Wolf landing strikes.
Reese is pushing De Wolf's head away, looking to escape. De Wolf manages to hold on to the position though.
De Wolf cracks Reese with a big elbow.
Reese is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
De Wolf working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Reese is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Reese is not content to let De Wolf control the position.
Reese seems a little lost for a moment, as De Wolf dominates the positioning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Wolf working the ground and pound.
Reese is looking to work his way out of this bad position but De Wolf is controlling him well.
De Wolf lands a nice forearm strike.
Reese struggling a bit here.
De Wolf misses with the ground and pound.
Reese takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
De Wolf working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
De Wolf working the ground and pound from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sander De Wolf 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! This is the final round!

Reese moves into range and clinches up with De Wolf.
Reese working aggressively here.
De Wolf tries for a takedown but Reese manages to get underhooks.
Reese misses with some punches.

De Wolf successfully pulls guard.
De Wolf keeping moving, preventing Reese from controlling successfully.

Reese postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! De Wolf is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Reese, into his guard.

De Wolf content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Wolf working some strikes from top position.
De Wolf postures up in Reese's guard and throws a big left but Reese blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Wolf lands a couple of digs.
De Wolf with a nice head shot there.
De Wolf is stalling in the full guard.
De Wolf is working Reese over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
De Wolf postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
De Wolf with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
De Wolf trying to control but Reese is working from the bottom.
De Wolf throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Wolf throws a strike but Reese rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

De Wolf wants to stand and escape but Reese is having none of it.
Reese looking to sit in guard and control but De Wolf gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Reese has momentary wrist control but De Wolf slips an elbow through the middle.
De Wolf postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
De Wolf lands a couple of elbows.
De Wolf is looking to work some ground and pound but Reese has wrist control.
De Wolf scoring with punches to the head and body.
De Wolf trying to control but Reese is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Wolf is in close to Reese's body, working some short punches and elbows.
De Wolf seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
De Wolf in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
De Wolf with a flurry of punches that miss.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Reese being controlled here, momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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.

De Wolf fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Reese, pushing him back against the cage.
Reese lands a shoulder strike.
Reese lands with a left to the head.
Reese slowing the pace effectively.
Reese scores with a shot to the side of De Wolf's head.
Zayaan Reese has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Reese working aggressively here.
De Wolf is trying to drag Reese to the mat but Reese just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sander De Wolf is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Reese breaks the clinch.

Reese has De Wolf up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Reese doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Reese looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sander De Wolf.
I've got De Wolf 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sander De Wolf!