PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Andrew McKenzie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Laurent Tsadyleba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

McKenzie
vs
Tsadyleba

178 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
20
173 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Andrew McKenzie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Laurent Tsadyleba!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McKenzie looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Tsadyleba!

McKenzie wants to finish this one by submission but Tsadyleba is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from McKenzie.

McKenzie is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Tsadyleba to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Tsadyleba shrugs it off.
Tsadyleba tries to reverse the position but McKenzie maintains control.

McKenzie goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Tsadyleba is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McKenzie trying to keep a closed guard but Tsadyleba is proving a slippery customer.

Tsadyleba stands up and waves to McKenzie to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McKenzie gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
McKenzie keeping moving, preventing Tsadyleba from controlling successfully.
Tsadyleba working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tsadyleba is working McKenzie over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Tsadyleba stands up over McKenzie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie is looking to stand up but Tsadyleba isn't so interested in that idea.
McKenzie on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if McKenzie tries to get out of the position.
McKenzie is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Tsadyleba trying to control but McKenzie is working from the bottom.
Tsadyleba content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Tsadyleba looking to pass the guard.
Tsadyleba trying to control the position from guard on top but McKenzie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsadyleba postures up.
Tsadyleba is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tsadyleba stands and throws McKenzie's legs to the side, diving into side control.
McKenzie is breathing heavily.
Tsadyleba postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Tsadyleba scores with punches from side control.
Tsadyleba working the ground and pound from side control.
McKenzie is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Tsadyleba wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by McKenzie, who protects the arm well.
A lull in the action here.
Tsadyleba working the head and body with strikes.

Tsadyleba is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. McKenzie knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tsadyleba is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McKenzie.
Tsadyleba shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and McKenzie counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Tsadyleba!
Tsadyleba is in all sorts of trouble here.

McKenzie jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Tsadyleba is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Tsadyleba and McKenzie has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tsadyleba gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
McKenzie thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsadyleba controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Tsadyleba is trying to get back to full guard.
McKenzie wants to pass to mount but Tsadyleba is defending the position.

McKenzie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
McKenzie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tsadyleba keeps working.
Tsadyleba is doing well to control the position and prevent McKenzie from advancing to side control.

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.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tsadyleba manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Tsadyleba is trying to keep McKenzie in close.
Tsadyleba preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McKenzie knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tsadyleba on the ground.
Tsadyleba is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Tsadyleba looking to hit a scissor sweep but McKenzie is one step ahead there.
Tsadyleba scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie is fighting to break Tsadyleba's control of his arms but Tsadyleba is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Tsadyleba wants to sweep but no luck.
McKenzie has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
McKenzie trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tsadyleba's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

McKenzie gets caught flat footed, as Tsadyleba shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
McKenzie can't keep his opponent in guard - Tsadyleba advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Tsadyleba takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Tsadyleba passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for McKenzie!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsadyleba forces the positional change into back control.
Tsadyleba has good solid back control here.
Tsadyleba trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Laurent Tsadyleba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

McKenzie shoots and misses

and Tsadyleba counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for McKenzie!
Laurent Tsadyleba has got the better of the ground game so far.
McKenzie wants to control but Tsadyleba is having none of it.
Tsadyleba postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. McKenzie looks a forlorn figure.
Tsadyleba controlling the position easily from mount.
Tsadyleba working the ground and pound effectively.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKenzie is squirming around, avoiding Tsadyleba's attempts to control the action.

McKenzie defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Tsadyleba.
A nice elbow there by Tsadyleba.
Tsadyleba punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Tsadyleba get's back to his feet.
Tsadyleba tries for a takedown but McKenzie circles away easily

and McKenzie counters with a nice double leg into side control. Tsadyleba won't be happy with that.
McKenzie controls the position.
Tsadyleba is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, McKenzie asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Tsadyleba sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
McKenzie is trying to control. Tsadyleba wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tsadyleba is trying is best to control the position here.
Tsadyleba trying to hold on to McKenzie's head to control him but McKenzie postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsadyleba wants to get back to full guard.
Tsadyleba trying to control here.
McKenzie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tsadyleba is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tsadyleba striking from half guard on the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Tsadyleba with a lazy takedown attempt

and McKenzie counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Tsadyleba regains full guard. Nicely done.
McKenzie tries to stand but Tsadyleba is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsadyleba controlling the position.

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

McKenzie is working an open guard so Tsadyleba takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tsadyleba gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and McKenzie counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Tsadyleba's guard now.

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 Andrew McKenzie.
Well Tsadyleba 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Laurent Tsadyleba!