PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Maharaj Charan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitch Layden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mitch Layden has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Maharaj Charan's chin.

Charan
vs
Layden

174 cm
25
153 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
19
155 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Maharaj Charan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mitch Layden!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Glass and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Charan misses with a head kick.
Layden circles away from the clinch attempt.
Charan tries to clinch up but Layden circles away and keeps his distance.
Charan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Charan. Layden does a little dance to reset his feet.
Charan scores with a kick to the midsection.
Charan throws a front kick that sends Layden stumbling back into the cage.

Layden closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Layden throwing shots but Charan is blocking nicely.
Layden controlling the action here.
Charan is looking to escape.
Charan wants to control but Layden passes into side.
Charan is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Layden creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Layden in side control, throwing shots but Charan defends.
Charan is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Layden has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Charan on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Layden is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Charan knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Charan is pushing Layden's head away, looking to escape. Layden manages to hold on to the position though.
Layden creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Charan sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Layden throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Charan wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Layden swings around for an armbar but Charan sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Layden's guard.

Charan drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Layden dives on top into guard.
Charan is breathing heavily.
Charan is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Layden controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Layden scoring with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Layden stands and steps away. Charan gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Charan doesn't manage to clinch there - Layden circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Charan gets caught flat footed, as Layden shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Layden is looking to work some ground and pound but Charan has wrist control.
Charan 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.
Layden looking to pass the guard.

Charan working for a triangle but Layden defends it easily.
Layden loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Layden trying to control but Charan is working from the bottom.
Layden won't allow Charan to get back to his feet.
Layden trying to control the position from guard on top but Charan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Charan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Charan tries to clinch there but Layden circles away.
Layden throws a right and a left that Charan avoids nicely.
Charan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Charan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Layden moves into the clinch.
Charan tries to break free but Layden pushes him back against the cage.

Layden pulls guard effortlessly.

Layden looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitch Layden dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Charan closes the distance looking to clinch

and Layden counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Charan!
Charan squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Layden working the ground and pound effectively.
Layden is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Charan can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
A nice elbow there by Layden.
Charan tries to reverse the position but Layden maintains control.
Layden is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Charan can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Layden has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Charan's face.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Charan is squirming around, avoiding Layden's attempts to control the action.
Layden controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charan is trying to escape the mount.
Layden lands a big shot there that rocks Charan but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Charan is in all sorts of trouble here.
Layden looking to control and managing it successfully.
The referee warns Charan that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Layden looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charan tries to control the position but Layden now has his back.
Charan holding both Layden 's hands and preventing any damage.
Good control from Layden.

Layden is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Charan has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Layden is punishing Charan with strikes - can he finish him?!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Layden lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.

Charan defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
You can see the frustration on Charan's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Charan defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Layden's arms.
Charan controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A lull in the action here.
Layden has the hooks in. Charan is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Layden misses with a punch to the head.
Charan has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Layden is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Charan is defending well though. Layden let's go of the attempt for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Charan is trying to get back to his feet but Layden has full control of the position and if anything, Charan has just worked his way into a worse spot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitch Layden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Charan throws out a loose jab but Layden uses good head movement to avoid it.
Charan darts in trying to clinch

and Layden counters with a nice double leg into side control. Charan won't be happy with that.

Layden looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Layden looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Mitch Layden has got the better of the ground game so far.
Charan pushes Layden away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Layden gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Layden is looking to take a break and control but Charan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Charan is trying to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Layden controls the position.
Layden cracks Charan with a big elbow.
Layden throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Charan gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Charan tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Layden manages to move to mount!
Layden takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Charan is looking to get to half guard.
Layden punishing his opponent with strikes.
Layden dominating with strikes here.
Layden takes Charan's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Charan is in trouble.

Charan fending off the submission attempt from Layden.
Layden doesn't have the hooks in and Charan manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charan wants to stand and escape but instead Layden has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Layden sitting in guard here, content to control.
Charan wants to improve his position but instead Layden has moved into half guard.
Layden lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Layden is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Charan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Layden.
Maharaj Charan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Charan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Layden.
Charan is trying to get back to full guard.
Layden thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Layden seems to be working for a kimura but Charan defends the submission attempt.
Layden wants to take a breather but Charan is having none of it.

Charan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mitch Layden is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Charan throws a predictable looking body shot

and Layden counters with a nice double leg into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mitch Layden comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Layden 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 26:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 26:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mitch Layden!