PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Anzhor Azhiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Lewis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Azhiev
vs
Lewis

177 cm
19
150 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

175 cm
18
156 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Outkast Clothing Line

Outkast Clothing Line
Outkast Clothing Line

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Anzhor Azhiev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Daniel Lewis!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Decent striking displayed by Lewis there.
Azhiev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Lewis as Azhiev shoots in.
Azhiev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lewis swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anzhor Azhiev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Azhiev tries to clinch but Lewis moves away
and Lewis counters with a nice uppercut.
Azhiev gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Lewis bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Azhiev's head.
Lewis displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Azhiev thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lewis circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lewis scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Azhiev doesn't seem bothered though.
Azhiev with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Lewis to score with a decent uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Lewis dives in and scores a takedown into Azhiev's guard.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lewis trying to control but Azhiev is working from the bottom.
Lewis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lewis sitting in guard here, content to control.
Lewis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lewis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Azhiev looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Lewis passes into side control.
Azhiev manages to get back to half guard.
Lewis controlling the action here.

Azhiev looking for submissions off his back.

Azhiev actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lewis is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Lewis sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Azhiev defending well though.

Azhiev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lewis is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
This has been an exciting period of action!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Daniel Lewis.
Azhiev tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting Lewis counter with a right hand.
Azhiev moves forwards but Lewis connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Lewis lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Azhiev backs up against the cage.
Azhiev takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Azhiev closes the distance and clinches up with Lewis, looking for a takedown. Azhiev pushes Lewis against the cage but Lewis circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Azhiev takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Azhiev is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lewis sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Azhiev is breathing heavily.
Azhiev walks into a left hand.
Azhiev walks into a left hand.
Azhiev takes one to the chin there.
Left hook, right uppercut from Lewis.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lewis cracks Azhiev with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Lewis counters with a three punch combo that has Azhiev backing up. Azhiev nods at Lewis to acknowledge the strikes.

Lewis shoots in and bounces Azhiev off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Lewis must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Azhiev throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Azhiev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lewis.
Lewis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lewis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Azhiev keeping full guard, as Lewis tries to pass.
Lewis throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Azhiev is looking for a triangle but Lewis pushes his legs off easily.
Lewis looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Lewis trying to control but Azhiev is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Lewis dominated that round.
That's time! Azhiev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Azhiev walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Lewis connects with a right hand. Azhiev shakes it off.
Azhiev on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Azhiev tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Lewis counters with a one-two to the body.
Lewis stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lewis wants it to stay on the feet.
Azhiev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Azhiev is looking to clinch but Lewis is avoiding it.
Lewis feints a jab promting Azhiev to slip. Lewis then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Azhiev slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Azhiev takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Azhiev closes the distance but Lewis moves to the side
and Lewis counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhiev has a takedown stuffed.
Lewis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Azhiev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Azhiev looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Azhiev shoots in looking for a takedown. Lewis tries to sprawl out of it but Azhiev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lewis manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anzhor Azhiev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Azhiev closes the distance but Lewis moves to the side
enabling Lewis to counter with a crisp jab.
A jab lands there for Lewis.
Azhiev tries to clinch up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Lewis.
Lewis tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Lewis trying to control the action but Azhiev is working from the bottom.
Lewis really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Azhiev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev sneaks back into half guard.
Lewis is pressing down on Azhiev's thigh, looking to free his foot. Azhiev is holding on for now.
Lewis controlling the pace.
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!

Azhiev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lewis pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Azhiev looking for submissions off his back.

Azhiev actively working from the bottom here.
Lewis is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lewis is trying to control the action in half guard but Azhiev is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Azhiev looking for submissions off his back.
Lewis controlling the action here.
Let's hope that Lewis has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Daniel Lewis hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Azhiev moves to clinch but Lewis breaks away
and Lewis counters with a nice uppercut.
Azhiev moves in looking to clinch but Lewis pushes him off.
Azhiev takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Lewis scores with a hook to the body. Azhiev takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Daniel Lewis seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lewis connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Lewis might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
A clash of legs there as Azhiev blocks the low kick.
Lewis connects with a good right hand that stumbles Azhiev. Azhiev circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Azhiev shoots for a takedown but Lewis saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Lewis gets a double leg takedown into Azhiev's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lewis trying to control the position from guard on top but Azhiev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Azhiev has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Lewis is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Azhiev.
Lewis taking a breather here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Lewis decides to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Lewis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Lewis connects with a right hand. Azhiev shakes it off.
Lewis lands a jab.
Lewis lands a jab-cross combination.
Lewis fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Lewis lands with a slapping head kick.
Azhiev moves in looking to clinch but Lewis pushes him off.
Azhiev is looking to score with low kicks.
Azhiev looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Anzhor Azhiev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Lewis drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lewis creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Azhiev sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Lewis tries to move into full mount but can't pass Azhiev's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lewis wants to control but Azhiev is keeping him busy.
Lewis creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Azhiev managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Lewis.
Azhiev tries to bench press Lewis off him but Lewis keeps the position.
Lewis tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Lewis is looking to take a break and control but Azhiev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lewis happy to just control the position for now.
Lewis fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Azhiev gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Azhiev looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Well, if Lewis is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Azhiev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Azhiev looking for submissions off his back.
Lewis missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lewis thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Azhiev's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lewis keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Lewis lands with a punch from half guard.
Lewis perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev is refusing to be controlled, as Lewis sits in half guard.

Azhiev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lewis trying to control the pace.
Lewis looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Daniel Lewis was stalling too much, according to the referee.
The fighters circle momentarily. Lewis darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Azhiev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Azhiev needs to keep his hands up - Lewis had a free shot at his head there.
Anzhor Azhiev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Lewis.
Azhiev throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lewis counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lewis scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Azhiev takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Azhiev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lewis is fending him off so far but Azhiev persists. Nope, Lewis circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anzhor Azhiev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Azhiev gets caught flat footed, as Lewis shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Lewis stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Lewis tests Azhiev's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lewis scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Azhiev throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lewis counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Danga de danga de dang - Lewis scores with a four punch combination!
Good work by Azhiev as he checks the leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Lewis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lewis 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Lewis!
Daniel Lewis managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Outkast Clothing Line, into his post fight interview.