PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nash Andrews (ranked 4083 p4p, 4082 weight class) and Lars Wagner (ranked 477 p4p, 476 weight class). Lars Wagner has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Andrews
vs
Wagner

200 cm
22
198
7 - 5 - 0

180 cm
24
185
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nash Andrews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lars Wagner!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shigeki Sano and Ren Mimura.

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

Wagner clinches with his opponent.
Andrews is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Wagner is defending well.
I was talking to Andrews's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Andrews successfully pulls guard.
Andrews throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Wagner gets to his feet - Andrews follows without any prompting.
Wagner misses with a jab, cross combination.
Andrews has his takedown stuffed
and Wagner counters with a stiff right hand.
Andrews doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Wagner counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nash Andrews. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Wagner instigates a clinch.
Wagner scores with a shot to the side of Andrews's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andrews tries to pull guard but Wagner forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Wagner misses with a short punch on the inside.
Andrews jumps guard but Wagner stands there with Andrews around his waist. Andrews gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Wagner tries to throw a body punch but Andrews avoids it by throwing Wagner back against the cage.
Wagner working aggressively here.

Andrews manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Andrews has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Wagner can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Wagner must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Wagner is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Andrews escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Wagner gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Wagner 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.

Wagner got a little sloppy there for a moment and Andrews has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Wagner has managed to get both his arms back between Andrews's legs - danger averted.
Andrews will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Andrews has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Wagner can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Andrews is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wagner sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Andrews is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Wagner is aware though and is defending well.

Wagner gets to his feet - Andrews follows without any prompting.
Wagner is looking to clinch but Andrews is avoiding it.

Wagner closes the distance and clinches.
Wagner tries to throw a body punch but Andrews avoids it by throwing Wagner back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Andrews has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Wagner uses from the top position.
Wagner really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Andrews. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Wagner showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Wagner decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Left hook, right uppercut from Wagner.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wagner changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Andrews shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Wagner defends it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lars Wagner dominated that round.
That's time! Andrews's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Wagner closes the distance but Andrews moves to the side
and Andrews counters with a big head kick but Wagner shrugs it off.
Wagner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Wagner wants to clinch.
Andrews tries to counter with a takedown but Wagner is quick to defend against it.
Wagner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wagner lands with a nice body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wagner tries to clinch up but Andrews circles away and keeps his distance.
Wagner lands a jab to Andrews's midsection.
Wagner cracks Andrews with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Andrews forces Wagner back against the cage and clinches.
Andrews fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Andrews is trying to drag Wagner to the mat but Wagner just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Wagner slows down the pace here.
Andrews tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nash Andrews. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two 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.
Andrews tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Wagner blocking some punches.
Andrews jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Wagner walks away with a smile on his face. Andrews gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Wagner tries to bum rush Andrews with a series of wild strikes but Andrews uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Andrews went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Andrews blocks a head kick by Wagner.
Andrews looks for a takedown but Wagner sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wagner tries to bum rush Andrews with a series of wild strikes but Andrews uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Andrews misses with a low kick.
Andrews takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Wagner tries to clinch but Andrews is having none of it.
Lars Wagner seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Wagner avoids the head kick by Andrews.
Andrews fails with an attempt to clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Wagner! But no joy.

Wagner closes the distance and pushes Andrews back into the cage.
Andrews wants a takedown but no success here.
Wagner tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Wagner tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Andrews is looking to take this one to the mat.
Andrews really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Andrews blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Andrews can't get the takedown.
Andrews tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Wagner smiles and moves away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Andrews tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wagner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Andrews moves in looking to clinch but Wagner pushes him off.

Wagner pushes Andrews up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lars Wagner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Andrews with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Wagner to score with a decent uppercut.
Wagner fails in his attempt to clinch.

Wagner has closed the distance and engaged Andrews in a clinch.
Wagner's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Andrews goes for a takedown attempt but Wagner pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wagner stuffs the takedown attempt from Andrews. Andrews gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wagner comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Wagner lands a slapping body shot.
Lars Wagner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wagner looks to land a combination but Andrews avoids it well.
Andrews is looking to counter punch.
Wagner connects with a body shot that sends Andrews's belly button to the back.

Wagner has taken the fight to the clinch.
Andrews is trying to pull guard but Wagner has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nash Andrews. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Andrews drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Andrews tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wagner misses with a hook to the ribs.

Andrews pulls guard effortlessly.

Andrews working for a triangle but Wagner defends it easily.

Andrews looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Wagner stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wagner closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Andrews did well to prevent Wagner getting side control.
Andrews wants to get back to full guard.
Wagner controlling the action here.
Nash Andrews has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Andrews works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wagner stands up from guard. Let's bang!
We've been informed that Wagner has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Andrews.
Wagner is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Andrews rather than just go for the knockout.
Andrews doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Andrews swats away the attempt to clinch by Wagner.
Wagner scores with a sloppy right hand. Andrews should have avoided that one.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Wagner gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lars Wagner is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Andrews is trying to pull guard but Wagner turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lars Wagner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Wagner 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lars Wagner!