PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eriks Aita (ranked 5230 p4p, 5144 weight class) and Casius Laizel (ranked 627 p4p, 626 weight class). Eriks Aita could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Casius Laizel's chin.

Aita
vs
Laizel

190 cm
19
190
2 - 0 - 0

191 cm
24
190
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eriks Aita!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Casius Laizel!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Gwen Towbar and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aita shoots in looking for a takedown but Laizel manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Aita's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Laizel raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

Laizel drives through with a takedown into Aita's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Aita being controlled here, momentarily.
Laizel prevents Aita from getting back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laizel engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Aita is trying hard to land a takedown here. Laizel sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Laizel replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Aita blocks it well.
Aita is looking to clinch but Laizel is avoiding it.
Aita tries to score a power double leg takedown but Laizel sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Aita somewhat.
Laizel is trying to counter with his kicks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eriks Aita. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aita tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Laizel swivels and escapes.
Eriks Aita seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Laizel changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Aita looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aita is breathing heavily.
Laizel slows the pace down.
Aita struggling a bit here.
Laizel is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Aita is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Tran MMA Gym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Let's hope that Laizel 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aita is trying to control Laizel's posture but Laizel avoids it.
Aita seems a little lost for a moment, as Laizel dominates the positioning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Laizel working away.
Aita is trying to escape the position but Laizel is controlling the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Casius Laizel dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Laizel closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Aita's guard.
Laizel not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Laizel preventing the sweep.
Aita being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laizel passes into half guard.
Laizel trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aita wants to control but Laizel is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Laizel in particular looking to stall.
Aita is looking to improve his position.
Laizel with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Laizel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Laizel.

That's two 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.
Yet more stalling tactics from Laizel.
Aita trying to control from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Laizel tries for a takedown but Aita sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Laizel gets a double leg takedown into Aita's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Laizel is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Laizel's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laizel forces his way into half guard.
Laizel controlling the action here.
Laizel is continuing to stall.
Aita controlling the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Laizel is controlling the pace.
Laizel prevents Aita from improving his position.
Laizel sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Laizel prevents Aita from improving his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Laizel slows the pace down in half guard.

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

Excellent takedown into side control there by Laizel.

Aita throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Casius Laizel 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!

Eriks Aita is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Laizel closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Laizel controlling the pace.
Laizel works his way into full mount!
Laizel looking to control and managing it successfully.
Aita is looking to improve his position but Laizel isn't that keen on the idea.
Laizel controlling from mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aita is wriggling around trying to escape.
Casius Laizel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Laizel looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aita is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Laizel controlling the pace for now.
Laizel prevents Aita from getting the reversal.
Laizel controlling from mount.
More stalling from Laizel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laizel with more of the same as he continues to hold on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aita is desperately trying to improve his position but Laizel has a good base and remains in mount.
Laizel controlling from mount.
Aita is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Laizel controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aita is looking to get to half guard.
Laizel sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Laizel prevents Aita from getting the reversal.
Eriks Aita has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Casius Laizel is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Laizel takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Casius Laizel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Laizel 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Casius Laizel!