PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mixtli Azteca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yaroslav Lyutov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yaroslav Lyutov told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Azteca
vs
Lyutov

178 cm
22
183 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
27
169 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mixtli Azteca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Yaroslav Lyutov!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Paul Tew and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azteca moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Azteca slips a jab and a cross from Lyutov.
Azteca takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Azteca keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lyutov throws a series of punches but Azteca moves out of range.
Azteca takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Azteca just misses with a punch to the body.
Lyutov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Lyutov fails to land with a series of punches.
Azteca throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lyutov.
Lyutov has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Lyutov there as he acknowledges the shot.
Azteca slips a jab and a cross from Lyutov.
Lyutov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Azteca.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Azteca throws a jab when Lyutov was well out of range.
A lazy left from Azteca finds it's target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lyutov. Azteca does a little dance to reset his feet.
Azteca throws an overhand right that lands on Lyutov's shoulder, as Lyutov tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Lyutov.

Azteca has taken the fight to the clinch.

Lyutov breaks the clinch.
Azteca slips a jab and a cross from Lyutov.
Lyutov fails to land with a series of punches.
Lyutov throws a nice looking combination but Azteca bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lyutov throws a series of punches but Azteca moves out of range.
Azteca tests Lyutov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Azteca is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Lyutov scores with a three punch combo!
Yaroslav Lyutov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lyutov moves out of range of the strikes.
Lyutov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lyutov tries to bum rush Azteca with a series of wild strikes but Azteca uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Lyutov misses.
Lyutov closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Azteca pushes Lyutov up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Azteca breaks the clinch.

Azteca gets a double leg takedown into Lyutov's guard.
Azteca looking to pass the guard.
Lyutov wants to stand up but Azteca is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azteca thows a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lyutov wants to stand and escape but Azteca is having none of it.
Lyutov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Azteca. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Azteca tries to free his leg and advance position but Lyutov is retaining full guard.
Azteca postures up in Lyutov's guard and throws a big left but Lyutov blocks it.
Azteca throws and elbow that misses. Lyutov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Azteca's guard. Nice move by Lyutov!
Azteca is pulling down on Lyutov's head to control his posture.
Lyutov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Azteca is proving hard to escape from.
Azteca wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azteca is adopting a defensive guard.
Azteca has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Lyutov wants to stand but Azteca has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

We're going to have a standup here because Mixtli Azteca wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Nice defenses there by Lyutov.
A telegraphed right hand from Azteca misses the target.
Lyutov throws a leg kick
enabling Azteca to counter with a crisp jab.
Lyutov misses with a few strikes there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lyutov misses with a head kick.
Lyutov misses with a few strikes there.
Azteca misses with a straight left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mixtli Azteca dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Azteca scores with a jab. Lyutov acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Lyutov ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Lyutov digs a good body shot into Azteca's ribs.
Lyutov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Azteca misses with the combination.
Azteca closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lyutov circles away.
Danga de danga de dang - Lyutov scores with a four punch combination!
Lyutov fails to land with a series of punches.
Lyutov misses with a wild combination.
Lyutov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Azteca is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Azteca lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lyutov circles away quickly and effectively.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Azteca missing with a left hand there. Lyutov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lyutov swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Azteca.
Lyutov is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Azteca rather than just go for the knockout.
Azteca takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Yaroslav Lyutov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lyutov looks to land a combination but Azteca avoids it well.
Yaroslav Lyutov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lyutov throws a series of strikes that have Azteca backpedaling.
Azteca avoids a punch combination nicely.
Azteca connects with a good right hand that stumbles Lyutov. Lyutov circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Azteca waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lyutov.
Azteca throws a looping overhand right but Lyutov ducks down to avoid it.
Lyutov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Azteca forces Lyutov back against the cage and clinches.
Lyutov is trying to break the clinch but Azteca has him pressed against the cage.
Azteca lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lyutov backwards.
Azteca tries for a takedown but Lyutov manages to get underhooks.
Azteca lands a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azteca misses with a punch to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Azteca struggles to land a body shot inside as Lyutov controls his hands.
Azteca tries to throw a body punch but Lyutov avoids it by throwing Azteca back against the cage.
Azteca is trying to stall.
Azteca lands a nice uppercut.
Lyutov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Lyutov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Azteca has him pressed against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Azteca.
Azteca lands with a left to the head.
Azteca taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Lyutov wants to get back to striking at distance but Azteca won't allow it.
Lyutov is trying to break the clinch but Azteca is controlling him.
Lyutov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Azteca has him pressed against the cage.
Lyutov wants to break the clinch but can't.

Azteca manages to break the clinch.

Lyutov gets caught napping as Azteca dives in and scores a takedown. Lyutov manages to retain guard.
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.
Azteca working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Azteca with a flurry of punches that miss.
Azteca trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lyutov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Azteca lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Azteca advances position into side control!
Azteca in side control, throwing shots but Lyutov defends.
Lyutov is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Azteca has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Lyutov is not content to let Azteca control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azteca advances to mount.
Lyutov is breathing heavily.
Azteca lands a big shot there that rocks Lyutov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lyutov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Azteca sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Lyutov in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Azteca landing strikes from the mount and Lyutov is in trouble!

Azteca is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Lyutov to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Lyutov shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mixtli Azteca dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Lyutov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yaroslav Lyutov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lyutov moves forwards but Azteca connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Azteca lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Lyutov throws a right hand that Azteca ducks under and follows up with a left that Azteca also avoids with ease.
Lyutov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Azteca.
Lyutov swinging wildly here.

Azteca shoots in and gets a takedown into Lyutov's guard.
Azteca connects with a couple of short punches.
Azteca tries to free his leg and advance position but Lyutov is retaining full guard.
Azteca passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azteca seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lyutov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Azteca thows a huge punch but Lyutov dodges it nicely.
Lyutov is trying to stand.
Lyutov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Azteca not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mixtli Azteca overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Azteca missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lyutov is staying active underneath Azteca, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Azteca tries to pass to full mount but Lyutov defends it.

Azteca is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azteca scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Lyutov regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Azteca.
Azteca makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Azteca tries to free his leg and advance position but Lyutov is retaining full guard.
Azteca content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Azteca loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azteca passes into half guard.

Azteca is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lyutov has managed to free his arm - good work.
Azteca missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Azteca sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lyutov defending well though.
Well, if Azteca 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.
Azteca has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Lyutov is trying to stand back up but Azteca is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azteca takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Mixtli Azteca is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Azteca is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Azteca throwing shots but Lyutov is blocking nicely.
Azteca not landing any meaningful shots this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lyutov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Lyutov is in trouble now - Azteca has advanced to mount!
Yaroslav Lyutov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Azteca landing strikes, looking to finish!

And that's the end of the fight!
Mixtli Azteca showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Azteca, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Glass scores the fight for Mixtli Azteca!
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight for Mixtli Azteca!
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight for Mixtli Azteca!

Mixtli Azteca wins by unanimous decision!
Mixtli Azteca opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.