PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yoh Azakura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Romeo Best (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Azakura
vs
Best

173 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
21
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Yoh Azakura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Romeo Best!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Daniel Bishop and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Azakura drives through with a takedown into guard.
Best is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Azakura is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Best is trying to control the position but Azakura postures up.

Azakura thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Best keeping full guard, as Azakura tries to pass.

Azakura drops back looking for a leg! Best is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Best manages to kick Azakura off! Azakura jumps back into Best's guard.
Best not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Azakura avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Azakura drops back looking for a leg! Best is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Best manages to kick Azakura off! Azakura jumps back into Best's guard.

Azakura drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Azakura jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Best has his foot on Azakura's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Azakura works his way back into a safe position though.
Best not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Azakura drops back looking for a leg! Best is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Best manages to kick Azakura off! Azakura jumps back into Best's guard.
Best looking to hit a scissor sweep but Azakura is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Best looking to control.
Azakura being controlled here momentarily.

Azakura drops back looking for a leg! Best is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Best manages to kick Azakura off! Azakura jumps back into Best's guard.
Azakura preventing the sweep.
Best wants to stand and escape but Azakura is having none of it.
Best controls Azakura momentarily but Azakura frees himself.
Azakura tries to free his leg and advance position but Best is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azakura passes Best's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Azakura is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Best is just riding it out for now. Azakura eventually gives up the hold.
Best gets back to full guard.

Azakura drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Best dives on top into guard.
Azakura is breathing heavily.
Best has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Azakura is proving hard to escape from.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Azakura is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Best is aware though and is defending well.

Azakura escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Best gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Best trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Best drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Best jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Azakura keeping moving, preventing Best from controlling successfully.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Best is looking to work some ground and pound but Azakura has wrist control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Azakura looking for subs off his back but Best has passed one foot through into half guard.
Best stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Yoh Azakura will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Best shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Best showed some decent athleticism there.

Azakura looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Best wants to take a breather but Azakura is having none of it.

Best is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Azakura looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Best tries to stand and escape but Azakura is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Best trying to mount his opponent but Azakura defends it.
Azakura moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Best wants to control from the top but Azakura keeps moving.

Azakura throws his legs up looking for a submission but Best uses it to pass to side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Azakura looks to move to half guard but instead Best has passed into mount! Damn!
Best looking to control but Azakura is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Best might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Azakura kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Azakura is desperately trying to improve his position but Best has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azakura is working hard here to advance position.
Azakura is squirming around, avoiding Best's attempts to control the action.
Azakura working to try and regain half guard.
Best trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Romeo Best has got the better of the ground game so far.
Best landing strikes from the mount and Azakura is in trouble!
Azakura is looking to improve his position but Best isn't that keen on the idea.
Best wants to control the pace but Azakura is squirming around nicely.
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!
Azakura is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azakura is squirming around, avoiding Best's attempts to control the action.

Best has control of Azakura's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Azakura regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Best throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Azakura is desperately trying to improve his position but Best has a good base and remains in mount.
Best working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Best wants to control the pace but Azakura is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azakura is bucking up trying to escape but Best cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Best connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Azakura tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Azakura regains half guard.
Best is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Azakura!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Azakura really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Best looking to control but Azakura is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Best unloading with bombs!
Best connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Romeo Best 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Best has Azakura up against the cage in a clinch.
Azakura can't get the takedown.
Best is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Best stops a takedown attempt from Azakura.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoh Azakura. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Best turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Azakura is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Azakura is trying to work for a sweep but Best has mounted him!
Best looking to control but Azakura is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Best lands a heavy elbow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Best is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Azakura is in real trouble.

Azakura showing good submission defense here.

Best is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Azakura defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Best doesn't have the hooks in and Azakura manages to turn into his guard.
Best trying to control the position.
Best is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Azakura is staying active underneath Best, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Azakura looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Azakura actively working from the bottom here.

Best is looking for a kimura but Azakura is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Best to get the leverage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Best works his way into side control.
Best is looking to take a break and control but Azakura is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Azakura is looking to regain half guard here but Best keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Best advances nicely into full mount.
Azakura can't escape the position.
Best wants to control the pace but Azakura is squirming around nicely.
Best lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Azakura is trying to reverse the position but instead Best has taken his back - oops!
Azakura tries to roll but Best sticks to his back.
Best 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.
Best trying to control.
Azakura tries to roll but Best sticks to his back.

Best looking for the choke but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azakura manages to reverse the position and now he's in Best's guard. Nice work there by Azakura.
Azakura might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Azakura postures up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Azakura thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Best is trying to control the position but Azakura postures up.

Azakura drops back, looking for a kneebar! Best looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Best looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Best!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Best trying to control the action but Azakura is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Romeo Best comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Best 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Romeo Best!