PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tmothy Aztec (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyrie Lirving (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tmothy Aztec has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Aztec
vs
Lirving

180 cm
22
225 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

178 cm
18
267 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tmothy Aztec!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kyrie Lirving!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aztec throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lirving's waist but Lirving gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Aztec off to one side.

Aztec gets a clinch.
Lirving is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lirving has had enough of the clinch but Aztec keeps him there for the moment.
A frustrated look appears on Aztec's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Lirving goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Aztec has Lirving pressed against the cage, preventing Lirving from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Aztec has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lirving uses from the top position.
Lirving tries to free his leg and advance position but Aztec is retaining full guard.
Lirving trying to control the position from guard on top but Aztec is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lirving looking to sit in guard and control but Aztec gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Aztec stops Lirving from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aztec passes Lirving's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Aztec performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Lirving is trying to maintain the position but Aztec is very close to passing his half guard.
Aztec content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Aztec decides to return to a standing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aztec shoots in and drives through. Lirving sprawls well.
Aztec shoots in for a double leg but Lirving sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tmothy Aztec. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aztec shoots in looking for a takedown. Lirving tries to sprawl out of it but Aztec keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lirving manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Aztec fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lirving avoids it really well and circles away.
Aztec shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lirving but Lirving pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Lirving closes this distance looking for a takedown but Aztec circles away.

Lirving closes the distance and clinches.
Lirving drops down looking for an ankle pick but Aztec pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aztec clinches.
Lirving tries for a takedown but Aztec manages to get underhooks.

Aztec successfully pulls guard.

Aztec wriggles free and stands up.
Aztec shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lirving but Lirving pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Aztec is looking to clinch but Lirving is avoiding it.

Lirving fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Aztec to the ground. Lirving is now in Aztec's guard.
Aztec not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lirving missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lirving trying to control but Aztec is working from the bottom.
Lirving is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lirving wants to control from the top but Aztec keeps moving.
Lirving really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Aztec. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lirving looking to pass the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lirving wants to stand but Aztec has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kyrie Lirving will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lirving wants to land a leg kick but Aztec is out of range.
Lirving is looking to clinch.
A big left from Lirving misses.
Lirving tries to clinch but Aztec moves out of range.
Lirving leaves Aztec with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Aztec moves into range and clinches up with Lirving.

Lirving lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Aztec looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lirving seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Aztec does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Lirving trying to pass the guard but Aztec defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aztec wants to get back to his feet.
Lirving tries to stand and escape but Aztec is controlling the position.
Aztec moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Lirving sitting in guard here, content to control.
Aztec keeping moving, preventing Lirving from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Kyrie Lirving hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Aztec shoots for a takedown but Lirving saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Aztec looks for a takedown but Lirving sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tmothy Aztec. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aztec fails with a takedown attempt.
Aztec dips to his left and cracks Lirving with an uppercut!

It looks like Kyrie Lirving has been cut.
Lirving is trying hard to land a takedown here. Aztec sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Tmothy Aztec is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Aztec throws a head kick that misses.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Lirving has eaten all the pies!
Aztec blocks the body kick.
Aztec shoots in but no luck this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aztec keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lirving shoots in but Aztec avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Aztec just misses with a punch to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Aztec.
Lirving moves in looking to clinch but Aztec pushes him off.
Nice takedown defense from Lirving. No joy for Aztec on that attempt.
Aztec shoots in for a takedown but Lirving shows good takedown defense.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Aztec.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Aztec. No joy for Lirving on that attempt.
Lirving fails to land the takedown.
Aztec slips under a jab.
Aztec is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lirving sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lirving looks for a takedown but Aztec sprawls well.
Lirving tries to work over Aztec's front leg with a kick but Aztec checks it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Lirving darts in and clinches Aztec up against the cage.
Lirving can't break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyrie Lirving showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kyrie Lirving's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Lirving changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Aztec tries to avoid it but Lirving manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Aztec to the ground. Aztec escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Aztec is looking to break free of the clinch but Lirving has double underhooks.

Aztec manages to pull guard.
Aztec utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Aztec trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Aztec looking for a guillotine here but Lirving defends easily.
Aztec keeping moving, preventing Lirving from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lirving drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Aztec manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Lirving has Aztec in his guard.
Aztec controls from within his opponent's guard.
Lirving wants to stand up but Aztec is controlling him.
Aztec not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lirving is trying to keep Aztec in close.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Lirving can't keep his opponent in guard - Aztec advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Aztec is trying to control the action in half guard but Lirving is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Aztec gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Aztec misses with the combination.
Aztec lands a jab-cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aztec throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lirving's waist but Lirving gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Aztec off to one side.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aztec circles away from the clinch attempt.
Aztec keeps the fight on the outside.
Lirving throws a leg kick but Aztec sees it coming and moves out of range.
Lirving fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Aztec clinches up against the cage.
Lirving tries to pull guard but Aztec holds him up against the cage and eventually Lirving drops back down to his feet.
Tmothy Aztec has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyrie Lirving.
Lirving prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lirving tries to break free but Aztec pushes him back against the cage.
Lirving wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Aztec has him pressed against the cage.
Lirving wants to break free but Aztec has control.

Aztec jumps into guard, dragging Lirving to the mat.
Lirving is looking to stand up but Aztec won't let him.
Aztec is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Aztec has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lirving can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aztec looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Lirving puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tmothy Aztec showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lirving has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Kyrie Lirving!