PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Myoto Lachida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Anthony (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Lachida
vs
Anthony

215 cm
31
289 lbs
17 - 7 - 1

196 cm
41
273 lbs
24 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

SP Ultimate Nutrition

Spartan Nutrition

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 17 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Myoto Lachida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Stephen Anthony!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Steve Smith and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lachida drives through with a takedown into guard.

Anthony working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lachida doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lachida manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lachida accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Anthony working for a triangle but Lachida defends it easily.
Lachida with a nice head shot there.

Anthony looking for a guillotine here but Lachida defends easily.

Anthony is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lachida is aware though and is defending well.

Anthony has his foot on Lachida's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lachida works his way back into a safe position though.
Lachida content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Lachida scoring with punches to the head and body.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Anthony has momentary wrist control but Lachida slips an elbow through the middle.
Lachida postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Anthony working for a triangle but Lachida defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lachida looking to pass the guard.
Lachida postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Anthony throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lachida landing some decent shots from guard.
Lachida scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Lachida has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Anthony is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Lachida drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Anthony manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Lachida has Anthony in his guard.
Anthony lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anthony lands a couple of digs.

Lachida had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Anthony defends it easily.
Anthony forces his way into half guard.

Anthony is looking for a kimura here.

Lachida is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Anthony pulls his head out easily.
Lachida tries to roll over but Anthony keeps him under control.
Lachida knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Anthony on the ground.

Anthony seems to be looking for submissions.
Lachida wants to get back to full guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Anthony is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lachida doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Anthony.
Anthony moves nicely into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Anthony tries for a kimura but Lachida is defending well.
Anthony remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Lachida tries to buck Anthony off but Anthony is having none of it.
Lachida is working hard here to advance position.

Anthony thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Anthony tries for a kimura but Lachida is defending well.
Anthony trying to control the position but Lachida is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anthony is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Lachida tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Lachida is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Anthony off and has taken his back!
Anthony tries to roll but Lachida sticks to his back.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Lachida.
Lachida lands shots from the back.
Anthony trying to control the action but Lachida just sinks the hooks in.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lachida is landing with strikes. Anthony can't take much more of this.
Anthony is in bad spot here.
Lachida is trying to stick to Anthony's back but Anthony is turning into Lachida. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Lachida's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Anthony.
Anthony pushes down on Lachida's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Anthony is working for a kimura but Lachida is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Stephen Anthony will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Anthony changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lachida looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Lachida tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Lachida gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Anthony lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Lachida is looking to get to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Anthony working for a submission but Lachida is keeping him at bay.
Anthony raining down hammerfists from mount.
Lachida regains half guard.

Lachida actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Anthony is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Anthony is looking for a kimura but Lachida is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Anthony to get the leverage.

Lachida looking for submissions off his back.
Anthony wants to take a breather but Lachida is having none of it.
Lachida tries to get to full guard but Anthony has control of the leg.

Lachida is defending against the submission attempts here by Anthony.
Lachida wants to sweep but Anthony has passed to side control!
Lachida is trying to improve his position.

Anthony thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Anthony is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lachida has escaped the position, nice work there.
Lachida is looking to regain half guard here but Anthony keeps moving and retains side control.

Anthony is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lachida has escaped the position, nice work there.

Anthony is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lachida has escaped the position, nice work there.
Lachida tries to buck Anthony off but Anthony is having none of it.
Anthony wants to control but Lachida is keeping him busy.
Lachida is looking to regain half guard here but Anthony keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Anthony wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lachida, who protects the arm well.
We've been hearing good reports from Lachida's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Lachida is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Anthony is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lachida knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Anthony working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Lachida taking a bit of punishment here - Anthony scoring with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lachida manages to get back to half guard.

Lachida looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Anthony is pressing down on Lachida's thigh, looking to free his foot. Lachida is holding on for now.

Anthony is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lachida doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Anthony.

Lachida has hold of a guillotine but he's not going to be able to crank on it really with only half guard, so it's no trouble for Anthony. Oh but Lachida has got full guard now! Oh boy! This one could be over very soon! Anthony goes limp - he's gone! Lachida jumps up and celebrates with the crowd - fantastic submission finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Myoto Lachida!
Myoto Lachida decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.