PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yoji Anjo Anjo (ranked 6638 p4p, 612 weight class) and Marcus Aurelios (ranked 6979 p4p, 632 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Anjo Anjo
vs
Aurelios

188 cm
18
178 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Yoji Anjo Anjo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Marcus Aurelios!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Michael Johnstone and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Anjo gets a clinch.
Aurelios is stalling here.
Aurelios is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Anjo works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Aurelios wants to get back to his feet but Anjo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Anjo trying to stand up but can't free himself from Aurelios's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aurelios avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aurelios wants to sweep here but Anjo controlling him for the moment.
Aurelios striking off his back but it's not causing Anjo any problems.
Anjo being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Aurelios working for a triangle but Anjo defends it easily.
Aurelios working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Anjo.
Anjo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Anjo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Aurelios keeping moving, preventing Anjo from controlling successfully.
Aurelios is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Anjo 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.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Anjo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Anjo misses with a takedown attempt
and Aurelios counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Aurelios. No joy for Anjo on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoji Anjo Anjo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Aurelios instigates a clinch.
Aurelios prevents the takedown attempt.

Anjo has hold of one of Aurelios's legs. Aurelios is fighting the takedown attempt but Anjo gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aurelios is looking to stand up but Anjo isn't so interested in that idea.
Aurelios is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Aurelios 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.
We've been informed that Aurelios has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Aurelios can do anything to dispel that myth.

Aurelios is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Aurelios bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Anjo's guard.

Aurelios throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aurelios sitting in guard here, content to control.

Anjo looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Aurelios has picked Anjo up and slammed him! Anjo can't keep hold of the triangle and Aurelios manages to pass to side control!
Anjo is looking to regain half guard here but Aurelios keeps moving and retains side control.
A lull in the action here.
Aurelios wants to control but Anjo is keeping him busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marcus Aurelios will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Anjo closes the distance and clinches.

Anjo has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Aurelios uses from the top position.

Anjo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Aurelios can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Aurelios showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aurelios postures up and lands a big shot to Anjo's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aurelios working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Anjo's head.
Anjo keeping moving, preventing Aurelios from controlling successfully.
Anjo trying to keep a closed guard but Aurelios is proving a slippery customer.
Aurelios slips nicely into half guard.
Aurelios seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Anjo is trying to stand back up but Aurelios is controlling him
Aurelios wants to free his trapped foot but Anjo is holding on for dear life with his legs.

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.
It looks like Aurelios is going to stand back up.

Aurelios seems to be looking for submissions.
Aurelios trying to control the pace.

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

Aurelios gets the takedown into side control.
Aurelios tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Aurelios cracks Anjo with a big right hand but Anjo just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anjo is looking for a sweep.
Anjo holding on.
Aurelios advances to mount.
Aurelios controlling the pace for now.
Aurelios looking to control but Anjo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Aurelios might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Anjo haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Anjo manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Aurelios lands a nice short elbow.
Aurelios looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Anjo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Aurelios's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Aurelios's back!
Aurelios looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Marcus Aurelios will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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 get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Aurelios closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Anjo quickly recovers to half guard.
Aurelios trying to control from half guard but Anjo is working away.
Anjo tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Aurelios trying to control the action but Anjo is working from the bottom.
Anjo is trying to get back to full guard.
Anjo looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anjo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Aurelios's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Aurelios's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aurelios rolls, trying to escape but Anjo keeps control of the position.
Aurelios looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
You can see the frustration on Aurelios's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Anjo throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Aurelios rolls, trying to escape but Anjo keeps control of the position.
Anjo gets his hands free as Aurelios looks to control.
Aurelios is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aurelios fending off the submission attempt from Anjo.
Aurelios rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Aurelios tries to get to full guard but Anjo has control of the leg.
Anjo perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Yoji Anjo Anjo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Aurelios blocking the ground and pound attempt from Anjo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aurelios looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Aurelios is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Aurelios trying to hold on to Anjo's head to control him but Anjo postures up.
Aurelios controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Anjo is looking to take a break and control but Aurelios is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four 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.

Aurelios feints and as Anjo raises his hands in defense, Aurelios changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Aurelios slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Anjo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Aurelios wants to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Aurelios is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Anjo sees it coming and defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Yoji Anjo Anjo.
I think Aurelios 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Aurelios!
A victorious Marcus Aurelios thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.