PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Derrick Lewis (ranked 3323 p4p, 2847 weight class) and Anatoli Vasiliev (ranked 418 p4p, 356 weight class). Anatoli Vasiliev 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!

Lewis
vs
Vasiliev

192 cm
26
218
9 - 10 - 0

188 cm
25
212
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Derrick Lewis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Anatoli Vasiliev!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vasiliev gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lewis working aggressively here.
Vasiliev tries to land a knee to the head but Lewis blocks with his arms.
Vasiliev will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Lewis up against the cage.
I was talking to Lewis's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Lewis trying to control the position but instead, Vasiliev has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lewis into the cage.
Lewis can't get the takedown.

Vasiliev has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Lewis is trying to keep an underhook but Vasiliev manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Vasiliev is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lewis is just riding it out for now. Vasiliev eventually gives up the hold.
Vasiliev thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lewis's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasiliev trying to mount his opponent but Lewis defends it.
Lewis moves into full guard.
Vasiliev told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasiliev works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Lewis is looking for a sweep. Vasiliev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vasiliev performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Vasiliev is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lewis sees it coming and defends easily.
Vasiliev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lewis keeps working.
Lewis gets back to full guard.
Vasiliev trying to control but Lewis is working from the bottom.
Vasiliev won't allow Lewis to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lewis working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vasiliev doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vasiliev manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Vasiliev trying to control but Lewis is working from the bottom.
Vasiliev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vasiliev throws a big elbow that misses.
Vasiliev wants to control from the top but Lewis keeps moving.
Lewis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Lewis is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vasiliev is aware though and is defending well.
Vasiliev sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Lewis's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasiliev content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Vasiliev is trying to control the action in half guard but Lewis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Vasiliev is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lewis sees it coming and defends easily.
Vasiliev trying to control the action but Lewis is working from the bottom.
Vasiliev wants to pass to mount but Lewis is defending the position.

Vasiliev is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lewis has managed to free his arm - good work.
Vasiliev wants to control but Lewis is keeping him busy.
Vasiliev prevents Lewis from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Vasiliev sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Vasiliev sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lewis defending well though.

Lewis looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Vasiliev is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Vasiliev is looking to take a break and control but Lewis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lewis gets full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Anatoli Vasiliev dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Vasiliev has taken the fight to the clinch.

Vasiliev ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Vasiliev no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Vasiliev has his foot on Lewis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lewis works his way back into a safe position though.
Vasiliev looking to control.
Vasiliev keeping moving, preventing Lewis from controlling successfully.
Vasiliev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lewis looking to pass the guard.
Vasiliev is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Lewis thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lewis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vasiliev is keeping the position for now.
Vasiliev 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasiliev is trying to keep Lewis in close.

Vasiliev had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lewis defends it easily.
Lewis trying to control but Vasiliev is working from the bottom.
Anatoli Vasiliev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lewis postures up.

Vasiliev is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Lewis frees his head nicely. Oh but Vasiliev has switched to an armbar! Lewis is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Anatoli Vasiliev!