PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Akira Kazama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Lidle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Kazama
vs
Lidle

180 cm
20
177 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

180 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Akira Kazama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Steve Lidle!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Yves DeLean and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lidle misses with a takedown attempt - Kazama sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A combination from Kazama does no damage.
Kazama lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Lidle at a distance.

Lidle scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kazama is looking for a sweep.
Lidle cracks Kazama with a big right hand but Kazama just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Lidle takes a little break here. Kazama wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Lidle lands an elbow.
Lidle trying to control the position but Kazama is working away.
Kazama is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Kazama is looking for a sweep.
Lidle has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kazama is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Lidle asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazama is not content to let Lidle control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lidle on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Lidle bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kazama is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Lidle is controlling him well.
Kazama tries to improve position but can't.
Lidle trying to control the action but Kazama is working from the bottom.
Kazama is looking to reverse the position.
Kazama is breathing heavily.
Kazama is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lidle scoring with punches from side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Lidle has knee on belly and moves into mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kazama prevents Lidle from taking his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lidle scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kazama?
Lidle won't let Kazama get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Kazama keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Lidle landing strikes from the mount and Kazama is in trouble!
Lidle landing shots from mount.

Lidle working for a submission but Kazama is keeping him at bay.
Lidle fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Lidle controlling the position easily from mount.
Lidle mounts Kazama! Really nice guard pass there!
Lidle looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Lidle looking to control but Kazama is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazama wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Lidle punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kazama wants to hold on but Lidle pushes him away.
Kazama sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Kazama tries to kick Lidle off but Lidle keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Lidle looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Kazama pushes Lidle off and gets back to his feet.
Lidle takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Lidle fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kazama scores a takedown into full mount!
Kazama with the ground and pound from mount.
Kazama putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Lidle slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Kazama escapes and gets back to his feet.
Kazama misses with an uppercut. Lidle saw that one coming.
Lidle gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kazama counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Lidle!
Akira Kazama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Lidle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Kazama lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Lidle hang on?
Kazama landing strikes from the mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lidle is trying to escape the mount.
Kazama is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Kazama looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Lidle tries to hold on but Kazama pushes him away.
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 Akira Kazama will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lidle gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kazama counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kazama wants to stand but Lidle has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Lidle is trying to control the position but Kazama postures up.
Kazama landing some decent shots from guard.
Lidle not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Kazama gets to his feet - Lidle follows without any prompting.
Kazama paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Lidle is breathing heavily.

Kazama feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Kazama wants to control from the top but Lidle keeps moving.

Lidle has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kazama can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kazama works over Lidle with some ground and pound from guard.
Kazama has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lidle working a defensive guard here.
Kazama wants to stand but Lidle is controlling his posture from full guard.
Lidle trying to keep a closed guard but Kazama is proving a slippery customer.
Lidle keeping moving, preventing Kazama from controlling successfully.
Lidle controls Kazama momentarily but Kazama frees himself.
Akira Kazama overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Kazama darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Lidle wants to control but Kazama is keeping busy.
Lidle manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kazama stands up from Lidle's guard - Kazama perhaps looking for a knockout.
Steve Lidle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Lidle feints and as Kazama raises his hands in defense, Lidle changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Lidle prevents Kazama from getting back to his feet.
Kazama tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Lidle avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kazama will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Kazama is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Lidle wants to control from the top but Kazama keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Lidle shoots in and bounces Kazama off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Lidle thows a big elbow that misses.
Lidle won't allow Kazama to get back to his feet.
Kazama trying to control the position.
Lidle not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Lidle makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Lidle wants to control from the top but Kazama keeps moving.
Lidle is stalling in the full guard.
Lidle postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Lidle shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Kazama counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lidle with a poor takedown

and Kazama counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Akira Kazama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Lidle.
Lidle manages to get to full guard.
Kazama pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lidle is keeping the position for now.
Lidle is trying to keep Kazama in close.

Kazama stands and steps away. Lidle gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Kazama tries to clinch but Lidle is having none of it.
Lidle misses with a takedown attempt
and Kazama counters with a series of strikes. Lidle will be more careful next time no doubt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Lidle gets the takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kazama is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Lidle asserts his dominance and retains side control.
A lull in the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Kazama dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kazama swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lidle closes the distance but Kazama moves to the side
and Kazama counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kazama cracks Lidle with a good jab.
Lidle showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kazama.
Lidle fails with the takedown

and Kazama counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Lidle wants to sweep but no luck.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kazama drops back, looking for a kneebar! Lidle looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Lidle looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Lidle!
Kazama wants to get back to his feet.
Lidle tries to move into full mount but can't pass Kazama's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazama is trying to get back to his feet.
Lidle is chipping away with strikes.
Kazama gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Kazama wants to get back to his feet.
Kazama wants to improve his position but Lidle is controlling well.
Kazama tries to kick Lidle off but Lidle keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Kazama trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Kazama throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Kazama is trying to stand up here but Lidle is controlling him well.
Lidle works his way into full mount!
Lidle looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Lidle connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Kazama wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kazama keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Lidle trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Lidle won't let Kazama get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Lidle postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Kazama looks a forlorn figure.
Lidle can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kazama is looking to escape.
Lidle connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Lidle trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kazama tries to buck Lidle off but he can't manage it.
Lidle content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lidle trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kazama wants to try and get back to his feet.
Lidle avoids the attempt from Kazama to control.
Lidle can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kazama is looking to escape.
Lidle lands a big shot there that rocks Kazama but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
You get the feeling that Kazama really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Lidle trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kazama can't escape the position.
Lidle scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kazama?

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.
The referee warns Kazama that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Lidle landing strikes from the mount and Kazama is in trouble!
Kazama is trying to stand.
Lidle landing strikes from the mount and Kazama is in trouble!
Kazama can't escape the position.
Kazama is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Kazama keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kazama is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Steve Lidle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lidle content just to control the position here.
Kazama wants to control but Lidle is having none of it.
Lidle working the ground and pound effectively.
Kazama bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Kazama gets to his feet. Lidle looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

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 Akira Kazama.
Well Kazama has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akira Kazama!