PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Wilson (ranked 2747 p4p, 3437 weight class) and Casius Laizel (ranked 379 p4p, 457 weight class). The key to victory for James Wilson has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Wilson
vs
Laizel

183 cm
22
185
3 - 2 - 0

191 cm
25
190
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Wilson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Casius Laizel!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Alan Glass and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laizel stuffs the takedown.
Laizel was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

Wilson lands a big head kick that sends Laizel tumbling to the mat! Wilson takes a step backwards and waves Laizel back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Laizel is rocked!

It looks like Casius Laizel has been cut.
Wilson tries to clinch up but Laizel circles away and keeps his distance.
Laizel was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Laizel is still on wobbly legs! Can Wilson finish him?
Wilson fakes the leg kick and cracks Laizel in the body.

Wilson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Laizel, pushing him back against the cage.
Laizel seems to have recovered his senses.

Wilson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Laizel circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wilson wants to clinch up but Laizel keeps it at a distance.
Laizel tries a quick counter leg kick but Wilson is wise to it.
Wilson shoots in for a takedown but Laizel shows good takedown defense.
Wilson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Laizel swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Wilson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Wilson is defended easily by Laizel.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laizel steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Wilson. That one must have hurt.
Wilson has a takedown stuffed.
Wilson connects with a body shot.
Laizel swats away the attempt to clinch by Wilson.
Wilson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Wilson.
Wilson throws a nice outside leg kick.
Laizel circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wilson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Wilson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Laizel pinned against the cage. Laizel gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Wilson throws a head kick that half lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Laizel appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Wilson wants to clinch up but Laizel keeps it at a distance.
Wilson wants to clinch up but Laizel keeps it at a distance.
Wilson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Wilson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Laizel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Wilson misses the shot to the body.

Wilson moves into range and clinches up with Laizel.
Wilson tries to pull guard but Laizel won't allow it.

Wilson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wilson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Laizel keeps the fight on the outside.
Wilson moves in looking to clinch but Laizel pushes him off.
Laizel appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilson wants to clinch up but Laizel keeps it at a distance.
Laizel appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Nice sprawl there from Laizel as Wilson shoots in.
Wilson tries to clinch up.
Laizel slips a jab from Wilson.
Wilson fails with an attempt to clinch.

Wilson darts in and clinches Laizel up against the cage.
Wilson wants to take the fight to the mat but Laizel manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Wilson manages to break the clinch.
Laizel blocks a head kick by Wilson.
Laizel was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Wilson is looking to clinch but Laizel is avoiding it.
As Wilson backs off Laizel throws a huge counter combo but Wilson manages to avoid it all.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Wilson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Casius Laizel's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Wilson wants to clinch up but Laizel keeps it at a distance.
Wilson shoots for a takedown but Laizel saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Laizel appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Wilson tries to clinch up.
Laizel is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
James Wilson is winning the standup battle so far.
Laizel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Laizel keeps the fight on the outside.
Wilson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Laizel defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wilson tries to close the distance and clinch but Laizel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Wilson throws a head kick that Laizel semi-blocks.
Wilson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Laizel pinned against the cage. Laizel gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Laizel thinks about the counter body kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Wilson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilson connects with a high kick.
Wilson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wilson tries to close the distance and clinch but Laizel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Wilson fails with the takedown.
Wilson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Laizel pinned against the cage. Laizel gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Laizel appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
We've been informed that Laizel has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilson throws a one two combo.
Laizel swats away the attempt to clinch by Wilson.
Wilson is looking to clinch.
Wilson throws a sloppy head kick and Laizel moves out of range easily.
Wilson's jab looks to have found its range, popping Laizel under the eye.
Wilson doesn't manage to clinch there - Laizel circles away.
Wilson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wilson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laizel displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wilson.
Wilson tries to clinch up but Laizel circles away and keeps his distance.
Wilson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Laizel displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wilson.
Laizel tries a quick counter leg kick but Wilson is wise to it.
James Wilson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wilson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Laizel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Laizel appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Wilson fails in his attempt to clinch.

Laizel gets tackled into the cage by Wilson. Wilson maintains the clinch.
Wilson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wilson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wilson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Laizel can do to turn this around?
Laizel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wilson wants to clinch up but Laizel keeps it at a distance.
Laizel feints a counter leg kick.
Wilson doesn't manage to clinch there - Laizel circles away.
Laizel stuffs the takedown attempt from Wilson. Wilson gets slowly back to his feet.

Laizel shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Wilson's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Laizel passes Wilson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Laizel landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Laizel is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Casius Laizel will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Casius Laizel's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Wilson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Laizel's waist but Laizel gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Wilson off to one side.
Wilson tries to clinch up.
Laizel tries a quick counter leg kick but Wilson is wise to it.
Wilson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Laizel appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Wilson misses with a head kick.

Wilson tries to sprawl but Laizel drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Laizel is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Wilson is looking for a sweep. Laizel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Laizel is looking for a kimura here.

Wilson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Laizel pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Laizel is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Wilson sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laizel not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Laizel working Wilson over with strikes.

Laizel is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Wilson trying to control but Laizel postures up.
Laizel takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Wilson actively working from the bottom here.
Wilson wants to control but Laizel is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Laizel scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Laizel 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wilson is looking to control Laizel's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Wilson avoid being mounted?

Wilson actively working from the bottom here.
Wilson is looking for a sweep. Laizel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Laizel wants to pass to mount but Wilson is defending the position.
Wilson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Laizel landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Wilson is not content to let Laizel control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laizel is controlling the pace.

Laizel seems to be looking for submissions.
Wilson trying to control from the bottom.
Laizel working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Laizel wants to free his trapped foot but Wilson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Wilson trying to control but Laizel postures up.
Laizel looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Wilson tries to roll over but Laizel keeps him under control.
Laizel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Laizel seems to be working for a kimura but Wilson defends the submission attempt.
Laizel lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Wilson is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wilson actively working from the bottom here.

Laizel 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.
Laizel lands strikes from half guard.
Oh Wilson is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Laizel is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Wilson wants to get back to his feet.
Laizel stalling.
Wilson wants to control but Laizel is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Wilson seems to have got his legs back now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wilson is looking for a sweep. Laizel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Laizel maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Wilson could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Laizel has cracked it and Wilson is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Laizel!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Casius Laizel!
After the fight, Casius Laizel was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.