PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yoji Anjo Anjo (ranked 2398 p4p, 2587 weight class) and Willie Layer (ranked 301 p4p, 323 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Anjo
vs
Layer

188 cm
25
178
12 - 11 - 0

189 cm
29
185
5 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Redemption ink

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 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yoji Anjo Anjo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Willie Layer!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Albert Achterberg and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anjo fails with a takedown attempt.
Anjo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Layer manages to avoid it.
Anjo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Layer displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Anjo.
Layer cracks Anjo with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Layer blocks a head kick by Anjo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Anjo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Layer can do anything to dispel that myth.
Anjo is looking to take a break and control but Layer is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The strikes coming from Anjo are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Anjo decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Layer stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoji Anjo Anjo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Anjo shoots in for a double leg but Layer sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Anjo instigates a clinch.
Anjo is trying to pull guard but Layer has him pressed against the cage.
Layer swings wildly with an uppercut but Anjo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Layer swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Layer is fighting off a takedown attempt but Anjo is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Layer to the mat. Layer regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Anjo passes into half guard.

Anjo stands up out of the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anjo shoots in looking for a takedown but Layer manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Anjo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Anjo goes for a double leg but Layer avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Layer continues to drive forward.
A head punch on the inside from Layer fails to land.
Layer misses with a hook from the clinch.
Anjo definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Anjo stalling against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Anjo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Anjo goes for a takedown attempt but Layer pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Layer moves into range and connects with a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Anjo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Anjo misses
and Layer counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Anjo dives in and scores a takedown into Layer's guard.
Layer wants to get back to his feet but Anjo passes into half guard.

Anjo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Layer is just riding it out for now. Anjo eventually gives up the hold.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Anjo seems to be looking for submissions.
Anjo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Anjo content to control rather than advance.
Anjo seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Layer for as long as he can get away with.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Yoji Anjo Anjo will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Anjo closes the distance and clinches up with Layer, looking for a takedown. Anjo pushes Layer against the cage but Layer circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Anjo closes the distance and clinches up with Layer, looking for a takedown. Anjo pushes Layer against the cage but Layer circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
It seemed like Layer was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Anjo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Layer counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoji Anjo Anjo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Anjo clinches up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Anjo.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Anjo.

Anjo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Yoji Anjo Anjo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Anjo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Layer pinned against the cage. Layer gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Layer scores with a punch to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anjo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Layer sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Anjo somewhat.
Layer uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Anjo has time to react.

Anjo scores with a takedown into Layer's guard.
Anjo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Anjo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Layer's guard.
Layer is trying to stand back up but Anjo is controlling him
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anjo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Layer's head.

Anjo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Anjo seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Layer avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Anjo.
Anjo trying to control the pace.
Anjo is trying to control. Layer wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Anjo in particular looking to stall.

Anjo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Layer is defending against the submission attempts here by Anjo.
Layer really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Anjo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Anjo is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Anjo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Layer does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Anjo slips a nice elbow through Layer's hands, connecting with Layer's forehead.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Anjo is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Layer has managed to free his arm - good work.
Anjo wants to take a breather but Layer is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Yoji Anjo Anjo will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Anjo moves into the clinch successfully.
Layer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Anjo looking to throw knees to the head but Layer is blocking nicely.
Layer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Anjo wants a takedown but no success here.
Anjo misses with the head strike.
A short right from Layer.
Layer holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Layer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Anjo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Anjo drives through with a takedown into guard.
Anjo stops Layer from standing up.
Anjo looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Anjo stands and steps away. Layer gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Layer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
An inside leg kick from Anjo misses.
Anjo shoots and misses
and Anjo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Willie Layer seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Layer throws a hook but Anjo avoids it easily.
Layer misses with a straight left.
Anjo tries to clinch but Layer moves out of range.
Anjo tries for a takedown but Layer circles away easily
and Layer counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoji Anjo Anjo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Anjo gets a takedown into half guard.

Anjo stands up out of the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anjo fails to land the takedown.
Willie Layer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Anjo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Layer avoids it really well and circles away.
Yoji Anjo Anjo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Anjo tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting Layer counter with a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Anjo lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anjo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Layer as he avoids it easily.
Layer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Anjo wants to clinch.
Willie Layer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anjo shoots in for a takedown but Layer shows good takedown defense.
Layer misses with a double jab.
Anjo tries for a takedown but Layer circles away easily
and Layer counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Layer is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Anjo has his takedown stuffed
and Layer counters with a straight right hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anjo tries for a takedown but Layer circles away easily

and Layer counters with a series of strikes that sends Anjo to the canvas! Layer follows down into guard, looking to finish the fight!

Anjo is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Layer got a little sloppy there for a moment and Anjo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Layer has managed to get both his arms back between Anjo's legs - danger averted.
Anjo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Anjo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Anjo is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Layer rolls with it to try and escape but Anjo cranks on the arm and Layer is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Yoji Anjo Anjo!
A less than humble Yoji Anjo Anjo misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.