PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anand Aji (ranked 4087 p4p, 4256 weight class) and Jake Wason (ranked 437 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Aji
vs
Wason

186 cm
18
190
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
210
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Anand Aji!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jake Wason!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Paul Gruel and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wason tries for a takedown but Aji circles away easily

and Aji counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Aji.

Wason manages to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aji would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Wason throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Aji trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Wason manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Aji has an active guard here but Wason has managed to pass into half guard.
Wason throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wason stands up out of the half guard.
Aji slaps away a takedown attempt from Wason, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Aji shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Wason as he jumps to the side.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Wason crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Aji - the referee stops the clock and Wason gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Aji. Wason manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Aji shoots for a takedown but Wason saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Wason looks for the body kick but Aji saw that one coming.
Aji shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Wason defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anand Aji. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aji throws a sloppy head kick and Wason moves out of range easily.
Aji throws a head kick that misses.
Wason is looking for the big counter here.
Aji wants to clinch up but Wason keeps it at a distance.

Wason gets a clinch.
Aji tries to pull guard but Wason forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Aji is breathing heavily.

Wason successfully pulls guard.
Aji is looking to stand up but Wason won't let him.

Wason has his feet on Aji's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wason is looking to score with low kicks.
Aji wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wason fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Aji misses with a takedown attempt - Wason sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Wason shoots in looking for a takedown. Aji tries to sprawl out of it but Wason keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Aji manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Aji is looking to clinch but Wason is avoiding it.
Wason shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Aji pinned against the cage. Aji gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Wason swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wason fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Aji changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Aji with the inside leg kick.
Aji tries to clinch up but Wason circles away and keeps his distance.
Wason is trying hard to land a takedown here. Aji sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Aji tries to close the distance and clinch up but Wason swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Wason looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aji fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A head kick by Wason misses

and Aji counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Wason kicks Aji off and gets back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Wason 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.

Wason shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Aji as he avoids it easily.
Wason tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Aji plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Wason misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Wason slips a jab and a cross from Aji.

Wason shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Wason showed some decent athleticism there.
Aji tries to kick Wason off in order to stand up. Wason Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Wason decides to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wason has managed to clinch.
Wason has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Aji jumps guard and drags Wason to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Wason accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Wason is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Aji striking off his back but it's not causing Wason any problems.
Wason controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Jake Wason has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wason passes Aji's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aji tries to get to full guard but Wason has control of the leg.
Wason controlling the action here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aji closes this distance looking for a takedown but Wason circles away.
Wason cracks Aji with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Nice sprawl there from Aji as Wason shoots in.
Anand Aji has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Wason.
Wason is trying hard to land a takedown here. Aji sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Aji appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

Wason rushes Aji and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Wason is trying to break free.

Wason manages to break the clinch.

Wason has managed to clinch.
Wason is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Aji is defending well for now.
Wason wants to get back to striking at distance but Aji won't allow it.
Wason dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Wason is working for takedown but Aji is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wason jumps into guard, dragging Aji to the mat.
Wason pulls Aji in close to his closed guard and prevents Aji from doing any damage or advancing position.
Wason is looking to sweep but instead, Aji has passed into half guard.
Aji knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Wason on the ground.
Aji is looking to take a break and control but Wason is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Wason has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Aji is on him like a limpet, forcing Wason back against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Wason showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Aji has taken the fight to the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Wason's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Aji fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Wason breaks from the clinch.
Aji wants to clinch up but Wason keeps it at a distance.
Aji connects with a leg kick.
Wason stuffs the takedown attempt from Aji. Aji gets slowly back to his feet.
Wason looks like he wants to counter punch here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wason shoots in and drives through. Aji sprawls well.

Wason gets caught napping as Aji dives in and scores a takedown. Wason manages to retain guard.

Wason has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Aji off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Wason has Aji up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wason tries to break free but Aji pushes him back against the cage.
Wason misses with a knee to the head.
Aji is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anand Aji. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aji has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Wason after a bit of a struggle.
Wason effectively controlling the action here.
Wason drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Aji gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Wason controlling the action here for a moment.

That's two 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.

Wason manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Wason pulls Aji in close to prevent any damage.
Wason lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Aji utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Wason passes Aji's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Wason stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wason not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Wason stalling.
Wason throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Wason missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four 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.
Wason takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Wason has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Wason looking to control and managing it successfully.
Wason working the ground and pound effectively.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Wason looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake Wason comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Wason winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight for Jake Wason!
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight for Jake Wason!
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Jake Wason!

Jake Wason wins by unanimous decision!
Anand Aji was interviewed post fight and said 'I have let you all down I am sorry. I will hop back in the lab and come in harder than ever and take back my fight.'.