PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eric Lynch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Anichebe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lynch kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Wild Thing. Anichebe has chosen Give me hope as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lynch
vs
Anichebe

190 cm
22
275 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

191 cm
24
270 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Eric Lynch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Victor Anichebe!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Shimada and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anichebe throws the kick towards the body but Lynch avoids it.
Lynch fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lynch shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Anichebe but Anichebe pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Lynch shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Anichebe manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Anichebe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lynch has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Anichebe is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Anichebe lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Lynch!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lynch bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Anichebe is trying to control the position but Lynch postures up.
Lynch wants to control from the top but Anichebe keeps moving.
Anichebe wants to stand but Lynch is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anichebe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lynch trying to control but Anichebe is working from the bottom.
Anichebe has Lynch pulled in close to control his posture.
Anichebe trying to control the position.
Anichebe 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lynch shoots for a double leg takedown but Anichebe sprawls well. He's pushed Lynch's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Lynch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lynch moves out of range of the body kick from Anichebe.
Lynch on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

It looks like Eric Lynch has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anichebe misses the jab.
Anichebe fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Anichebe throws a chopping leg kick but Lynch manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Anichebe throws a body punch but Lynch moves out of range.
Anichebe throws a body punch but Lynch moves out of range.
Anichebe looks to land a right hand but Lynch moved out of range.
Anichebe stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Anichebe wants it to stay on the feet.
Lynch looks for a takedown but Anichebe sprawls well.
A combination from Anichebe does no damage.
Anichebe throws a hook but Lynch avoids it easily.
Lynch is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anichebe lands a jab.

Lynch shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Anichebe napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Lynch goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Anichebe has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Lynch but great work by Anichebe.
Anichebe really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lynch. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lynch taking punishment in the form of punches.
Anichebe scores with a couple of short elbows.
Lynch is letting Anichebe control him for a moment.
Anichebe scores with punches from side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lynch is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Anichebe off and has taken his back!
Anichebe tries to roll but Lynch sticks to his back.

Lynch is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Anichebe defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Anichebe preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Lynch.
Lynch is breathing heavily.

Lynch looking to break Anichebe's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Anichebe remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Lynch will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Anichebe tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Lynch avoids the attempt from Anichebe to control.
Anichebe wants to try and get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Lynch goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Anichebe turns into him and now he's in Lynch's guard.
Lynch has a closed guard, preventing Anichebe from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Anichebe dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Eric Lynch's cut.
That's time! Lynch's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Lynch looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Anichebe is fending him off so far but Lynch persists. Nope, Anichebe circles away and we're back to standing.
The fighters circling - Anichebe throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Anichebe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Victor Anichebe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lynch misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Anichebe displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lynch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Lynch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Anichebe throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lynch gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Anichebe wants to slow Lynch down by chopping away at his legs.
Anichebe takes a swing at Lynch's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anichebe pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Victor Anichebe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Lynch shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Anichebe working to try and regain half guard.

Lynch is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Anichebe has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Lynch looking to control but Anichebe is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Lynch goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Anichebe is on top in guard.
Anichebe must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lynch looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anichebe landing with the ground and pound.
Lynch has a closed guard, preventing Anichebe from standing up.
Lynch manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Anichebe manages to get himself to full guard.
Lynch trying to control but Anichebe is working from the bottom.
Lynch working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Anichebe pulls Lynch in close to prevent any damage.
Anichebe looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Lynch postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Anichebe is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Lynch, into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anichebe controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Anichebe looking to pass the guard.
Lynch looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Anichebe puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Anichebe looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Anichebe wants to pass the guard but Lynch is defending well.
Anichebe thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lynch's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
The fighters are battling for position here. Lynch manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Lynch bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Anichebe's guard.
Lynch trying to control but Anichebe is working from the bottom.
Anichebe not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lynch controls from within his opponent's guard.
Anichebe not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lynch trying to control the position from guard on top but Anichebe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lynch looking to sit in guard and control but Anichebe gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Anichebe lands a couple of elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Anichebe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Eric Lynch's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Anichebe misses with a looping left.
A big right from Anichebe misses.
Anichebe loads up on a big right hand but Lynch slips the punch.
Anichebe swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Anichebe misses with a double jab.
Lynch fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Victor Anichebe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lynch fails with a takedown attempt.
Anichebe throws a series of punches but Lynch avoids them all with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lynch shoots for a double leg takedown but Anichebe sprawls well. He's pushed Lynch's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Lynch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Anichebe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lynch manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lynch avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lynch fails with a takedown attempt.
Anichebe takes a swing at Lynch's ribcage but misses.
Anichebe slaps away a takedown attempt from Lynch, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lynch slips under a jab from Anichebe.
Lynch moves out of range as Anichebe strikes.
Nice body kick there by Anichebe.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Anichebe misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anichebe looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Lynch gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Anichebe misses with a straight left.
Victor Anichebe seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lynch fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lynch shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Anichebe sprawls well. Anichebe wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lynch gets slowly back to his feet.
Anichebe stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Anichebe wants it to stay on the feet.
A punch combination from Anichebe misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anichebe stuffs the takedown.
Lynch blocks the body kick.
Anichebe looks to land a right hand but Lynch moved out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Anichebe. No joy for Lynch on that attempt.
Anichebe takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
No luck for Lynch with that takedown attempt.
Lynch walks into a straight right hand from Anichebe.
Eric Lynch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anichebe looks to score with a jab to the body but Lynch is just out of range.
Anichebe throws a right and a left that Lynch avoids nicely.
Anichebe misses with the combination.
Victor Anichebe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lynch tries to score a power double leg takedown but Anichebe sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lynch somewhat.
Anichebe throws a shot from downtown. Lynch moves away and avoids it.
Lynch shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Anichebe pinned against the cage. Anichebe gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lynch is defended easily by Anichebe.
Nice uppercut there from Anichebe.

And that's the end of the fight!
Victor Anichebe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Anichebe 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 26:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 26:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Victor Anichebe!