PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between AJ Styles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Knife (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Styles comes to the cage accompanied by I Am by Dale Oliver. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Styles
vs
Knife

180 cm
24
215 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
210 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

SPARTAN FIGHTWARE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, AJ Styles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jim Knife!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Yves DeLean and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knife tries a head kick but it misses.
Knife shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Knife is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Styles.
Styles scores with a decent looking hook.
Knife walks forward, straight into a front kick from Styles.
Knife misses with a wild combination.
Styles throws a right and a left that both miss.
Styles connects with a single shot there.
A head kick by Styles misses
enabling Knife to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like AJ Styles has been cut.
Knife misses the jab.
Knife shoots in for a double leg but Styles sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knife tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Knife works the jab nicely.
Knife misses with an uppercut.
Styles tries a head kick but it misses.
Styles moves in looking to clinch but Knife pushes him off.

Styles forces Knife back against the cage and clinches.
Knife wants to get back to striking at distance but Styles won't allow it.
Styles tries to throw a body punch but Knife avoids it by throwing Styles back against the cage.

Knife jumps into guard, dragging Styles to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knife is controlling Styles's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Styles trying to control the position from guard on top but Knife is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Styles works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Styles is trying to control. Knife wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knife tries to kick Styles off but Styles keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Styles is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Knife reverses the position - he's now on top in Styles's guard.
Knife stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Styles swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Knife postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Knife lands a couple of digs.
Knife is looking to work some ground and pound but Styles has wrist control.
Styles keeping moving, preventing Knife from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Knife is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Knife stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Styles swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Knife passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Knife trying to control the action but Styles is working from the bottom.
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 AJ Styles will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on AJ Styles's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Knife throws a head kick that misses

and Styles counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Styles stalling.
Styles misses with a punch on the inside.
Styles swings wildly with an uppercut but Knife uses good head movement to avoid it.
Styles tries to stall but Knife uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Styles lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Styles missing with knees to the body.
Styles prevents the takedown attempt.
Knife is trying to force a seperation but Styles has the dominant position.
Styles scores with a nice hook to the head.
Knife is trying to break the clinch but Styles is controlling him.
A short uppercut from Styles.

Knife jumps into guard, dragging Styles to the mat.
Styles trying to stand up but can't free himself from Knife's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Knife holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Styles trying to control the position from guard on top but Knife is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Knife scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Knife fails with the takedown
and Styles counters with a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
An inside leg kick from Styles misses.
Jim Knife seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Knife shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Knife with a poor takedown
and Styles counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
AJ Styles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jim Knife.
Styles thows a leg kick but Knife checks it
and Knife counters with a left and a right that stings Styles.
Knife throws a left and a right that both miss
and Knife takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Knife is breathing heavily.
Knife shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Styles counters with a low kick, right behind Knife 's knee.
Styles lands with a straight right. Knife didn't see that one coming.
A punch lands to the side of Knife 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Styles throws a head kick but Knife moves out of range.
A combination from Styles does no damage.
Knife doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Styles is looking to clinch but Knife is avoiding it.
Knife moves out of range of the leg kick from Styles.

Styles darts in and clinches Knife up against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Styles.
Styles utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Styles.
Styles working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Styles lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Styles lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Styles.
Knife blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Styles lands a shot to the body.
Styles doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Styles throws a punch but it's blocked by Knife.
Styles cracks Knife with a nice body shot.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Styles.
Styles can't find room to land a body shot as Knife controls the action.
Styles lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Styles digs a right hand underneath Knife's ribcage. Knife let out a lung full of air as it connected.
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!
Styles lands a shot to the body.
Styles lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Knife or not.
Nice body punch from Styles.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Knife takes a shot to the head.
Knife tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Styles tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

AJ Styles dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on AJ Styles's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Styles goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Styles lands a right hook to the body.
Knife throws a lazy head kick
and Styles counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Knife thinking.
Styles connects with a solid leg kick.
Knife takes a jab right on the kisser.
Styles throws a leg kick

and Knife counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Styles preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Knife trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Knife takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Styles keeping moving, preventing Knife from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Styles is on top in guard.
Knife is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Styles wants to improve his position but Knife is controlling well.

Knife is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Styles defends it well.
Knife seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Styles does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Knife is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Knife with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Knife is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Styles keeping moving, preventing Knife from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Styles working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Knife.

Styles pushes Knife off and gets back to his feet.
Styles sizes up Knife with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Styles keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Knife shoots and misses
and Styles counters with a nice body shot.
Knife tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Knife with a lazy takedown attempt
and Styles counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Styles tries to clinch but Knife moves out of range.
Knife throws a sloppy head kick
and Styles connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Knife circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice shot by Styles.
Jim Knife has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
AJ Styles is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Knife throws a sloppy head kick
enabling Styles to counter with a crisp jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
AJ Styles showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Styles, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... AJ Styles!