PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between AJ Styles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miyamoto Usagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Styles comes to the cage accompanied by I Am by Dale Oliver. AJ Styles has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Styles
vs
Usagi

180 cm
27
215 lbs
12 - 7 - 1

183 cm
25
215 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Powerful

Sublime Supplements
Virtual Fighter Clothing

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 12 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, AJ Styles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Miyamoto Usagi!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Lou da Vinci and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Usagi fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice shot by Styles.
Usagi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Usagi just misses with a punch to the body.
Styles tries to bum rush Usagi with a series of wild strikes but Usagi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Usagi swats away the attempt to clinch by Styles.
Miyamoto Usagi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Usagi tries to clinch up
and Styles counters with a nice leg kick.
A shot to the liver by Usagi. Beautiful body shot.
Usagi doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Styles counters with a lovely straight right hand!
AJ Styles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miyamoto Usagi.
Some bone on bone action there as Usagi checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Usagi shoots and misses

and Styles moves into the clinch.
Styles lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Usagi tries to pull guard but Styles holds him up against the cage and eventually Usagi drops back down to his feet.
Usagi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Usagi scores with a shoulder strike.
Usagi trying to control the position but instead, Styles has worked for underhooks and has pushed Usagi into the cage.
A short uppercut from Styles.
Styles lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Miyamoto Usagi has been cut.
Styles misses with a punch to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Styles creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Usagi prevents a body shot from Styles.
Usagi dodges an elbow strike from Styles.
Usagi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Styles fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Usagi is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Styles.
Styles takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Usagi misses with a body punch
and Styles counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Usagi tries for a takedown but Styles circles away easily
and Styles counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Usagi tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Styles counters with a left and a right that stings Usagi.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Styles ducks under a wild hook from Usagi.
Usagi looks to throw the jab but Styles is out of range.
Usagi lands a head shot.
Styles tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Usagi counters with a takedown into side control.
Usagi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Styles keeps working.

Usagi wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Styles, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Styles regains half guard there - taking advantage of Usagi's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

Usagi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Styles is trying to stand up here but Usagi is controlling him well.

Usagi is working for a kimura here but Styles manages to reverse the position and he's now in Usagi's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Styles controlling from the top position.
Styles wants to control from the top but Usagi keeps moving.
Styles is looking to stand up but Usagi won't let him.
Styles has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Usagi looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

AJ Styles dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Miyamoto Usagi's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Usagi misses with a takedown attempt
and Styles makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Usagi wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Usagi closes the distance but Styles moves to the side
and Styles connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Usagi tries to clinch but Styles moves away

and Styles counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Usagi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Styles prevents it.
Usagi is trying to stall.
Styles misses with a hook from the clinch.
Usagi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Usagi jumps guard.

Usagi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Styles gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Usagi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Usagi managing to control the position.
Usagi wants to improve his position but instead Styles has moved into half guard.
Usagi is refusing to be controlled, as Styles sits in half guard.

That's two 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.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Styles is trying to control the action in half guard but Usagi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Styles trying to control the pace.
Usagi wants to control but Styles is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Styles tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Usagi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Usagi is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Styles's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Styles's back!

Usagi has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Styles has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Usagi is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Usagi is looking for a rear naked choke here but Styles reverses the position brilliantly into Usagi's guard!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Styles controlling from the top position.
Styles wants to control from the top but Usagi keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Miyamoto Usagi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Miyamoto Usagi's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Usagi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Styles counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Usagi doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Styles counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Styles.
Styles doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Usagi is working for takedown but Styles is calmly controlling the position for now.
AJ Styles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miyamoto Usagi.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Styles.
Styles cracks Usagi with a nice body shot.
Usagi prevents a body shot from Styles.
Styles fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Styles working aggressively here.
Usagi can't get the takedown.
Styles lands a left hand.
Styles misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Styles.
Usagi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Usagi has picked Styles up - he's going for a ride! Usagi dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Styles is looking to escape.
Usagi thows a huge punch but Styles dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Usagi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Styles sees it coming and defends easily.
Styles tries to kick Usagi off but Usagi keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Usagi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Styles sees it coming and defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Styles looks like he's trying to stand up.

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

Usagi is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Styles still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Styles has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!

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.
Styles wants to lay and pray for a moment but Usagi keeps working.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Usagi shoots and misses
letting Styles counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Usagi with a poor takedown
and Styles counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Usagi thinking.
Styles tries to clinch
and Usagi counters with a straight right hand.
Usagi fails with the takedown

and Styles counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Styles.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Styles.
Styles gets through Usagi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Usagi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Styles is pressed up against the cage. Usagi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Styles down to the mat. Styles avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Styles wants to clinch up but Usagi keeps it at a distance.
Usagi tries to clinch up

and Styles counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Styles scores with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Styles misses with a hook from the clinch.
Usagi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Styles misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Styles throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Styles digs a right hand underneath Usagi's ribcage. Usagi let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Usagi blocks a body shot from Styles.
Styles lands a left hand.
Styles goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Styles working some nice short punches in the clinch.
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!
A short uppercut from Styles.
Usagi is working for takedown but Styles is calmly controlling the position for now.
Styles cracks Usagi with a nice body shot.
Usagi prevents a body shot from Styles.
Usagi blocks the elbow strike.
Styles gets through Usagi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Usagi avoiding damage as Styles throws knees to the body.
A short right from Styles on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Styles tries to work over Usagi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Styles lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Styles misses with a hook to the ribs.
Usagi blocking some punches.
Styles tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Usagi fails to pull guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
AJ Styles showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Styles has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28

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