PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anderson McLane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryota Anzai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

McLane
vs
Anzai

197 cm
21
259 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

195 cm
25
273 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anderson McLane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryota Anzai!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Anzai gets a takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Anzai there.
Anzai is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and McLane reverses the position - he's now on top in Anzai's guard.
McLane landing with the ground and pound.
Anzai is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
McLane missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Anzai wants to stand up but McLane is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Anzai wriggles free and stands up.
Anzai shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Anzai drives through with a takedown into guard.
Anzai missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
McLane preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

McLane pushes Anzai off and scrambles back to his feet.

Anzai shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
McLane wants to get back to his feet but Anzai is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Anzai throws a strike but McLane rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
McLane throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLane postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McLane throwing strikes but missing.
McLane throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Anzai works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McLane distracts Anzai with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Anzai can do anything to dispel that myth.
McLane throwing strikes but missing.

Anzai is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Anzai looks gassed!

McLane has clasped his hands together around Anzai's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Anzai pushes McLane away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, McLane gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
McLane sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Anzai is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
McLane prevents Anzai from escaping the position.
McLane tries to score with some ground and pound. Anzai controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Anzai takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLane working the ground and pound from side control.
McLane 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.
Anzai wants to get back to his feet but McLane drags him back down.
McLane working the head with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The ground and pound from McLane seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Anzai is pushing McLane's head away, looking to escape. McLane manages to hold on to the position though.
McLane tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Anzai is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, McLane asserts his dominance and retains side control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Anzai gets a takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anzai not doing much here.
Anzai drops an elbow to the side of McLane's head.
Anzai slips a nice elbow through McLane's hands, connecting with McLane's forehead.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Anzai prevents McLane from standing back up.
Anzai wants to pass to mount but McLane is defending the position.
Anzai throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryota Anzai dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

McLane stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McLane wants it to stay on the feet.
McLane tries for a takedown but Anzai circles away easily

and Anzai counters with a single leg into guard. McLane didn't expect that.
Anzai throws a strike but McLane rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Anzai wriggles free and stands up.
Anzai shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and McLane counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Anzai on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Anzai avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McLane.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McLane throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLane not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Anzai manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Anzai tries for a takedown but McLane circles away easily

and McLane counters with a single leg into guard. Anzai didn't expect that.
Anderson McLane has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryota Anzai.
Anzai utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Anzai is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst McLane is controlling him.
McLane throws a big right hand that misses.
McLane throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Anzai really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McLane. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
McLane throwing strikes but missing.
McLane pushing down on Anzai's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

McLane decides to return to a standing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Anzai drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
McLane takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Anzai lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear McLane down.
McLane can't do much from the bottom here.
Anzai slows the pace down.
The ground and pound from Anzai seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anzai tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Anzai scoring with punches and elbows.
McLane taking punishment in the form of punches.
McLane takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
A lull in the action here as Anzai stalls from top position.
McLane managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Anzai.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
McLane regains half guard.
Anzai looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Anzai thows a huge punch but McLane dodges it nicely.
Anzai throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Anzai throwing shots but McLane is blocking nicely.
Anzai wants to control but McLane is keeping him busy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Anzai winds up and cracks McLane with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Anzai with the ground and pound but McLane uses the opportunity to regain guard.
McLane preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ryota Anzai will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

McLane doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Anzai counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in McLane's guard now.
Anzai makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Anzai wants to control from the top but McLane keeps moving.
Anzai with a flurry of punches that miss.
McLane utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Anzai scoring with punches to the head and body.
McLane trying to control the position.
Anzai throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLane working a defensive guard here.
Anzai scoring with some ground and pound.
McLane avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Anzai wants to control from the top but McLane keeps moving.
Anzai stops McLane from standing up.
Anzai lands a couple of elbows.
Anzai postures up in McLane's guard and throws a big left but McLane blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Anzai is looking to work some ground and pound but McLane has wrist control.
McLane lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Anzai!
McLane throws some wild stikes that Anzai manages to avoid easily.
McLane unloading with bombs!
McLane trying to control but he's not successful this time.
McLane scores with a couple of good head shots there.
McLane won't let Anzai get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Anzai is bucking up trying to escape but McLane cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anzai tries to buck McLane off but he can't manage it.
McLane looking to ground and pound but Anzai is blocking nicely.

Anzai bucks McLane off and manages to get back to his feet!

McLane shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Anzai's guard.
Ryota Anzai has got the better of the ground game so far.
McLane throwing strikes from guard but Anzai blocks nicely.
Anzai avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Anzai utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McLane accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Anzai is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
McLane changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Anzai fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Anzai scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Anzai performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Anzai trying to advance position but McLane counters by regaining guard.
Anzai postures up in McLane's guard and throws a big left but McLane blocks it.
McLane looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryota Anzai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Anzai 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryota Anzai!