PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tom Dwan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aj Styles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Styles has chosen I Am by Dale Oliver as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Aj Styles enters the cage!

Dwan
vs
Styles

184 cm
25
215 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

180 cm
29
215 lbs
13 - 11 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tom Dwan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 11 - 1, fighting out of New York, Aj Styles!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, John Roberts and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dwan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Styles counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Styles is trying to control the action in half guard but Dwan is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Dwan is trying to stand.
Styles thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dwan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Dwan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Styles doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Styles manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Styles wants to pass the guard but Dwan is keeping the position.
Styles must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Styles throwing strikes but missing.
Styles wants to control from the top but Dwan keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dwan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Styles postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dwan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Styles manages to get himself to full guard.
Dwan tries to free his leg and advance position but Styles is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Styles has Dwan pulled in close to control his posture.
Styles preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dwan trying to control the position from guard on top but Styles is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two 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.
Dwan content to stall in guard here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A head kick misses from Dwan.
Dwan throws a sloppy head kick
and Styles counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Styles wants to clinch.

Styles takes the fight into the clinch.
Styles tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Styles stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Styles tries to score a body lock takedown but Dwan shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Styles works on Dwan's body with a couple of short punches.
Styles prevents a takedown attempt there.
Nice elbow from Styles.
Styles throws a head punch that misses.
Styles wants a takedown.
Tom Dwan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aj Styles.
Still in the clinch, Styles scores with a nice short uppercut.
Dwan is pressed up against the cage. Styles has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Dwan down to the mat. Dwan avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Dwan throws a combination that misses

and Styles moves into the clinch.
Styles looking to throw knees to the head but Dwan is blocking nicely.
Dwan prevents a body shot from Styles.
Dwan blocks an uppercut.
Styles goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Dwan drags the fight down to the ground.
Styles passes Dwan's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Styles is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Dwan has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Styles is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Dwan is just riding it out for now. Styles eventually gives up the hold.
Styles thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dwan keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Dwan pushes Styles off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aj Styles dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Styles moves in looking to clinch but Dwan pushes him off.
Styles stuffs the takedown attempt from Dwan. Dwan gets slowly back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Styles looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tom Dwan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Styles misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Styles tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dwan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dwan tries a head kick but it misses.
Dwan swinging wildly here.
Dwan doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Styles counters with a shoot takedown. Dwan fights it but they end up in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dwan is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Dwan wants to sweep here but Styles controlling him for the moment.
Styles looking to pass the guard.
Dwan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Styles is one step ahead there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dwan is on top in guard.

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.
Dwan sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Dwan is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Styles looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dwan is one step ahead there.
Dwan trying to control but Styles is working from the bottom.
Styles is controlling Dwan's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dwan preventing the sweep.
Dwan is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Dwan trying to control the position from guard on top but Styles is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dwan is stalling in the full guard.
Dwan wants to control from the top but Styles keeps moving.

Tom Dwan has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A head kick misses from Dwan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Styles misses with a wild body shot.
Dwan misses with a double jab

and Styles holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Styles.
Nice body punch from Styles - that landed with a thud.
Dwan tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Dwan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The referee is keeping an eye on Styles - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Styles turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Styles manages to end up in side control.
Styles wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dwan keeps working.
Dwan is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Styles thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aj Styles showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Dwan misses with a double jab.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Dwan lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Styles has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Styles and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Styles moves into the clinch.
Dwan wants a takedown.
A short uppercut from Styles.
Dwan prevents a takedown attempt there.
Styles creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Dwan's defenses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Styles swings wildly with an uppercut but Dwan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dwan prevents a takedown attempt there.
Dwan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Styles lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dwan gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Styles.
Tom Dwan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aj Styles.
Styles tries a body shot but Dwan blocks it.
Styles swings wildly with an uppercut but Dwan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Styles misses with a body punch.
Dwan blocks an elbow strike.
Dwan blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Styles fails to land.
Dwan blocks a body shot from Styles.
Styles struggles to land a body shot inside as Dwan controls his hands.
Styles presses Dwan against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A body shot lands from Styles.
Styles tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Dwan's elbow.

Styles is trying to trip Dwan. He has hold of a leg but Dwan is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Styles persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Dwan wriggles free and stands up.
Dwan misses with a body punch
and Styles counters with a leg kick.
Styles tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dwan avoids a kick to the body.
Dwan throws a head kick but Styles moves out of range.
Styles wants to clinch up but Dwan keeps it at a distance.
Dwan throws a head kick but Styles moves out of range.
Styles tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Dwan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Styles lands with a shot to the body.
Styles defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dwan.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A swing and a miss from Dwan.

Styles has Dwan up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dwan gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Styles.
Styles goes for a takedown in the clinch but Dwan prevents it.
Dwan gets underhooks to prevent Styles's takedown attempt.
Styles goes for a takedown in the clinch but Dwan prevents it.
Dwan tries to pull guard but Styles holds him up against the cage and eventually Dwan drops back down to his feet.

Dwan has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Styles uses from the top position.
Tom Dwan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dwan striking off his back but it's not causing Styles any problems.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Dwan holds on and takes a little breather.
Styles pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dwan is keeping the position for now.
Dwan 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dwan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Styles stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dwan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Styles postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Dwan has his feet on Styles's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Dwan misses with the body kick

and Styles counters by clinching up.
Styles lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Styles softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Dwan drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Styles gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Aj Styles is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dwan tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aj Styles comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Styles has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

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