PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Optimus Prime (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yotu Lerfif (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yotu Lerfif is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Prime
vs
Lerfif

170 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
165 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Attliction Inc. - badass sold out last night....
Transformer Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Optimus Prime!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yotu Lerfif!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Prime tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lerfif swivels and escapes.
Prime looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Prime circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lerfif gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Prime counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Lerfif wants to sweep here but Prime controlling him for the moment.
Lerfif bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Prime's guard.
Lerfif trying to control but Prime is working from the bottom.
Prime wants to improve his position but instead Lerfif has moved into half guard.
Prime wants to improve his position but Lerfif is controlling well.
Lerfif is looking to take a break and control but Prime is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lerfif prevents Prime from improving his position.

Lerfif is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Prime defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lerfif slows the pace down in half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Prime gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Prime is looking for a triangle here but Lerfif uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Prime is trying to get back to half guard.

Lerfif decides to stand back up. Lerfif steps back and let's Prime get back to his feet.
Lerfif is looking to clinch but Prime is avoiding it.
Yotu Lerfif seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Prime drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Prime is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lerfif knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Lerfif prevents Prime from moving into mount.

Prime working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Lerfif manages to work his way to half guard, despite Prime's best efforts.

Prime looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Prime stops Lerfif from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Prime trying to pass the guard but Lerfif defending well.
Prime trying to advance position but Lerfif counters by regaining guard.
Prime pushes down on Lerfif's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Prime seems to be working for a kimura but Lerfif defends the submission attempt.

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

Prime had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Lerfif is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Prime Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Lerfif's back instead.
Prime is trying to stick to Lerfif's back but Lerfif is turning into Prime. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Prime's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Lerfif.
Prime manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lerfif manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lerfif trying to keep a closed guard but Prime is proving a slippery customer.

Lerfif looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lerfif looking to control.
Lerfif striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Lerfif has control of Prime's left arm, preventing Prime from doing any damage.
Lerfif bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Prime's guard.
Lerfif controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Prime looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lerfif wants to pass the guard but Prime is keeping the position.
Lerfif slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Yotu Lerfif will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Prime bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Prime goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Lerfif rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Prime's guard! Nice work there by Lerfif!

Lerfif drops back looking for a leg! Prime is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Prime manages to kick Lerfif off! Lerfif jumps back into Prime's guard.

Prime working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Lerfif has passed into half guard!
Lerfif trying to control the action but Prime is working from the bottom.
Lerfif with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Prime is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Lerfif pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lerfif is taking a breather. Prime says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Prime works his way to full guard. Good work.

Prime keeping busy on the bottom but Lerfif has passed one foot through into half guard.
Lerfif slows the pace down in half guard.

Prime looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Prime is trying to get back to full guard.
Prime slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Prime is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lerfif won't allow Prime to sweep him here.
Lerfif stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Prime swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Lerfif avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Prime can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lerfif controls the pace.
Lerfif wants to pass the guard but Prime is keeping the position.
Lerfif scoring with punches to the head and body.
Lerfif working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Prime's head.
Lerfif connects with a couple of short punches.

Lerfif gets to his feet. Prime looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Lerfif shoots and misses

and Prime counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lerfif desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Prime is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lerfif is just riding it out for now. Prime eventually gives up the hold.
Lerfif slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Prime stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lerfif swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Prime drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Lerfif manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Prime has Lerfif in his guard.
Prime keeping moving, preventing Lerfif from controlling successfully.
Prime wants to sweep here but Lerfif controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Lerfif trying to control the position from guard on top but Prime is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Prime tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lerfif advances position into side control!
Prime tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Prime manages to work his way to half guard, despite Lerfif's best efforts.
Prime tries to get to full guard but Lerfif has control of the leg.
Optimus Prime overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lerfif seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Prime does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Lerfif missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lerfif is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Optimus Prime will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Lerfif misses with a takedown

and Prime counters with a nice double leg into side control. Lerfif won't be happy with that.
Prime advances to full mount.
Prime manages to capitalize on a mistake by Lerfif to take his back!
Lerfif trying to control the action but Prime just sinks the hooks in.

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

Prime patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Prime is not going to allow Lerfif to sit and survive in this position.
Lerfif trying to get back to his feet but Prime is in full control for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Prime is persistently looking for the submission but Lerfif is defending it well.
Lerfif tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Prime wants to finish this one by submission but Lerfif is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Prime.
Lerfif really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Lerfif tries to hold on but Prime pushes him away.
Prime prevents Lerfif from getting the reversal.

Prime is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Lerfif can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Lerfif is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Lerfif is trying to stand.
Lerfif tries to reverse the position but Prime maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lerfif manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Prime seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Lerfif has recovered full guard.

Prime drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Lerfif manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Prime has Lerfif in his guard.
Prime looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lerfif is one step ahead there.
Lerfif trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lerfif passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Prime tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lerfif wants to lay and pray for a moment but Prime keeps working.
Prime manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Prime wants to sweep but Lerfif has passed to side control!
Prime tries to bench press Lerfif off him but Lerfif keeps the position.
Prime sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Prime moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Lerfif advances to half guard.
It looks like Lerfif is going to stand back up.
Lerfif prevents Prime from improving his position.
Lerfif working the head and body with strikes.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Lerfif in particular looking to stall.
Prime moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Prime throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lerfif seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Prime wants to sweep here but Lerfif controlling him for the moment.
Prime keeping moving, preventing Lerfif from controlling successfully.
Prime wants to sweep but no luck.
Lerfif wants to control from the top but Prime keeps moving.
Lerfif seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Lerfif misses with a takedown

and Prime counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Optimus Prime showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Prime 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Optimus Prime!
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Optimus Prime!
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Optimus Prime!

Optimus Prime wins by unanimous decision!