PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jeffrey Lui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Kazama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akira Kazama has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lui
vs
Kazama

180 cm
23
183 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

180 cm
21
177 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Improved boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Boondock Fightwear
Boondock Fightwear

Demonic Drugs
Team S.W.A.T.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jeffrey Lui!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Akira Kazama!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Trevor Gratis and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lui keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kazama fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Lui shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Lui wants to get back to his feet.
Kazama wants to control but Lui is keeping busy.
Kazama moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kazama is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kazama wants to sweep here but Lui controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lui controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazama is trying to keep Lui in close.
Lui looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kazama manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Lui is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kazama controlling his opponent.
Lui on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Lui tries to get out of the position.

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.
Kazama looking to finish Lui with some ground and pound. This is bad for Lui!
Kazama throws a strike there. Lui manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.
Lui blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kazama.
Lui keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Lui is looking for a sweep. Kazama is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lui missing with punches from the bottom.
Kazama wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lui keeps working.
Lui wants to get back to full guard.
Well, if Kazama is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kazama takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kazama lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Kazama tries to close the distance and clinch but Lui swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Kazama shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kazama pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lui is keeping the position for now.
Kazama won't allow Lui to sweep him here.
Kazama trying to control the position from guard on top but Lui is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kazama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lui has control of Kazama's left arm, preventing Kazama from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazama trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lui looking for a sweep. Not yet Lui, not yet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kazama closes the distance and clinches up with Lui, looking for a takedown. Kazama pushes Lui against the cage but Lui circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jeffrey Lui has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Kazama.
Kazama takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kazama shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Lui decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kazama's guard.
Kazama looks gassed!
Lui missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lui trying to control the position from guard on top but Kazama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lui won't allow Kazama to sweep him here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lui accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lui trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kazama is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeffrey Lui dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kazama shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lui but Lui pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Lui misses with a few strikes there.
Kazama fails with the takedown

and Lui counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Lui is tying to control. Kazama wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kazama is looking for a sweep. Lui is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kazama wants to control the action here but instead Lui manages to pass to full mount!
Lui lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Lui lands a big elbow.
Kazama is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kazama bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Lui keeping full guard, as Kazama tries to pass.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kazama lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lui has control of Kazama's left arm, preventing Kazama from doing any damage.
Kazama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kazama throws and elbow that misses. Lui uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kazama's guard. Nice move by Lui!
Lui sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Lui is in close to Kazama's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Lui controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kazama looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lui is one step ahead there.
Lui not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

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.
Kazama has his hands on Lui's head, controlling the position.
Kazama 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.
Lui wants to control from the top but Kazama keeps moving.
Kazama not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kazama being controlled here, momentarily.
Kazama wants to control the position but Lui says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lui controlling the action here.
Lui blocks the strikes from Kazama.
Kazama wants to improve his position but Lui is controlling well.
Kazama is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lui's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lui's back!
Lui covering up well under a series of strikes from Kazama.
Kazama is hanging on to Lui's back as he tries to escape.

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.

Kazama tightening his grip on Lui, looking for the choke.
You can see the frustration on Lui's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Lui is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Kazama somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Lui has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Kazama.
Kazama lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Lui.
Kazama punches the canvas rather than the man.
Lui trying to control the action but Kazama just sinks the hooks in.

Lui showing good submission defense here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeffrey Lui dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A punch combination from Lui misses.
Lui with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Kazama to counter with a crisp jab.
Jeffrey Lui seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lui misses with a takedown attempt
and Kazama counters with a stiff right hand.
Lui doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kazama decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Lui's guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeffrey Lui. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lui keeping moving, preventing Kazama from controlling successfully.
Lui has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Jeffrey Lui overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lui keeping moving, preventing Kazama from controlling successfully.
Lui working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazama stopping the sweep attempt from Lui.
Lui keeping moving, preventing Kazama from controlling successfully.
Kazama takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lui fails with the takedown

and Kazama counters with a shoot takedown. Lui fights it but they end up in guard.
Lui preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kazama tries to free his leg and advance position but Lui is retaining full guard.
Kazama is looking to advance position but Lui has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
The referee warns Kazama that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kazama regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lui is looking to take a break and control but Kazama is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lui is taking a breather. Kazama 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.
Kazama gets full guard.
Kazama working a defensive guard here.
Lui wants to control from the top but Kazama keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lui accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lui won't allow Kazama to sweep him here.
Kazama is trying to control the position but Lui postures up.
Lui wants to get up but he can't break Kazama's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Lui stopping the sweep attempt from Kazama.

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

and Kazama counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazama drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Lui manages to break the clinch.
Jeffrey Lui is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lui takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Lui shoots and misses

and Kazama counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kazama is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Kazama has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kazama postures up and lands a big shot to Lui's brow.
Lui keeping full guard, as Kazama tries to pass.
Kazama trying to control the position from guard on top but Lui is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lui is trying to control the position but Kazama postures up.
Kazama wants to control from the top but Lui keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazama being controlled here momentarily.
Lui keeping moving, preventing Kazama from controlling successfully.
Kazama connects with a couple of short punches.
Lui 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lui stuffs the takedown.
Lui fails to land with a series of punches.
Lui throws a combination that misses

and Kazama decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Lui's guard.
Akira Kazama has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kazama scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kazamais looking to pass into half guard but Lui pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Lui is in guard.
Kazama 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.

Kazama had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Lui is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kazama Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Lui's back instead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akira Kazama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lui 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeffrey Lui!