PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Avila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cassius Slay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Slay has chosen Wu-Tang Clan - Triumph as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Avila
vs
Slay

177 cm
25
156 lbs
9 - 4 - 1

180 cm
30
161 lbs
16 - 7 - 2

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 9 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Tommy Avila!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Cassius Slay!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Alec Ball and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Avila throws a low kick but Slay moves out of range easily.
Slay works the jab nicely.
Slay throws a body punch but Avila moves out of range.
Cassius Slay seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Slay throws a body punch but Avila moves out of range.
Avila misses the shot to the body.
Avila connects with a solid leg kick.
Avila feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Slay's calf.
Sloppy strikes from Slay. Those never looked like landing.
Avila will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Avila dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Slay. That did some damage!
Slay keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Avila blocks a jab.
Avila lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Slay backs up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avila throws a quick inside leg kick.
Avila throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A solid leg kick lands there for Avila.
Crunch! Avila slams his shin into Slay's torso.
Avila fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Slay.
Avila cracks the inside of Slay's front leg.
Avila finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Avila throws a head kick that misses.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Avila.

Avila shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Slay napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
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!
Slay managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Avila.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slay looking for a sweep but Avila has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Slay is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Slay is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Avila lands with some strikes.
Slay is wriggling around trying to escape.
Avila wants to control the pace but Slay is squirming around nicely.
Slay tries to lock up and control but Avila gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slay tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Avila landing punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Avila wants to control the pace but Slay is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Avila dominated that round.
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.

Avila throws the kick towards the body but Slay avoids it.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Slay.
Slay checks a leg kick.
Slay throws a right hand that misses
and Avila counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Slay tries to work over Avila's front leg with a kick but Avila checks it.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Slay.
Slay leaves Avila with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Avila throws a chopping leg kick but Slay manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Good leg kick by Avila there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slay lands a jab-cross combination.
Slay chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Avila can pounce on him.
Avila moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Slay scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Avila checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Avila avoids a punch combination nicely.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Slay.
Slay is looking to clinch.
Slay has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Slay there as he acknowledges the shot.
Avila throws a leg kick but Slay checks it.
Slay's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Avila.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Slay throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Slay looks to throw the jab but Avila is out of range.
Slay takes a swing at Avila's ribcage but misses.
A good leg kick by Slay.
Slay throws a hook to the side of Avila's head but Avila sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Slay throws out a loose jab but Avila uses good head movement to avoid it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Avila.
Slay thows a body shot but no joy.
Avila finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slay misses with a low kick.
Avila scores with a leg kick.
Avila cracks the inside of Slay's front leg.
Slay blocks a leg kick.
Tommy Avila is winning the standup battle so far.
Slay misses with a kick to the body.
Avila throws a nice outside leg kick.
Avila's jab looks to have found its range, popping Slay under the eye.
Avila throws a nice inside leg kick.
Slay ducks under a wild hook from Avila.
Slay gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Avila.
Slay takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Avila lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Slay misses with an uppercut
and Avila counters with a nice low kick that buckles Slay's knee momentarily.
Slay is breathing heavily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Avila.
Avila avoids the head kick by Slay.
Avila shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Avila throws a leg kick which misses Slay's front leg but catches the back leg as Slay tries to avoid it.
Avila thumps Slay with a low kick.
Slay takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Avila shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Avila showed some decent athleticism there.
Slay taking some punishment here, with Avila in his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Avila dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Avila fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Slay swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Avila shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Slay is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Avila thows a huge punch but Slay dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avila with the ground and pound but Slay uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Avila trying to control but Slay is working from the bottom.

Avila has gone for a leg lock! Slay slips out almost immediately though and dives into Avila's guard.
Slay wants to stand but Avila has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Cassius Slay has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slay wants to stand and escape but instead Avila has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Slay manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Avila manages to get himself to full guard.
Slay scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Slay looking to sit in guard and control but Avila gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Tommy Avila overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Slay looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avila trying to control but Slay is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Slay trying to control the position here.
Tommy Avila is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Avila controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Slay takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Slay ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Avila feints and then cracks Slay's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Slay down.
Avila looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Slay is fending him off so far but Avila persists. Nope, Slay circles away and we're back to standing.
Avila feints and then cracks Slay's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Slay down.
Avila shoots in looking for a takedown but Slay manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Avila's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommy Avila showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Avila has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommy Avila!