PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Taisona Animai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Lewis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lewis has chosen Numb by Linkin Park as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Animai
vs
Lewis

194 cm
25
218 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
23
200 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Taisona Animai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Lewis!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Tiny Johnson and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lewis dodges the punch combination from Animai.
Lewis looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Lewis doesn't manage to clinch there - Animai circles away.
Lewis blocks a head kick by Animai.
Animai throws a series of punches but Lewis avoids them all with ease.
Animai throws a right hand that Lewis ducks under and follows up with a left that Lewis also avoids with ease.
No joy there for Animai, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Animai throws the kick towards the body but Lewis avoids it.
Lewis swinging wildly here.
Animai shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Lewis eats them both and turns towards Animai to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lewis is trying to pull guard but Animai turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Animai is trying to force a seperation but Lewis has the dominant position.
Animai on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Animai tries to circle away but Lewis has him pinned against the cage.

Lewis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Animai throws a right and a left that Lewis avoids nicely.

Lewis tries to keep at a distance but Animai has taken the fight into the clinch.
Lewis looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Lewis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Animai throws a right hand that Lewis ducks under and follows up with a left that Lewis also avoids with ease.
Animai tried to score with a low kick but Lewis checks it.
A right-left combo lands from Animai.

It looks like John Lewis has been cut.
The fighters circle momentarily. Animai darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Animai avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Animai tries to bum rush Lewis with a series of wild strikes but Lewis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Animai shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Lewis eats them both and turns towards Animai to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Lewis is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Animai misses with a series of wild punches.
Lewis is still on wobbly legs! Can Animai finish him?
Animai paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Animai misses with a double jab.
Animai throws a right hand that Lewis ducks under and follows up with a left that Lewis also avoids with ease.
Lewis takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Lewis gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Lewis seems to have recovered his senses.
Lewis lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Animai is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lewis has Animai pressed against the cage, preventing Animai from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Lewis breaks the clinch.
Lewis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Animai manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A punch combination from Animai misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lewis tries to clinch but Animai is having none of it.
Animai throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Lewis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Animai wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Lewis breaks from the clinch.
Animai throws a leg kick

and Lewis counters with a takedown into side control.
Animai is not content to let Lewis control the position.
Animai wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Lewis taking a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Animai tries to escape but Lewis is in control.

Lewis stands up and we're back to a striking position.
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!
Animai avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Animai tries to bum rush Lewis with a series of wild strikes but Lewis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Animai throws a head kick that misses.
Lewis misses with a jab, cross combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Animai swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Lewis shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Lewis was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Lewis controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Taisona Animai will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on John Lewis's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lewis tries to clinch but Animai is having none of it.
Lewis takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Animai swinging wildly here.
Animai misses with the body kick

and Lewis counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Animai tries to roll over but Lewis keeps him under control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lewis is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Lewis is breathing heavily.
Lewis thows a huge punch but Animai dodges it nicely.
Animai is not content to let Lewis control the position.
Animai trying to control but Lewis postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Animai makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Animai misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lewis slips a jab and a cross from Animai.
Animai misses with a wild combination.
Lewis looks to clinch
and Animai counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Lewis clinches.
Animai is trying to break the clinch but Lewis has him pressed against the cage.
Animai is trying to push Lewis away but Lewis has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Lewis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Animai throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lewis shoots for a takedown but Animai saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Animai is looking to chop away at Lewis's legs.
Animai lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Animai pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Lewis back to the cage. Animai follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Animai throws a nice looking combination but Lewis bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lewis takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Animai scores with a jab.
Animai avoids the body shot from Lewis.
Taisona Animai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lewis shoots in but no luck this time.
Taisona Animai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Animai with a nice cross.
Animai lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Lewis backs up against the cage.
Taisona Animai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Animai misses with a series of wild punches.
Animai misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Animai lands a body shot.
Animai lands the left hand.

Lewis scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Animai is trying to stand up here but Lewis is controlling him well.

Lewis decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Animai throws a right and a left that Lewis avoids nicely.
Animai throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lewis.
Animai throws a right hand that Lewis ducks under and follows up with a left that Lewis also avoids with ease.
Animai misses with an uppercut. Lewis saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Animai misses the target.
Animai throws a leg kick

and Lewis counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Lewis manages to break the clinch.
Animai is looking to clinch.
A cross from Animai lands.
Animai throws a series of punches but Lewis moves out of range.
Animai stuffs the takedown attempt from Lewis. Lewis gets slowly back to his feet.
Taisona Animai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Lewis.
Lewis dodges the punch combination from Animai.
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.
Lewis throws a right and a left that both miss.

Animai gets in close and instigates a clinch.
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 Taisona Animai will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on John Lewis's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Animai misses with a head kick.
Lewis takes one to the chin there.
A left and a right from Animai both land. Nice combination.
Animai rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lewis moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Horrible takedown by Lewis or perhaps it was just good defense by Animai which made him look bad.
Lewis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Animai.
Animai scores with a three punch combo!
Animai avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Animai lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Animai dodges the punch combination from Lewis.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lewis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Animai swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lewis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Animai.
Animai moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Lewis shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Animai as he jumps to the side.
Animai throws the kick towards the body but Lewis avoids it.
Lewis wants to clinch.

Animai has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Animai is looking to break free of the clinch but Lewis has double underhooks.

Lewis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Animai throws a push kick but Lewis slaps the foot to one side.
Lewis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lewis has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
No joy there for Animai, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lewis tries to close the distance and clinch but Animai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Animai fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lewis, pushing him back against the cage.

Animai gets control of Lewis's arms and successfully pulls guard. Animai will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Lewis is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Lewis won't allow Animai to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Animai wants to get back to his feet but Lewis is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Animai looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Animai is looking to stand up but Lewis isn't so interested in that idea.
Lewis is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Lewis stands up from Animai's guard - Lewis perhaps looking for a knockout.
Animai fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Animai throws a left and a right that both miss

and Lewis moves into the clinch.

Lewis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Animai fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Lewis has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Lewis tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Animai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Animai fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Animai avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Animai misses with a double jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Lewis shoots in and gets a takedown into Animai's guard.

Animai is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lewis defends well.
John Lewis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taisona Animai is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lewis chips away with some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taisona Animai showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Animai, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taisona Animai!