PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Samuel Anders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lex Lusteer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Anders
vs
Lusteer

171 cm
22
154 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

183 cm
22
154 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers standup

Team S.W.A.T.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Samuel Anders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lex Lusteer!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anders closes the distance and clinches up with Lusteer, looking for a takedown. Anders pushes Lusteer against the cage but Lusteer circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lusteer swinging wilding here.
Anders avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lusteer scores with a head kick.
Lusteer swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nice defenses there by Anders.

Anders drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Lusteer is looking for a sweep.

Anders swings around for an armbar but Lusteer sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Anders's guard.
Anders might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Lusteer avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lusteer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Anders is keeping the position for now.

Anders is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Anders keeping full guard, as Lusteer tries to pass.
Lusteer is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lusteer controls from within his opponent's guard.

Lusteer avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Anders looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Anders tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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

Anders has his foot on Lusteer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lusteer works his way back into a safe position though.
Lusteer really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Anders. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lusteer makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Anders wants to sweep but no luck.
Lusteer controlling from the top position.
Lusteer would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Lusteer trying to control but Anders is working from the bottom.

Anders is looking for a triangle but Lusteer pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lusteer pushing down on Anders's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Anders is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Lusteer in particular looking to stall.
Lusteer winds up and cracks Anders with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Anders is looking for a sweep. Lusteer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lusteer trying to mount his opponent but Anders defends it.

Anders looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lusteer seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Horrible takedown by Anders or perhaps it was just good defense by Lusteer which made him look bad.
Anders fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuel Anders. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Anders changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lusteer looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Lusteer sneaks back into half guard.

Anders 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.
Lusteer trying to control here.
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 Samuel Anders will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lusteer throws a sloppy head kick and Anders moves out of range easily.
Lusteer jabs Anders right on the nose. Anders blinks but takes it well.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Lusteer misses with a two punch combination.
Anders fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lusteer tries to land a front kick but Anders steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Anders closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lusteer circles away.
Anders shoots in but Lusteer avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuel Anders. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lusteer thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Anders if he has to take too many more of those.
Lusteer digs a good hook to Anders's body.

Lusteer rushes Anders and presses him up against the cage.
Anders wants a takedown.
Anders fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Lusteer lands an uppercut.
Lusteer throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Anders blocks it with crossed arms.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Anders tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Lusteer just stands there and leans against the cage.
Anders tries a knee to the head but Lusteer blocks it.
Lusteer lands a right hand.
Lusteer tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Lusteer breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lusteer forces Anders back against the cage and clinches.
Lusteer lands a nice knee to the body.
Lusteer lands a left hand.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Lusteer.
Lusteer stalling against the cage.
Anders is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Lusteer pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Lusteer tries a knee to the head but Anders blocks it.
A left hand lands to the body for Lusteer.
Lusteer lands a right hand that snaps the head of Anders backwards.
Lusteer gets underhooks to prevent Anders's takedown attempt.
A nice left hand lands by Lusteer.
Lusteer scores with a shoulder strike.
Lusteer gets underhooks to prevent Anders's takedown attempt.
Lusteer scores with a shoulder strike.
Anders is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Lusteer pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Lusteer crunches a lovely knee into Anders's ribcage.
The referee calls for Lusteer to work.
Lusteer lands with a short shot to the head.

Lusteer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lusteer fails to land with a series of punches.
Lex Lusteer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Anders changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lusteer tries to avoid it but Anders manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lusteer to the ground. Lusteer escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lusteer finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Anders looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Anders has gone for a leg lock! Lusteer slips out almost immediately though and dives into Anders's guard.
Lusteer won't allow Anders to sweep him here.
Anders can't keep his opponent in guard - Lusteer advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Anders taking some punishment here, with Lusteer in his half guard.
Anders works his way to full guard. Good work.
Anders looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lusteer is one step ahead there.
Lusteer wants to pass the guard but Anders is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Anders is looking for a triangle but Lusteer pushes his legs off easily.
Lusteer is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Anders bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lusteer's guard.
Anders passes into half guard.

Anders seems to be looking for submissions.
Anders is looking to pass Lusteer's guard but actually Lusteer recovers to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Anders drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Lusteer manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Anders has Lusteer in his guard.
Lusteer makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Lusteer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lusteer passes Anders's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Anders is looking for a sweep. Lusteer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lex Lusteer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Anders closes the distance looking to clinch
and Lusteer counters with a series of strikes. Anders will be more careful next time no doubt.
Lusteer tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Anders shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Lusteer moves into the clinch.
Anders tries for a takedown. No joy.
Lusteer lands an uppercut.

Anders ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Anders no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Anders looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Lusteer has picked Anders up and slammed him! Anders can't keep hold of the triangle and Lusteer manages to pass to side control!
Anders manages to get back to half guard.
Lusteer winds up and cracks Anders with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Anders wants to get back to full guard.
Anders works his way to full guard. Good work.
Lusteer pushing down on Anders's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Lusteer tries to pass to full mount but Anders defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Lusteer there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lusteer content to control rather than advance.

Anders actively working from the bottom here.
Anders is looking for a sweep. Lusteer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Anders manages to get to full guard.
Anders looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lusteer is one step ahead there.

That's two 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.
Lusteer trying to control the position from guard on top but Anders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Anders working for a triangle but Lusteer defends it easily.

Anders escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lusteer gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Anders working for a triangle but Lusteer defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anders wants to sweep but no luck.
Samuel Anders overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Anders is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lusteer postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Lusteer must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Lusteer stands and steps away. Anders gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Anders misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuel Anders. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Lusteer clinches with his opponent.
Lusteer unloads a knee to the mid-section. Anders lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Anders throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lusteer using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Anders has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lusteer manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Lusteer lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lusteer softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Lusteer tries to land knees in the clinch but Anders avoids the damage to the body.
Lusteer prevents a takedown attempt there.
Anders jumps guard but Lusteer stands there with Anders around his waist. Anders gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Lusteer lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Anders tries for a takedown but Lusteer manages to get underhooks.
A short right from Lusteer.
Lusteer trying to stall but Anders improves his position.
Still in the clinch, Lusteer scores with a nice short uppercut.
Lusteer prevents a takedown attempt there.
Anders has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Lusteer avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
The is referee keeping an eye on Lusteer - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Lusteer working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Anders tries for a takedown. No joy.
Anders tries to pull guard but Lusteer holds him up against the cage and eventually Anders drops back down to his feet.
Lusteer has Anders pushed against the cage.
Lusteer lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lex Lusteer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lusteer has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lex Lusteer!