PBP Commentary

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

Moreno
vs
Sozei

224 cm
23
162 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

195 cm
25
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Elroy Moreno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kaiser Sozei!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sozei shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Sozei was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Moreno is not content to let Sozei control the position.

Sozei is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Moreno knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Sozei thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sozei wants to stand but Moreno is controlling his arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sozei trying to control the position but Moreno is working away.

Sozei goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Moreno has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Sozei but great work by Moreno.
Moreno really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sozei is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Sozei's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sozei might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Moreno haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Moreno creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sozei is being controlled here.
Sozei struggling a bit here.
Moreno lands a decent elbow from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sozei tries to escape but Moreno is in control.
Moreno controls the position from side control.
Moreno postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Sozei is looking to regain half guard here but Moreno keeps moving and retains side control.
Moreno cracks Sozei with a big right hand but Sozei just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Sozei is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sozei is trying to control Moreno's posture but Moreno avoids it.

Moreno is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sozei knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sozei wants to control but Moreno postures up.
Sozei is looking for a sweep.
Sozei struggling a bit here.
Moreno working the ground and pound.
Sozei is looking for a sweep.

Moreno decides to stand back up.

Sozei shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sozei is working Moreno over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sozei is looking to advance position but Moreno has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Sozei is trying to escape the mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sozei takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Moreno controlling the pace for now.
Sozei is trying to escape the mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Moreno sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Sozei gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaiser Sozei dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Moreno takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Moreno throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Moreno tries a head kick but it misses.

Moreno gets caught napping as Sozei dives in and scores a takedown. Moreno manages to retain guard.
Moreno will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Moreno looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Sozei passes into side control.

Sozei goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Moreno has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Sozei but great work by Moreno.
Moreno is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Sozei's shoulder. That is not cool.
Sozei can't do much from the bottom here.
Sozei is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Moreno is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sozei knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sozei manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Sozei is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Moreno stalling.
Sozei manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sozei utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sozei looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sozei looking to control.
Moreno chips away with some ground and pound.

Sozei is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Moreno is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sozei tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sozei has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Moreno can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sozei is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sozei wants to pass the guard but Moreno is defending well.
Moreno knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sozei on the ground.
Sozei sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Moreno defending well though.
Sozei wants to control but Moreno is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sozei sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Moreno defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moreno is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sozei's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sozei's back!
Moreno controlling the position well here. Sozei rolled but Moreno kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Moreno keeps control of the position as Sozei tries to break free.
Sozei trying to control the hands but Moreno won't let him.
Moreno controlling well, preventing Sozei from escaping the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sozei is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Moreno is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaiser Sozei showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sozei moves into range and clinches up with Moreno.
Moreno taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Moreno tries to land knees in the clinch but Sozei avoids the damage to the body.

Moreno manages to break the clinch.
Moreno throws a sloppy head kick and Sozei moves out of range easily.

Moreno forces Sozei back against the cage and clinches.

Moreno breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Sozei shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Moreno is trying to defend but Sozei finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Moreno is defending against the submission attempts here by Sozei.
Sozei is trying to control the action in half guard but Moreno is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sozei is looking to stall here but Moreno recovers full guard.
Kaiser Sozei has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sozei trying to control the position from guard on top but Moreno is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sozei passes Moreno's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sozei seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moreno is trying to stand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Sozei is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Moreno defends it well.
Sozei seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Moreno does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sozei thows a huge punch but Moreno dodges it nicely.
Sozei trying to pass the guard but Moreno defending well.

Sozei is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Moreno has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sozei is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Moreno has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sozei is trying to control the action in half guard but Moreno is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sozei trying to mount his opponent but Moreno defends it.
Elroy Moreno has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kaiser Sozei is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sozei wants to control but Moreno is keeping him busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kaiser Sozei comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sozei winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kaiser Sozei!