PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hima Laya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Metra Mbole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Metra Mbole has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Laya
vs
Mbole

225 cm
22
451 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

193 cm
17
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hima Laya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Metra Mbole!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Ryoma Takatsuka and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mbole fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Laya to the ground. Mbole is now in Laya's guard.
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.
Mbole looking to sit in guard and control but Laya gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Laya trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Laya won't allow Mbole to sweep him here.
Laya definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Laya is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Laya pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mbole is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mbole is adopting a defensive guard.
Mbole's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Laya has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laya is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Mbole is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Laya passes into half guard.
Laya is stalling here. Mbole is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Laya seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Mbole has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Laya tries to improve position but can't.
Mbole throws a strike aimed at the side of Laya's head but Laya avoids it well.
Mbole throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Mbole politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Mbole prefers to stall for the moment though.
Laya is not content to let Mbole control the position.
Laya seems a little lost for a moment, as Mbole dominates the positioning.
Mbole working the ground and pound.
Mbole in side control, throwing shots but Laya defends.
Laya managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Mbole.
Laya is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mbole cracks Laya with a big elbow.
Mbole controls the position.
Laya takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Mbole throws a strike aimed at the side of Laya's head but Laya avoids it well.
Mbole tries to score with some ground and pound. Laya controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Mbole working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Laya is trying to escape the position but Mbole is controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Mbole shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Mbole was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Mbole controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mbole is chipping away with strikes.
Laya is not content to let Mbole control the position.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mbole lands some shots froms side control.
Mbole working the ground and pound but Laya is defending the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mbole closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Laya did well to prevent Mbole getting side control.
Mbole looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Mbole trying to control from half guard but Laya is working away.
Mbole controlling the action here.
More stalling from Mbole.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mbole working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mbole looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Mbole trying to control the action but Laya is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Mbole closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Laya to the mat! Laya manages to get full guard.
Mbole controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Mbole has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Laya utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mbole pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Laya is keeping the position for now.
Mbole sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Mbole has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mbole passes Laya's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Laya is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Metra Mbole has got the better of the ground game so far.
Laya avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mbole.
Mbole is trying to control. Laya wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Mbole content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mbole bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Laya is trying to escape the position but Mbole is controlling the position.
Mbole throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Mbole trying to control the position but Laya is working away.
Mbole in side control, throwing shots but Laya defends.
Mbole working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Mbole fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laya dodges the ground and pound from Mbole.
Mbole tries to move to mount but Laya blocks the move with his legs.
Mbole throws an elbow but Laya slips to the side and avoids it well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Mbole shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Mbole showed some decent athleticism there.
Mbole throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Laya on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Laya tries to get out of the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mbole controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Metra Mbole showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mbole throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Laya was covering up waiting for the punch and Mbole finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Laya will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mbole sitting in guard here, content to control.
Laya keeping moving, preventing Mbole from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mbole in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mbole throws a big elbow that misses.
Mbole trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mbole wants to control from the top but Laya keeps moving.
Laya trying to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Mbole drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Mbole is stalling in the full guard.
Mbole trying to control the position from guard on top but Laya is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laya working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mbole.
Mbole stays in close to Laya's body and controls the position.
Mbole trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mbole forces his way into half guard.
Mbole scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laya trying to hold on to Mbole's head to control him but Mbole postures up.
Mbole thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Mbole drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Mbole stays in close to Laya's body and controls the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mbole accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mbole working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Mbole works over Laya with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mbole showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Mbole pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Laya is keeping the position for now.
Mbole loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Mbole shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Mbole showed some decent athleticism there.
Mbole thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Metra Mbole really dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mbole.
Mbole creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Laya sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Mbole cracks Laya with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Mbole takes a little break here. Laya wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Mbole fails to land a wild elbow strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mbole wants to lay and pray for a moment but Laya keeps working.
Laya managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Mbole.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mbole cracks Laya with a big right hand but Laya just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Laya managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Mbole.
Mbole trying to control the action but Laya is working from the bottom.
Laya on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Laya trying to remain calm as Mbole controls from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mbole throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Laya works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Laya tries to get to full guard but Mbole has control of the leg.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Mbole takes the fight into the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Laya is trying to break the clinch but Mbole has him pressed against the cage.
Mbole throws an elbow but it misses.
Laya has had enough of the clinch but Mbole keeps him there for the moment.
Laya is trying to break free.

Mbole drags the fight down to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laya trying to control but Mbole is working from the bottom.
Laya wants to pass the guard but Mbole is keeping the position.
Mbole seems keen to control Laya's posture.
Laya wants to control from the top but Mbole keeps moving.
Mbole looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Laya stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mbole swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mbole is pulling down on Laya's head. It's preventing any offense from Laya, at least for the moment.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Mbole tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four 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.

Mbole shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Mbole was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Mbole misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Mbole. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Mbole working the ground and pound from side control.
Laya being controlled for a moment.
Laya tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Metra Mbole dominated that fourth 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. This is the final round!

Mbole shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Mbole was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Mbole wants to control but Laya is keeping him busy.
Laya is trying to escape the position but Mbole is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mbole wants to lay and pray for a moment but Laya keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mbole throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Mbole wants to lay and pray for a moment but Laya keeps working.
Mbole misses with the ground and pound.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Mbole scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Mbole lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Mbole controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mbole landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Mbole wants to control but Laya is keeping him busy.
Mbole working the ground and pound.
Laya is trying to escape the position but Mbole is controlling the position.
Mbole landing strikes.
Laya takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laya parries the strikes from Mbole easily there. Mbole is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Laya to escape.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Mbole trying to control the action but Laya is working from the bottom.
Mbole misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Mbole shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Mbole showed some decent athleticism there.
Laya blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mbole.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mbole is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Mbole takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Laya is trying desperately to improve position.
Mbole cracks Laya with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Hima Laya has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mbole controlling from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Metra Mbole comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mbole has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 42:50
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 41:50
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 42:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Metra Mbole!