PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tooza Bruza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lionel Lindsay (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.

Bruza
vs
Lindsay

200 cm
24
212 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

188 cm
25
215 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very strong

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tooza Bruza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lionel Lindsay!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bruza lands a head kick. Lindsay smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Lionel Lindsay has been cut.
Bruza tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lindsay swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bruza misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lindsay circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lindsay just misses with a punch to the body.
Bruza wants to clinch.
Bruza avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bruza tries to clinch there but Lindsay circles away.
Bruza doesn't manage to clinch there - Lindsay circles away.
Lindsay steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lindsay gets the takedown into side control.
Lindsay prevents Bruza from escaping the position.
An elbow from Lindsay crashes against the mat.
Lindsay wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bruza keeps working.

Lindsay working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruza wants to control but Lindsay postures up.

Lindsay tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Lindsay has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Bruza wants to get back to his feet.
Bruza on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bruza tries to get out of the position.
Lindsay trying to control the action but Bruza is working from the bottom.

Lindsay tries for a kimura but Bruza is defending well.
Sloppy strikes there by Lindsay.

Lindsay thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

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.
Bruza is trying to get back to half guard.
Bruza is trying to get back to his feet.
Lindsay is putting a hurting on Bruza here, landing some big shots from side control.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Lindsay working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

Lindsay tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Lindsay has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Bruza is not content to let Lindsay control the position.
Bruza wants to get back to his feet but Lindsay drags him back down.

Lindsay is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bruza knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Lindsay throws a strike aimed at the side of Bruza's head but Bruza avoids it well.

Lindsay is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Bruza has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lindsay cracks Bruza with a big right hand but Bruza just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Bruza knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lindsay on the ground.
Bruza sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Bruza keeping control of the position.
Lindsay is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Lindsay lands with a punch from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lindsay is looking to advance position but Bruza won't allow it.
Bruza looks like he's trying to stand up.
Bruza is concentrating on defense, preventing Lindsay from advancing position.
Bruza wants to get back to his feet.
Lindsay not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bruza is trying to stand up here but Lindsay is controlling him well.
Bruza has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lindsay is working away from the top position though.
Bruza is trying to stand back up but Lindsay is controlling him
Bruza throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Lindsay seems to be looking for submissions.
Bruza wants to improve his position but Lindsay is controlling well.
Lindsay has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Lindsay connects with a nice short shot to Bruza's temple.
Bruza is staying active underneath Lindsay, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Bruza is defending against the submission attempts here by Lindsay.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lindsay trying to mount his opponent but Bruza defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lionel Lindsay dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lionel Lindsay's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lindsay tries to keep at a distance but Bruza has taken the fight into the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Lindsay.
Bruza doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Knees in the clinch landing for Lindsay.
Bruza working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Lindsay has Bruza pressed against the cage.
Lindsay lands a right hand that snaps the head of Bruza backwards.
Lindsay scores with a nice hook to the head.
Lindsay wants to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bruza lands an elbow that stopped Lindsay in his tracks for a moment.
Lindsay swings wildly with an uppercut but Bruza uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bruza is pressed up against the cage. Lindsay has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bruza down to the mat. Bruza avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Bruza is looking to clinch but Lindsay is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruza moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Bruza throws a sloppy head kick and Lindsay moves out of range easily.
Lindsay drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Bruza defends it well.
Bruza tries to clinch up.

Lindsay throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Bruza tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Lindsay is in Bruza's guard.
Lindsay trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lindsay preventing the sweep.
Bruza controlling the position.
Lindsay in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lindsay trying to control but Bruza is working from the bottom.
Lindsay postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lindsay wants to control from the top but Bruza keeps moving.
Bruza is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Lionel Lindsay has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bruza wants to stand up but Lindsay is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bruza tries to close the distance and clinch but Lindsay swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lindsay feints the counter takedown.
Lindsay avoids the head kick by Bruza.
Lindsay feints the counter takedown.
Bruza swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Lindsay counter with a right hand.
Bruza fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Bruza enables Lindsay to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Bruza manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Bruza is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Lindsay dives into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Lindsay tries for a kimura but Bruza is defending well.

Lindsay is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bruza is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
An elbow from Lindsay crashes against the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lindsay tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Lindsay has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Lindsay misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Lindsay working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Bruza is looking to reverse the position.
Lindsay in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Bruza is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Bruza tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Lindsay wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Lindsay is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bruza is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Lindsay tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Lindsay has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bruza is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Bruza is looking to reverse the position.

Lindsay tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Lindsay lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Bruza down.

Lindsay is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bruza is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Bruza is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lionel Lindsay showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lionel Lindsay's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Bruza with a jab.
Bruza tries to clinch but Lindsay is having none of it.
Lindsay fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bruza tries to close the distance and clinch but Lindsay swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lindsay tries to counter with a clinch but Bruza shakes him off and moves away.
A telegraphed right hand from Bruza misses the target.
Lindsay circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bruza fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lindsay throws a looping overhand right but Bruza ducks down to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bruza throws a sloppy head kick
and Bruza takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bruza tries to clinch
and Lindsay counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bruza thinking.
Bruza just misses with a punch to the body.
Lindsay is trying to counter with his kicks.
Bruza lands a head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruza doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Lindsay misses with the combination.
Bruza closes the distance but Lindsay moves to the side
enabling Lindsay to counter with a crisp jab.
Lindsay avoids the head kick by Bruza.
Bruza tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lindsay avoids a kick to the body.

Bruza has Lindsay up against the cage in a clinch.
A shot in the inside from Bruza.
Bruza avoiding damage as Lindsay throws knees to the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Lindsay takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bruza misses with an elbow over the top.
Lindsay dodges an elbow strike from Bruza.
Lindsay lands a left hand.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Bruza as Lindsay tries to tie him up.
Lindsay stalling.
Lindsay lands a shoulder strike.
Bruza throws an elbow but it misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bruza misses with a body punch.
Bruza misses with an elbow strike.
Lindsay landing knees to the body.
Bruza struggles to land a body shot inside as Lindsay controls his hands.
Bruza has a couple of punches blocked by Lindsay.
Bruza tries to work over Lindsay's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lindsay pushes off an throws an elbow but Bruza leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Lindsay swings wildly with an uppercut but Bruza uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bruza tries to work over Lindsay's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lindsay has Bruza pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bruza manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Bruza throws an elbow that misses.

Bruza breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bruza looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bruza misses with an uppercut. Lindsay saw that one coming.
And Lindsay tries to counter it with a takedown but Bruza pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Bruza throws out a loose jab but Lindsay uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lindsay feints the counter takedown.
Lindsay bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Lindsay lands a jab to the head.
Tooza Bruza is winning the standup battle so far.
Bruza lands a jab-cross combination.
Bruza just misses with a punch to the body.
Tooza Bruza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lindsay keeps the fight on the outside.
Lindsay with the counter takedown but Bruza avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bruza tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lindsay has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bruza tries a head kick but it misses.
Bruza pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lindsay looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A slow jab from Bruza misses its intended target.
Bruza looks to land a right hand but Lindsay moved out of range.
Lindsay keeps the fight on the outside.
Lindsay feints a counter leg kick.
Bruza throws a lazy head kick
and Lindsay counters with a nice kick to the body.
Lindsay lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bruza looks to clinch

and Lindsay counters with a takedown into side control.
Lindsay scores with a couple of short elbows.

Lindsay tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Lionel Lindsay is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lindsay staying calm.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lionel Lindsay.
I've got Lindsay 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lionel Lindsay!
An out of breath and clearly excited Lionel Lindsay thanked REAR NAKED CHOKE NUTRITION for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).