PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kia Nav (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Casi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Casi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nav
vs
Casi

150 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

163 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kia Nav!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, John Casi!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Michael Johnstone and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nav circles away from the clinch attempt.
Casi walks into a left hand.
Casi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nav.

Casi clinches.
Nav leaning his opponent against the cage.

Nav pulls Casi into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nav is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nav is trying to keep Casi in close.
Nav has a closed guard, preventing Casi from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Casi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nav is keeping the position for now.
Nav pulls Casi in close to his closed guard and prevents Casi from doing any damage or advancing position.
Nav controls Casi momentarily but Casi frees himself.

Nav working for a triangle but Casi defends it easily.
Nav looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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

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

Nav clinches with his opponent.
Casi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nav drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Casi taking a breather.

Casi pulls guard.
Casi trying to keep a closed guard but Nav is proving a slippery customer.
Nav might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nav controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Casi looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Nav puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Casi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Casi is looking to control Nav's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Casi avoid being mounted?

Nav decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Nav has taken the fight to the clinch.

Nav gets control of Casi's arms and successfully pulls guard. Nav will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Nav scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Nav tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nav shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Casi pinned against the cage. Casi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kia Nav. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Casi has a takedown stuffed.
Casi tries to clinch up.
Casi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Nav defends well and Casi ends up having to push Nav into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Nav shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Casi as he avoids it easily.
Nav misses with a takedown
and Nav takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nav scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Casi checks a leg kick nicely.
Casi is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Casi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nav sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nav dives in and grabs Casi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Casi pushes down on Nav's head and hops out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kia Nav dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nav misses with a double jab.

Casi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nav.
Casi stalls.
Casi stops a takedown attempt from Nav.
Casi is trying to pull guard but Nav has him pressed against the cage.
Nav tries for a takedown. No joy.
Casi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nav walks away with a smile on his face. Casi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Casi rushes Nav and presses him up against the cage.
Casi drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Nav gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kia Nav has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Casi.
Casi can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Casi working aggressively here.
Nav jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Casi walks away with a smile on his face. Nav gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Nav takes the fight into the clinch.
Casi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nav fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nav tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Casi swivels and escapes.
Nav sets himself, and Casi steps forward looking for the clinch! Nav avoids it this time.
Casi shoots and misses

and Nav moves into the clinch.
Nav wants to take the fight to the mat but Casi manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Casi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Nav successfully pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Nav has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Casi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nav working a defensive guard here.
Nav bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Casi's guard.

Nav engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Nav throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Casi can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nav controls the pace.
Casi controls Nav momentarily but Nav frees himself.
Nav controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Casi tries to strike from the bottom.
Casi controls Nav momentarily but Nav frees himself.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Nav advances to half guard.
Casi is looking for a sweep. Nav is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nav not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nav is trying to control. Casi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Casi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nav manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nav is looking for a counter combo.
Nav throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nav changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Casi tries to avoid it but Nav manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Casi to the ground. Casi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kia Nav is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Casi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Casi is breathing heavily.
Nav throws a sloppy head kick and Casi moves out of range easily.

Nav gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nav drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Nav jumps into guard, dragging Casi to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kia Nav dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nav lands a slapping body shot.
Casi slaps away a takedown attempt from Nav, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nav shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Casi as he avoids it easily.
Nav leaves Casi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nav shoots in looking for a takedown but Casi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Nav's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kia Nav. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Casi shoots in for a takedown but Nav shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nav seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Nav misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nav fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Casi avoids it really well and circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Nav blocks the low kick.
It looked like Nav was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Casi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nav sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Nav clinches up with Casi and pushes him back against the cage.
Nav tries to pull guard but Casi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Nav has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Casi uses from the top position.
Casi trying to control but Nav is working from the bottom.
Nav trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Casi content to stall in guard here.
Kia Nav overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nav keeping moving, preventing Casi from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Casi postures up in Nav's guard and throws a big left but Nav blocks it.

Nav working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Casi has passed into half guard!
Nav is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Casi can do to turn this around?
Casi is looking to take a break and control but Nav is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nav is controlling Casi's trapped leg to prevent Casi from advancing to side control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nav pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Casi tries to close the distance and clinch but Nav swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nav tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Casi paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Nav forces Casi back against the cage and clinches.

Nav breaks the clinch.
Kia Nav is winning the standup battle so far.
Casi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nav paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nav looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Casi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nav lands a slapping body shot.
Nav tries to clinch up but Casi circles away and keeps his distance.
Casi fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Nav checks it well.
Nav fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Casi lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Nav throws a combination. Casi tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Casi pushes Nav up against the cage in a clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Nav breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nav darts in looking for a takedown but Casi gets double underhooks and turns Nav into the cage.
John Casi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kia Nav is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Casi throws a chopping leg kick but Nav manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kia Nav showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nav has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kia Nav!