PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rico Laynier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Celso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Celso's choice of entrance music: Bad Boys by The Inner Circle. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Laynier
vs
Celso

187 cm
19
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

189 cm
21
195 lbs
2 - 7 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Rico Laynier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Anthony Celso!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Colin Fotheringham and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laynier misses with a takedown attempt - Celso sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Laynier looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Celso shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Celso is controlling the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laynier trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Celso cracks Laynier with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Celso stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Laynier has taken the fight to the clinch.

Celso lands a takedown into guard.

Laynier scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Celso shoots in for a takedown but Laynier shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Celso lands a nice looking body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Celso closes the distance and clinches.
Celso misses with a knee to the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Celso.

Celso pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laynier trying to control the position from guard on top but Celso is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Laynier is really struggling to control Celso but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Laynier avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Celso doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Laynier is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Celso is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Celso has escaped and now he's on top!

Laynier wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laynier keeping full guard, as Celso tries to pass.
Celso is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Celso has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Celso connects with a couple of short punches.
Laynier wants to sweep here but Celso controlling him for the moment.
Laynier wants to stand but Celso is controlling the position.
Laynier can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Celso controls the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Celso scoring with some ground and pound.

Celso stands and steps away. Laynier gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Celso looking to score a takedown here. Laynier is defending well but Celso drives through and ends up in Laynier's guard.
Celso lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Celso stands up over Laynier, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Laynier being controlled here, momentarily.
Laynier looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Celso swats away the attempt to clinch by Laynier.
Laynier tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Celso swivels and escapes.
Celso tries for a takedown but Laynier sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Celso will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Laynier misses with a wild body shot.
Celso shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Laynier sprawls well. Laynier wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Celso gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Celso darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Celso content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laynier won't allow Celso to pass to mount.
Celso missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Laynier trying to control but Celso postures up.

Laynier looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
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. Celso connects with a nice short shot to Laynier's temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Laynier wants to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Celso in particular looking to stall.
Laynier gets full guard.
Laynier has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Celso has passed into side control.

Celso tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Laynier manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laynier looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Celso lands a couple of sideways elbows.
Celso is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Laynier scores with a couple of nice shots.
Laynier is pressing down on Celso's thigh, looking to free his foot. Celso is holding on for now.
Celso slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Celso lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Celso advances position into side control!
Laynier is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Celso is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Laynier has given up his back here.
Laynier can't escape the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
I would not like to be Laynier right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Celso showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Laynier fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Celso checks it well.
Laynier is trying hard to land a takedown here. Celso sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Celso feints the counter takedown.

Celso moves into the clinch successfully.
Celso is looking to take this one to the mat.
Laynier stalling in the clinch but Celso improves position.
Celso is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Laynier pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Celso is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Laynier can't fight it off and eventually Celso manages to take the fight to the floor. Laynier looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Laynier manages to escape and get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Laynier gets tackled into the cage by Celso. Celso maintains the clinch.

Celso breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Celso manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Laynier on his heels. He'll look to pass Laynier's guard now, I'm sure.
Laynier is looking to stand back up but Celso counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Laynier.

Celso is trying to work for a kimura but Laynier is defending well.
Celso sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Laynier wants to sweep but Celso has passed to side control!
Laynier is not content to let Celso control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Celso gets to mount! Laynier was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Laynier is wriggling around trying to escape.
Anthony Celso has got the better of the ground game so far.
Laynier is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Celso looking to control and managing it successfully.
Laynier is trying desperately to improve position.
Celso controlling from mount.
Celso working the ground and pound effectively.

Celso looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Celso working for a submission but Laynier is keeping him at bay.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Celso avoids the attempt from Laynier to control.
Celso controlling from the full mount.
Laynier tries to hold on but Celso postures up.
Laynier is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Celso is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Celso comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Celso 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Celso!
A victorious Anthony Celso thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.