PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lionel Casey (ranked 8637 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miguel Garces (ranked 25007 p4p, 0 weight class). Miguel Garces is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Casey
vs
Garces

177 cm
22
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lionel Casey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Miguel Garces!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Robert Douchet and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garces throws a left and a right that both miss

and Casey counters with a shoot takedown. Garces fights it but they end up in guard.

Garces is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Casey stops a takedown attempt from Garces.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Garces is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Casey can't fight it off and eventually Garces manages to take the fight to the floor. Casey looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Casey trying to control the position.
Casey looking to hit a scissor sweep but Garces is one step ahead there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Garces wants to control from the top but Casey keeps moving.
Casey looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garces lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Casey keeping moving, preventing Garces from controlling successfully.
Garces with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Garces trying to control but Casey is working from the bottom.
Garces postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Casey tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Casey can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Garces controls the pace.
Garces chips away with some ground and pound.
Garces looking to pass the guard.
Garces throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Casey looking to control.
Garces postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Garces lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Casey has momentary wrist control but Garces slips an elbow through the middle.
Casey controlling Garces's posture.
Garces wants to control from the top but Casey keeps moving.
Casey is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Garces is controlling him.
Garces wants to pass the guard but Casey is keeping the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Casey holds on and takes a little breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garces makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Casey is trying to keep Garces in close.
Garces with a flurry of punches that miss.

Garces gets to his feet. Casey looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Garces throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Casey on the side of the head.

Garces forces Casey back against the cage and clinches.
Casey changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Garces fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Casey is breathing heavily.
Garces lands a nice looking kick to the body. Casey takes a step back to recover.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Casey showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Garces.

Garces rushes Casey and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Casey drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Garces ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Garces no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Casey got a little sloppy there for a moment and Garces has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Casey has managed to get both his arms back between Garces's legs - danger averted.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Garces is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Garces dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Casey misses with a head kick.

Garces gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Casey looking for a takedown.
Garces is pressed up against the cage. Casey has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Garces down to the mat. Garces avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Garces pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Casey feinted with a counter takedown.

Garces instigates a clinch.

Casey gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Garces kicks off Casey and gets to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Garces shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Casey manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Garces's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Garces gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Garces.
Casey seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Miguel Garces is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Casey is looking to clinch.
Garces connects with a body shot that sends Casey's belly button to the back.
Casey fails with an attempt to clinch.

Garces closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Casey to the mat! Casey manages to get full guard.
Garces throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Garces lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Garces throws an elbow that misses. Casey uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Garces's guard. Nice move by Casey!

Casey missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Garces looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Garces working for a triangle but Casey defends it easily.
Garces not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Garces is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Casey is aware though and is defending well.

Garces looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Casey postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Garces working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Casey doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Casey manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Casey keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Garces's head.
Casey stands up over Garces, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Casey works over Garces with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Casey lands a couple of digs.
Casey landing some decent shots from guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Casey's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Casey lands a couple of digs.
Casey with a nice head shot there.
Garces has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Casey is in close to Garces's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Garces throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Garces has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Casey lands a couple of digs.

Garces had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Casey defends it easily.
Garces looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Casey has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Casey gets to his feet - Garces follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Casey misses with a head kick.
Casey goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Garces closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Casey to the mat! Casey manages to get full guard.

Garces postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Casey is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Garces, into his guard.

Garces looking for a guillotine here but Casey defends easily.
Casey landing some decent shots from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Garces showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Casey's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Garces instigates a clinch.
Garces tries for a takedown. No joy.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Casey drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Garces is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Casey changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Garces fights it off and pushes away nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Casey tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Garces counters with a single leg into guard. Casey didn't expect that.

Casey has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Garces has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Casey looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lionel Casey. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Casey is looking for a takedown.

Casey is fighting off a takedown attempt but Garces is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Casey to the mat. Casey regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Garces has gone for a leg lock! Casey slips out almost immediately though and dives into Garces's guard.

Casey throws a big right hand that misses.

Garces has his foot on Casey's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Casey works his way back into a safe position though.
Garces avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Garces throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Casey looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Garces avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Garces controls Casey momentarily but Casey frees himself.

Garces is looking for a triangle but Casey pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Casey lands a couple of elbows.

Garces is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Casey defends well.
Casey is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Casey drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Casey jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Garces utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Garces keeping moving, preventing Casey from controlling successfully.

Garces kicks Casey off and gets to his feet.
Garces is trying hard to land a takedown here. Casey sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Casey moves into range and clinches up with Garces.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Casey wants a takedown but no success here.

Casey gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Casey throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Garces avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Casey.

Garces looking for submissions off his back.

Casey is looking for a kimura here.

Garces looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Garces taking some punishment here, with Casey in his half guard.
Ground and pound from Casey.
Casey thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Garces looking for submissions off his back.

Casey is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Garces sees it coming and defends easily.
Garces moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Garces escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Casey gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Garces working a defensive guard here.

Garces is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Casey stands up over Garces, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Lionel Casey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Miguel Garces is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Garces is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Lionel Casey.
Well Garces 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 28:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Miguel Garces!
A relieved looking Miguel Garces thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.