PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Axel Boozer (ranked 4220 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wayde West (ranked 3005 p4p, 0 weight class). Boozer comes to the cage accompanied by Kraftwerk - The Model. West is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Sober. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Boozer
vs
West

180 cm
29
161 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

187 cm
38
168 lbs
32 - 30 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Axel Boozer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 30 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Wayde West!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, John Roberts and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

West shoots in and gets a takedown into Boozer's guard.
West in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
West tries to free his leg and advance position but Boozer is retaining full guard.
West wants to control from the top but Boozer keeps moving.
West sitting in guard, not really doing much.
West must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
West preventing the sweep.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boozer swings for the body but West moves out of range.
Boozer will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Boozer throws a body shot but no joy.
Boozer throws a sloppy body shot
and West counters with a straight right hand.

Boozer tries to sprawl but West drives through with a takedown into half guard.
West is taking a breather. Boozer says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
West throws a strike but Boozer avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
West stopping the sweep attempt from Boozer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
West is looking to advance position but Boozer has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Boozer avoids the attempt from West to control.

Boozer looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
West is trying desperately to improve position.

Boozer is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But West has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from West!
This has been an exciting period of action!
West trying to control but Boozer is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
West postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
West stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Boozer swivels though and keeps the full guard.
West slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
West trying to control the action but Boozer is working from the bottom.
The strikes coming from West are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Boozer tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but West wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Boozer is not content to let West control the position.
Boozer regains half guard there - taking advantage of West's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
West works his way into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wayde West dominated that 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.

Boozer takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Good work by West as he checks the leg kick.

West bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Boozer manages to get back to half guard.
West with the ground and pound but Boozer uses the opportunity to regain guard.
West is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

West drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Boozer dives on top into guard.

Boozer wants to pass the guard but West is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
West working a defensive guard here.
Boozer trying to control the position from guard on top but West is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
West will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
West is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

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

West controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

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.
West advances to half guard.
West sitting and controlling from the half guard.
West slips a nice elbow through Boozer's hands, connecting with Boozer's forehead.
West not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
West winds up and cracks Boozer with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
West stalling.
Wayde West has got the better of the ground game so far.
West tries to stand and escape but Boozer actually recovers to full guard.
West trying to control but Boozer is working from the bottom.
Boozer wants to improve his position but instead West has moved into half guard.

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.
West prevents Boozer from improving his position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with West in particular looking to stall.

Boozer looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
West landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wayde West showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Boozer's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

West lands a big head kick that sends Boozer tumbling to the mat! West takes a step backwards and waves Boozer back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Boozer is still looking wobbly from the end of the last round!
West pushes Boozer away with a front kick.
Oh Boozer is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nice defenses there by West.

West rushes Boozer and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Boozer has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. West is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

West turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and West manages to end up in side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

West decides to stand back up. West steps back and let's Boozer get back to his feet.

West gets in close and instigates a clinch.
West scores with a hook to the body.
West stalls.
Boozer wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

West works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Boozer seems to have got his legs back now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Boozer tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
West passes Boozer's left leg - he's now in half guard.
West keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
West wants to stand up but Boozer is controlling the position.
West is looking to take a break and control but Boozer is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
West controlling the pace.
West is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Boozer gets full guard.
West trying to stand up but can't free himself from Boozer's guard.
West sitting in guard here, content to control.
West slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Boozer is trying to get back to half guard.

West decides to stand back up. West steps back and let's Boozer get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
West misses with a few strikes there.
West fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Boozer has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

West shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Boozer's guard.
Boozer working a defensive guard but West passes into half guard.
Axel Boozer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wayde West is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
West throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
West seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

West is looking for a kimura but Boozer is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for West to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
West has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
West dominating with strikes here.
West looking to control and managing it successfully.
Let's hope that West has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Boozer is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wayde West comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well West 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 26:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 26:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wayde West!
Wayde West spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.
In defeat, Axel Boozer stepped up to the mic, saying 'NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIINNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!'.