PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ahmad Lazzez (ranked 2961 p4p, 323 weight class) and Leonardo Moraes (ranked 5131 p4p, 0 weight class). Ahmad Lazzez is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Lazzez
vs
Moraes

179 cm
25
157 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ahmad Lazzez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leonardo Moraes!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, John Kavanagh and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moraes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Moraes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Moraes tries to counter with a clinch but Lazzez shakes him off and moves away.

Lazzez tries to keep at a distance but Moraes has taken the fight into the clinch.
Moraes using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Lazzez tries to break the clinch but Moraes is controlling the position.

Moraes breaks from the clinch.
Moraes shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lazzez but Lazzez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Moraes takes a shot right to the bread basket.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moraes shoots in for a double leg but Lazzez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Moraes closes the distance and clinches.

Moraes gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lazzez looks like he's trying to stand up.
Lazzez is not content to let Moraes control the position.
Lazzez trying to control here.
Lazzez wants to improve his position but Moraes is controlling well.
Moraes tries to stand and escape but Lazzez actually recovers to full guard.
Moraes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two 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.
Moraes looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Lazzez trying to keep a closed guard but Moraes is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Lazzez tries to clinch up.
Lazzez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Moraes sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lazzez somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lazzez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Moraes.
Lazzez throws a big counter combination but Moraes scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Ahmad Lazzez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leonardo Moraes.
Moraes keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lazzez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Moraes.

Moraes looking to score a takedown here. Lazzez is defending well but Moraes drives through and ends up in Lazzez's guard.

Lazzez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Moraes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Moraes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lazzez is trying to keep Moraes in close.

Lazzez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lazzez is breathing heavily.
Lazzez being controlled here, momentarily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Lazzez is looking for a triangle but Moraes pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo Moraes dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The fight stays on the outside here - Lazzez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lazzez falls off balance throwing a combination

and Moraes decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Lazzez's guard.
Moraes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lazzez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lazzez wants to sweep but no luck.
Moraes's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moraes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Moraes throwing strikes from guard but Lazzez blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moraes throws a big elbow that misses.
Moraes engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Moraes trying to control the position from guard on top but Lazzez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Moraes misses with a takedown attempt - Lazzez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Moraes decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
It looks like Moraes is going to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Moraes trying to work for an americana but Lazzez has managed to regain full guard.

Lazzez is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Moraes wants a takedown but no success here.

Moraes gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Moraes not doing much here.

Moraes is trying to work for a kimura but Lazzez is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Moraes stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Moraes.
Ahmad Lazzez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leonardo Moraes.
Moraes on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Lazzez. Lazzez obviously looking to wear him down.
Lazzez goes for a double leg but Moraes avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Moraes continues to drive forward.
Lazzez throws a wild body kick that Moraes sees coming a mile off.
Ahmad Lazzez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Moraes shoots in looking for a takedown but Lazzez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Moraes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Lazzez tries to counter with a takedown but Moraes is quick to defend against it.

Moraes has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lazzez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Moraes smiles and moves away.

Moraes forces Lazzez back against the cage and clinches.

Moraes breaks from the clinch.
Moraes dives in and grabs Lazzez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lazzez pushes down on Moraes's head and hops out.
Lazzez tries for a takedown but Moraes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Moraes avoids a kick to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Moraes misses with a takedown attempt
and Lazzez counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Moraes tries to bum rush Lazzez with a series of wild strikes but Lazzez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lazzez moves in looking to clinch but Moraes pushes him off.
Moraes tries to counter with a clinch but Lazzez shakes him off and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Leonardo Moraes will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Moraes darts in and clinches Lazzez up against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Moraes is trying to trip Lazzez. He has hold of a leg but Lazzez is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Moraes persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Moraes stops Lazzez from standing up.
Moraes must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Moraes landing some decent shots from guard.
Leonardo Moraes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lazzez being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lazzez looking for a guillotine here but Moraes defends easily.
Moraes content to stall in guard here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Lazzez is trying to control the position but Moraes postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Moraes is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Lazzez gets tackled into the cage by Moraes. Moraes maintains the clinch.
Lazzez takes a knee right on the jaw!

Moraes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Moraes fails to land the takedown.
Moraes slips under a jab from Lazzez.

Moraes closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Lazzez to the mat! Lazzez manages to get full guard.
Moraes wants to stand but Lazzez is controlling his posture from full guard.
Moraes is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moraes wants to get up but he can't break Lazzez's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Lazzez 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.
Moraes stays in close to Lazzez's body and controls the position.
Moraes tries to stand but Lazzez is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lazzez is trying to control the position but Moraes postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Moraes instigates a clinch.

Moraes decides to pull guard.
Moraes really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lazzez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Moraes wants to sweep but no luck.
Lazzez is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Moraes working a defensive guard but Lazzez manages to pass into side control anyway.
Moraes tries to bench press Lazzez off him but Lazzez keeps the position.
Ahmad Lazzez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leonardo Moraes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Moraes can do anything to dispel that myth.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lazzez passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Moraes!

And that's the end of the fight!
Leonardo Moraes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Moraes 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonardo Moraes!