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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Smith (ranked 334 p4p, 54 weight class) and Aito Lager (ranked 437 p4p, 64 weight class). Lager has chosen Army Of The Pharaohs - Seven as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?
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| 183 cm
29
194 lbs
20 - 10 - 3 |
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178 cm
32
199 lbs
10 - 7 - 0 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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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
20 - 10 - 3, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aito Lager!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yuuki Gou.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lager tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smith misses with a body kick.
Nice body punch from Lager.
No joy there for Lager, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lager takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Lager throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Smith misses with a wild body shot.
Lager is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Smith thuds his right hand into Lager's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Smith throws a nice head kick!
Lager pushes Smith away with a front kick.
Lager avoids the head kick by Smith.
Lager tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Smith defends well and Lager ends up having to push Smith into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Lager takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Smith looks to land a right hand but Lager moved out of range.
Lager feints the counter takedown.
Lager looks for a takedown but Smith sprawls well.
Lager shoots in and gets a takedown into Smith's guard.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Lager from controlling successfully.
We've been hearing good reports from Smith's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Lager scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Lager in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith pulls Lager in close to his closed guard and prevents Lager from doing any damage or advancing position.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Lager from controlling successfully.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Smith holds on and takes a little breather.
Lager is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.
Lager connects with a couple of short punches.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Lager from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith working a defensive guard here.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.
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.
Lager working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lager distracts Smith with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Lager tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Smith being controlled here, momentarily.
Lager is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Lager is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Lager trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lager keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Smith.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lager looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.
Smith displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Lager throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
Lager misses with a kick to the body.
Lager throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Lager takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Lager fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Joe Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aito Lager.
Lager cracks a nice hook into Smith's ribs.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Smith.
A punch combination from Lager misses.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lager on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Smith. Smith obviously looking to wear him down.
A combination from Lager does no damage.
Lager has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Smith connects with a crisp jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jab, jab by Smith - just one landing.
Smith cracks a nice hook into Lager's ribs.
Smith misses with a wild combination.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lager with the counter takedown but Smith avoids it easily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a body kick.
Lager rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Smith throws a head kick that Lager semi-blocks.
Joe Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith throws a quick inside leg kick.
Lager throws a series of strikes that have Smith backpedaling.
The fighters circle momentarily. Smith darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
The fighters circling - Smith throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Lager dives in and grabs Smith's left leg, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes down on Lager's head and hops out.
Smith throws a body shot but no joy.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Smith moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromLager.
Lager drives through with a takedown into guard.
Lager sitting in guard here, content to control.
Lager's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Lager trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Joe Smith will probably get the nod.
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.
Lager fails with a takedown attempt.
Lager pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smith takes a swing at Lager's ribcage but misses.
Joe Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lager shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smith as he avoids it easily.
Lager slips a straight right by Smith.
Smith on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Lager. Lager obviously looking to wear him down.
Smith lands with a thumping leg kick.
Aito Lager is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith loads up on a big right hand but Lager slips the punch.
Nice defenses there by Lager.
Smith throws a leg kick that is checked
and Lager counters with a stiff right hand.
Lager takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Lager avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lager was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Smith punishes Lager's body with a nice straight punch.
Lager feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith is trying to control the position but Lager postures up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Lager sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Smith's guard.
Lager not doing much here.
Smith is controlling Lager's trapped leg to prevent Lager from advancing to side control.
Smith is looking to control Lager's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Smith avoid being mounted?
Smith wants to improve his position but Lager is controlling well.
Smith has hold of Lager's hands but Lager slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Lager is looking to stall here but Smith recovers full guard.
Lager in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control the position here.
Lager postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Lager from controlling successfully.
Lager with a nice head shot there.
Lager stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lager is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Smith avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lager trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lager lands a couple of digs.
Lager is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.
Smith is pulling down on Lager's head to control his posture.
Smith has momentary wrist control but Lager slips an elbow through the middle.
Lager is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lager stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lager.
Lager has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Smith looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Lager postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lager is in close to Smith's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Lager landing some decent shots from guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lager looking to pass the guard.
Lager trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lager preventing the sweep.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lager trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lager wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
Smith working a defensive guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lager with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Aito Lager 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. And we move into the final round!
Lager throws a solid leg kick but Smith takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Lager.
Smith jabs at Lager's body.
Lager is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Lager throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
Smith moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Lager swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
Smith scores with a decent looking hook.
Smith cracks Lager with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Lager takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lager was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Lager slips under a jab.
Smith misses with a looping left.
Smith dodges the punch combination from Lager.
Lager steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Smith. That one must have hurt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lager throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
Smith getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Lager steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Smith.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Smith gets caught flat footed, as Lager shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Smith has momentary wrist control but Lager slips an elbow through the middle.
Lager wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Lager lands a couple of digs.
Smith working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lager doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lager manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Aito Lager has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith controls Lager momentarily but Lager frees himself.
Lager throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
Smith controls Lager momentarily but Lager frees himself.
Lager is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lager trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lager advances position into side control!
Lager looking to control but instead Smith has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Lager scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Smith has hold of Lager's hands but Lager slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Lager wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Lager lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Smith is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lager pulls his head out easily.
Smith is trying to maintain the position but Lager is very close to passing his half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith keeping hold of Lager's head, controlling as best he can.
Lager is looking for a kimura but Smith is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Lager to get the leverage.
Smith wants to control but Lager is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Smith is not content to let Lager control the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Smith manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Lager is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Lager trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
That's four 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.
Smith trying to control the position here.
Smith can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lager controls the pace.
Lager postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Lager dives in for a single leg takedown but Smith sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Smith digs a good body shot into Lager's ribs.
Smith looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Lager darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Smith is controlling Lager's trapped leg to prevent Lager from advancing to side control.
Smith trying to hold on to Lager's head to control him but Lager postures up.
And that's the end of the fight!
Aito Lager comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lager has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aito Lager!
An out of breath Aito Lager thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
46% |
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