PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yoji Anjo Anjo (ranked 2055 p4p, 2102 weight class) and Willie Layer (ranked 270 p4p, 275 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Anjo
vs
Layer

188 cm
24
178
10 - 10 - 0

189 cm
28
185
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Altitude Clothing

Redemption ink
Altitude Clothing

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 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yoji Anjo Anjo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Willie Layer!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Paul Aken and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anjo misses with a takedown attempt - Layer sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Layer throws a body shot but no joy.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Anjo.
Layer wants to counter the offense by Anjo and move into the clinch position.
Anjo throws a lazy head kick
and Layer counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Yoji Anjo Anjo has been cut.
Layer swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Anjo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Layer looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Anjo taking a breather here.

Anjo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Layer is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Layer can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anjo trying to control the action but Layer is working from the bottom.

Anjo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Layer knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Anjo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Layer keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Anjo misses with the ground and pound.
Anjo controlling the position from side mount.
Anjo is looking to take a break and control but Layer is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Anjo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Layer really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Anjo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Layer is not content to let Anjo control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anjo works to advance to full mount. Layer defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Anjo tries to control but Layer wriggling away.
BOOM! Anjo connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Anjo wants to control the pace but Layer is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anjo controlling from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Anjo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Layer avoids a series of strikes thrown by Anjo.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yoji Anjo Anjo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Yoji Anjo Anjo's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Anjo shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Layer is trying to defend but Anjo finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Anjo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Anjo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice strikes from Anjo there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anjo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Anjo looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Anjo's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Layer blocking the ground and pound attempt from Anjo.
Anjo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Anjo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Layer sees it coming and defends easily.
Anjo is trying to control the action in half guard but Layer is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

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.

Anjo gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Anjo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Anjo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Layer counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Anjo closes the distance looking to clinch
and Layer counters with a left to the body.
Willie Layer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Anjo has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoji Anjo Anjo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anjo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Layer counter with a right hand.
Anjo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Layer counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Anjo thinking.
Yoji Anjo Anjo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Anjo is looking to clinch but Layer is avoiding it.
Layer lands with a hook. Anjo tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Anjo tries for a takedown but Layer circles away easily
and Layer counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Anjo closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Anjo closes the distance and clinches up with Layer, looking for a takedown. Anjo pushes Layer against the cage but Layer circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Layer. That snapped Anjo's head back.
Layer scores with a jab to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Layer bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Anjo's head backwards.

Anjo is rocked!
A swing and a miss from Layer.
Layer has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Anjo doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Layer counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Layer.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Anjo.
Anjo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Layer gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Layer lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Anjo has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Layer after a bit of a struggle.
Layer stops a takedown attempt from Anjo.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Willie Layer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Yoji Anjo Anjo's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Anjo misses with a takedown attempt

and Layer counters with a right hand that sends Anjo tumbling to the canvas! Can Layer finish him? He dives into Anjo's guard looking to do just that!
Oh Anjo is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Layer postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Layer throws a strike but Anjo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Anjo seems to have got his legs back now.
Anjo controls from within his opponent's guard.

Anjo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Layer has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Anjo wants to control from the top but Layer keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Anjo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Anjo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anjo preventing the sweep.
Anjo sitting in guard here, content to control.
Anjo trying to control but Layer is working from the bottom.
Anjo throwing strikes from guard but Layer blocks nicely.
Layer can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Anjo controls the pace.
Layer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Anjo is one step ahead there.

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.
Anjo tries to free his leg and advance position but Layer is retaining full guard.
Layer has momentary wrist control but Anjo slips an elbow through the middle.
Layer is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Anjo looking to pass the guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Anjo tries for a takedown but Layer sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Anjo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Layer swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoji Anjo Anjo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Layer throws a right and a left that Anjo avoids nicely.
Horrible takedown attempt by Anjo or perhaps it was just good defense by Layer, which made it look bad.
Anjo misses with a takedown attempt - Layer sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Anjo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Layer circles away.
Layer looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Layer stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Layer wants it to stay on the feet.
Layer swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Anjo has his takedown stuffed
and Layer counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Anjo is looking to clinch.
Layer wants to counter the offense by Anjo and move into the clinch position.
Anjo is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Anjo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Layer counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anjo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Layer as he jumps to the side.
Willie Layer seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Layer scores with a body shot.
Anjo throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Layer lands a stunning uppercut that sends Anjo to the mat!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Anjo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Layer sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Anjo defending well though.
Anjo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Layer.
Layer thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Anjo is looking for a sweep. Layer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Layer not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Willie Layer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Layer 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Willie Layer!
Willie Layer gave a mention to Redemption ink in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).
Yoji Anjo Anjo spoke after the fight, saying 'I feel good! '.