PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lester Neich (ranked 758 p4p, 596 weight class) and Keizo Kasai (ranked 102 p4p, 80 weight class). Neich comes to the cage accompanied by YKWIM? - Yot club. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Neich
vs
Kasai

168 cm
25
150
16 - 9 - 0

175 cm
32
158
17 - 10 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lester Neich!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Keizo Kasai!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kasai gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kasai pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Kasai scores with a shoulder strike.
Neich trying to stall but Kasai improves his position.
Kasai stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Neich misses with a body punch.
Neich blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kasai tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Neich's elbow.
Neich tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kasai's elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Neich.
Neich throws a punch but it's blocked by Kasai.
Neich misses with a punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Kasai scores with a shot to the side of Neich's head.
Kasai lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Neich.
Neich is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Kasai tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neich makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Neich tries to throw a body punch but Kasai avoids it by throwing Neich back against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kasai.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kasai throws an elbow but misses.
Kasai lands an uppercut.
Neich taking a breather.
Kasai softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Neich blocks an uppercut.
Neich definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Kasai lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kasai told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Neich is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kasai misses with some punches.
Kasai misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kasai tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Neich fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Neich misses with a body punch.
Neich scores with a nice hook to the head.
Neich's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kasai scores with a shoulder strike.
Kasai stalling in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kasai.
Kasai misses with a hook from the clinch.
Neich throws a punch but it's blocked by Kasai.
Neich misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kasai working aggressively here.
Neich misses with some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Neich.
Kasai throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kasai lands with a left to the head.
Nice body punch from Kasai - that landed with a thud.
Neich's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A head punch on the inside from Kasai fails to land.
Neich misses with a punch on the inside.
Kasai throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kasai tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Neich's elbow.
Kasai lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kasai lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kasai scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kasai misses with the head strike.
Kasai tries to throw a body punch but Neich avoids it by throwing Kasai back against the cage.
Neich lands a body punch.
Neich trying to control the position but instead, Kasai has worked for underhooks and has pushed Neich into the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kasai.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neich's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Neich avoiding damage.
Kasai misses with a punch to the body.
Neich tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kasai lands on the inside with an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kasai.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kasai.
Kasai swings wildly with an uppercut but Neich uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kasai misses with a hook from the clinch.
Neich struggles to land a body shot inside as Kasai controls his hands.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Keizo Kasai dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Neich moves out of range of the strikes.
Kasai just misses with a punch to the body.
Neich tries to clinch up but Kasai circles away and keeps his distance.
Kasai swings widly with a right hand
letting Neich counter with a right hand.
Neich uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kasai.
Kasai loads up on a big right hand but Neich slips the punch.
Kasai misses with an uppercut. Neich saw that one coming.
Neich throwing a counter right hand but Kasai manages to avoid it.
A jab from Neich misses.
Neich takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

It looks like Lester Neich has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kasai misses with a body shot

and Neich counters by moving into the clinch.
Kasai lands with a short shot to the head.
Kasai misses with a punch to the body.
Kasai lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Keizo Kasai seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kasai blocking some punches.
Kasai lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Neich backwards.
Kasai misses with a punch on the inside.
Kasai fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Neich.
Kasai has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Neich stalling the fight.
Kasai fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kasai throws a punch but it's blocked by Neich.
Kasai misses with a punch on the inside.
Kasai lands with a light punch inside.
Kasai scores with a hook to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Neich.
Kasai lands a left hand that snaps the head of Neich backwards.
Neich misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kasai lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kasai just leaning against Neich, taking a breather.
Neich tries to work over Kasai's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Neich lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kasai throws a punch but it's blocked by Neich.
Neich scores with a shot to the side of Kasai's head.
Neich swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Kasai.
Kasai throws a punch but it's blocked by Neich.
Neich struggles to land a body shot inside as Kasai controls his hands.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kasai throws an elbow but misses.
Kasai is stalling here.
Neich digs a right hand underneath Kasai's ribcage. Kasai let out a lung full of air as it connected.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kasai.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kasai has Neich pressed against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Neich.
Neich can't find room to land a body shot as Kasai controls the action.
Neich misses with the head strike.
Kasai tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kasai throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Neichs head.
Kasai lands a right hand.
Kasai throws a head punch that misses.
Neich misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kasai stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Kasai scores with a nice hook to the head.
Neich is trying to maintain a safe position but Kasai gets an underhook and turns Neich into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kasai.
Kasai tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Neich blocking some punches.
Kasai misses with some punches.
Kasai blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Neich is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Neich blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kasai as Neich tries to tie him up.
Neich swings wildly with an uppercut but Kasai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kasai lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short right from Kasai on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Keizo Kasai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lester Neich'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.

Kasai throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A quick step to the side and Neich tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Neich slips a straight right by Kasai.
An attempted straight right counter from Neich misses the target.
Neich lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Neich misses with a hook. Kasai ducked under it nicely.
Kasai wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Kasai rushes Neich and presses him up against the cage.
Neich blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Neich displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kasai up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Neich.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neich misses with the head strike.
Neich is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Neich.
Kasai lands with a left to the head.
Kasai works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Neich blocking some punches.
Kasai misses with a hook from the clinch.
Neich misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Neich.
Neich fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kasai has a couple of punches blocked by Neich.
Kasai blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kasai creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kasai lands a right hand.
Neich is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kasai is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kasai working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kasai swings wildly with an uppercut but Neich uses good head movement to avoid it.
Neich stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kasai.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Neich.
Neich trying to control the position but instead, Kasai has worked for underhooks and has pushed Neich into the cage.
Neich trying to control the position but instead, Kasai has worked for underhooks and has pushed Neich into the cage.
Neich blocks a body shot from Kasai.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Kasai.
Neich looking to stall.
Neich tries to throw a body punch but Kasai avoids it by throwing Neich back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kasai.
Neich lands a body shot.
Kasai misses with a punch to the body.
Neich tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kasai's elbow.
Neich looking to slow down the pace here.
A shot in the inside from Neich.
Kasai blocks an uppercut.
Neich blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kasai misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kasai lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Neich backwards.
Kasai has a couple of punches blocked by Neich.
Kasai swings wildly with an uppercut but Neich uses good head movement to avoid it.
Neich just leaning against Kasai, taking a breather.
Kasai misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kasai swings wildly with an uppercut but Neich uses good head movement to avoid it.
Neich misses with a punch on the inside.
Neich throws a punch but it's blocked by Kasai.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Neich tries to work over Kasai's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Neich blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kasai swings wildly with an uppercut but Neich uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kasai working aggressively here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Keizo Kasai really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lester Neich's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kasai misses with an uppercut.
Kasai uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Neich.
Kasai looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A counter left hand to the body from Neich misses its target.
Neich misses the shot to the body.
Kasai tries to counter with a clinch but Neich shakes him off and moves away.
Kasai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Neich.
Kasai misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Neich counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd cheers as Neich lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kasai doesn't seem phased though.
Kasai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Neich.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kasai throws a right and a left that both miss.
Neich is looking to clinch but Kasai is avoiding it.
Kasai steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Neich.
Kasai misses the shot to the body.
A big left from Neich misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kasai misses with a straight left.
Donk. Neich catches Kasai right on the button with a cross.
Kasai swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kasai takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kasai misses with an uppercut.
Keizo Kasai seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Neich tries to clinch but Kasai is having none of it.
Kasai is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Neich with a body shot.

Kasai has Neich up against the cage in a clinch.
Neich fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Neich is trying to maintain a safe position but Kasai gets an underhook and turns Neich into the cage.
Neich misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The referee is keeping an eye on Kasai - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A short uppercut from Kasai.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neich fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kasai lands with a light punch inside.
Kasai swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A hook to the body from Kasai.
Kasai lands with a left to the head.
Neich throws a head punch that misses.
Neich blocks an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Neich tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kasai's elbow.
Neich taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Kasai tries to throw a body punch but Neich avoids it by throwing Kasai back against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kasai working aggressively here.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kasai works on Neich's body with a couple of short punches.
Stalling in the clinch from Neich.
Kasai blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kasai manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Kasai makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A short right from Kasai.
Kasai lands with a right to the head.
Kasai taking a breather.
Neich is trying to stall.
Stalling in the clinch from Neich.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Kasai.
A hook to the body from Kasai.
A head punch on the inside from Kasai fails to land.
Kasai scores with a shot to the side of Neich's head.
Kasai lands a left hand that snaps the head of Neich backwards.
Neich misses with a hook from the clinch.
Neich working aggressively here.
Neich prevents a body shot from Kasai.
Kasai throws a punch but it's blocked by Neich.
Neich prevents a body shot from Kasai.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Neich throws a head punch that misses.
Kasai stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Neich lands on the inside with an uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Keizo Kasai dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Lester Neich's cut.
That's time! Neich's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kasai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Neich moves away.
An attempted straight right counter from Neich misses the target.
Kasai changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Kasai looks to land a right hand but Neich moved out of range.
Keizo Kasai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kasai throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kasai is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Neich.
Neich throwing a counter right hand but Kasai manages to avoid it.
Neich dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Kasai rushes Neich and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kasai lands with a short head shot on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kasai is leaning against Neich and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A short right from Neich on the inside.
Kasai throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Neich blocks a body shot from Kasai.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neich blocks an uppercut.
Neich wants to stall.
Kasai looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kasai as Neich tries to tie him up.
Kasai misses with a short punch on the inside.
Neich lands a body punch.
Kasai working aggressively here.
Kasai fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kasai misses with a short punch on the inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kasai throws a punch but it's blocked by Neich.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kasai throws a punch but it's blocked by Neich.
Kasai scores with a shoulder strike.
Neich throws a punch but it's blocked by Kasai.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kasai.
Neich tries to stall but Kasai uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Neich is pushing Kasai up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Neich doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kasai.
Kasai misses with a short punch on the inside.
Neich misses with a punch to the body.
Neich lands with a light punch inside.
Neich tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kasai scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kasai working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kasai misses with the head strike.
Neich lands a shoulder strike.
Neich pushes Kasai back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Neich dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Kasai swings wildly with an uppercut but Neich uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kasai misses with some punches.
Neich working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kasai lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kasai blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neich fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kasai lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kasai pushes Neich back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Neich is rocked!
Neich throws a punch but it's blocked by Kasai.
Oh Neich is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kasai misses with a short punch on the inside.
Neich seems to have got his legs back now.
Kasai gets through Neich's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Neich misses with a punch to the body.
Kasai scores with a nice hook to the head.
Neich working aggressively here.
Kasai tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Neich's elbow.
Neich lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kasai throws a punch but it's blocked by Neich.
Lester Neich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Keizo Kasai is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kasai lands with a short shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keizo Kasai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kasai 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 45:50
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 45:50
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keizo Kasai!
Keizo Kasai is the new lightweight champion!
After winning the bout, Keizo Kasai thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.