PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between AJ Llewellyn (ranked 2009 p4p, 2333 weight class) and Horghain Yan Spentliche (ranked 265 p4p, 306 weight class). Llewellyn's entrance music is Doomsday. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Llewellyn
vs
Yan Spentliche

189 cm
30
196
11 - 6 - 0

185 cm
23
190
6 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, AJ Llewellyn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Horghain Yan Spentliche!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, John Roberts and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Llewellyn throws a predictable looking body shot
and Yan Spentliche counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Yan Spentliche connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Llewellyn's hands.
Yan Spentliche connects with a leg kick.
Llewellyn works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Yan Spentliche uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Llewellyn.
Llewellyn tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Llewellyn takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Yan Spentliche misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yan Spentliche lands a lovely overhand right.

Llewellyn scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Llewellyn scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Yan Spentliche to see if he's OK.
Llewellyn is chipping away with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yan Spentliche is trying to get back to half guard.
Llewellyn cracks Yan Spentliche with a big elbow.
Llewellyn staying calm.
Yan Spentliche is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Yan Spentliche takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Llewellyn grinds an elbow into Yan Spentliche's temple.
Llewellyn cracks Yan Spentliche with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Llewellyn wants to control but Yan Spentliche is keeping him busy.
Llewellyn has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yan Spentliche tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Llewellyn working the head and body with strikes.
Yan Spentliche is trying to work for a sweep but Llewellyn has mounted him!
Llewellyn working the ground and pound effectively.
Llewellyn lands a big shot there that rocks Yan Spentliche but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Llewellyn lands with some strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yan Spentliche gets back to half guard.
Llewellyn seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yan Spentliche is looking to improve his position.
Llewellyn trying to mount his opponent but Yan Spentliche defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Llewellyn works his way into full mount!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Yan Spentliche can do anything to dispel that myth.

Llewellyn has hold of Yan Spentliche's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Yan Spentliche manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Yan Spentliche tries to reverse the position but Llewellyn maintains control.
The referee warns Yan Spentliche that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Yan Spentliche tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Llewellyn landing shots from mount.
Llewellyn lands a big elbow.
Yan Spentliche tries to lock up and control but Llewellyn gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Llewellyn is landing with some decent strikes but Yan Spentliche is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Yan Spentliche manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Llewellyn uses his free foot to push down on Yan Spentliche's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Yan Spentliche.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Llewellyn with the ground and pound from mount.
Yan Spentliche is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Llewellyn with shots to the head and body - Yan Spentliche looks very uncomfortable down there.
Llewellyn with shots to the head and body - Yan Spentliche looks very uncomfortable down there.
Yan Spentliche really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Llewellyn. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Llewellyn tries to control but Yan Spentliche wriggling away.
Llewellyn is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Yan Spentliche can't escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Llewellyn lands with some strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

AJ Llewellyn dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A looping hook to the body misses from Llewellyn. Yan Spentliche does a little dance to reset his feet.
Llewellyn tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Yan Spentliche manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Llewellyn checks a leg kick.
Yan Spentliche misses with an uppercut.
Llewellyn feinted with a counter takedown.
Horghain Yan Spentliche seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Llewellyn connects with a crisp jab.
Llewellyn is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yan Spentliche can do to turn this around?
Llewellyn defending well as Yan Spentliche loads up on a big left hand.
Nice uppercut lands for Yan Spentliche. That snapped Llewellyn's head back.

It looks like AJ Llewellyn has been cut.
Llewellyn fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yan Spentliche misses with an uppercut. Llewellyn saw that one coming.
Llewellyn attempts a counter takedown but Yan Spentliche avoids it well and moves away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Llewellyn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Llewellyn wants to control but Yan Spentliche is keeping him busy.
Yan Spentliche is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Llewellyn is putting a hurting on Yan Spentliche here, landing some big shots from side control.
Llewellyn trying to control the action but Yan Spentliche is working from the bottom.

Llewellyn tries for a kimura but Yan Spentliche is defending well.
Yan Spentliche tries to improve position but can't.
Yan Spentliche takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Llewellyn scoring with punches from side control.
Llewellyn trying to control the action but Yan Spentliche is working from the bottom.
Llewellyn is putting a hurting on Yan Spentliche here, landing some big shots from side control.
Llewellyn wants to control but Yan Spentliche is keeping him busy.

Llewellyn is trying to get an arm triangle but Yan Spentliche is defending well.
Llewellyn trying to control the action but Yan Spentliche is working from the bottom.
AJ Llewellyn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Yan Spentliche manages to work his way to half guard, despite Llewellyn's best efforts.
Yan Spentliche is refusing to be controlled, as Llewellyn sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Llewellyn wants to free his trapped foot but Yan Spentliche is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Yan Spentliche on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Yan Spentliche wants to improve his position but Llewellyn is controlling well.
Yan Spentliche is looking to get back to full guard here but Llewellyn has managed to pass to side control instead.

Llewellyn looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Yan Spentliche is looking to regain half guard here but Llewellyn keeps moving and retains side control.
Llewellyn wants to control but Yan Spentliche is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yan Spentliche is looking for a sweep.
Yan Spentliche taking a bit of punishment here - Llewellyn scoring with strikes.

Llewellyn thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Yan Spentliche taking a bit of punishment here - Llewellyn scoring with strikes.
You can see the frustration on Yan Spentliche's face as Llewellyn controls the position.
Llewellyn'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.
Yan Spentliche tries to bench press Llewellyn off him but Llewellyn keeps the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Llewellyn is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

AJ Llewellyn dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on AJ Llewellyn's cut.
That's time! Llewellyn's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Yan Spentliche misses with a double jab.

Yan Spentliche gets tackled into the cage by Llewellyn. Llewellyn maintains the clinch.
Yan Spentliche prevents the takedown attempt.
Llewellyn tries to work over Yan Spentliche's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Llewellyn tries to throw a body punch but Yan Spentliche avoids it by throwing Llewellyn back against the cage.
Yan Spentliche scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Llewellyn struggles to land a body shot inside as Yan Spentliche controls his hands.

Llewellyn has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Yan Spentliche is trying to keep an underhook but Llewellyn manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Llewellyn is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Llewellyn looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Yan Spentliche wants to get back to full guard.
Llewellyn is controlling the pace.
Llewellyn tries to pass to full mount but Yan Spentliche defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Llewellyn trying to control from half guard but Yan Spentliche is working away.
Nice strikes from Llewellyn there.

Llewellyn is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Yan Spentliche defends it well.
Yan Spentliche is looking to get back to full guard here but Llewellyn has managed to pass to side control instead.
Yan Spentliche manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Llewellyn is trying to maintain the position but Yan Spentliche is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Llewellyn manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Yan Spentliche postures up.
Yan Spentliche is fighting to break Llewellyn's control of his arms but Llewellyn is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Llewellyn is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Yan Spentliche tries to get to full guard but Llewellyn has control of the leg.

Yan Spentliche is defending against the submission attempts here by Llewellyn.
Yan Spentliche tries to get to full guard but Llewellyn has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Llewellyn takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Llewellyn slips a nice elbow through Yan Spentliche's hands, connecting with Yan Spentliche's forehead.
Llewellyn stalling.
Llewellyn looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Yan Spentliche has hold of Llewellyn's hands but Llewellyn slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Yan Spentliche missing with punches from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Llewellyn.
Llewellyn works his foot free and advances to mount.
Yan Spentliche is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yan Spentliche keeps trying to improve his position.
Llewellyn lands a big elbow.
Llewellyn tries to control but Yan Spentliche wriggling away.
Llewellyn unloading with bombs!
Yan Spentliche is wriggling around trying to escape.
Yan Spentliche tries to hold on but Llewellyn pushes him away.
Horghain Yan Spentliche has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Llewellyn unloading with bombs!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Llewellyn trying to control but Yan Spentliche is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
AJ Llewellyn showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Llewellyn, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... AJ Llewellyn!
A relieved looking AJ Llewellyn thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.