PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Willie Layer (ranked 3248 p4p, 5527 weight class) and Yoji Anjo Anjo (ranked 389 p4p, 523 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Layer
vs
Anjo

189 cm
37
185
9 - 13 - 0

188 cm
34
178
20 - 33 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Furnace Performance 🔥

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 9 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Willie Layer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 33 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yoji Anjo Anjo!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Aafke Stam and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Anjo rushes Layer and presses him up against the cage.

Anjo ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Anjo no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Anjo is trying to control the position but Layer postures up.
Anjo throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Layer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Anjo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Anjo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Anjo is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Layer!
Anjo throws some wild stikes that Layer manages to avoid easily.
Anjo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anjo throwing strikes here but Layer is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Anjo controlling from mount.

Anjo is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Layer is surviving well by controlling Anjo's body position as best he can.
Anjo controlling his opponent.
Layer is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Anjo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Anjo controlling the position easily from mount.
Anjo's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
More stalling from Anjo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anjo with more of the same as he continues to hold on.
It looks like Anjo might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Anjo is continuing to stall.
Layer knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Anjo on the ground.

That's four 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.

Anjo stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Willie Layer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Anjo closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Anjo lands in his opponent's guard.
Anjo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Layer swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Anjo sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Anjo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yoji Anjo Anjo dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Anjo looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Anjo is looking for a kimura but Layer is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Anjo to get the leverage.
Anjo content to control rather than advance.
Layer is looking for a sweep. Anjo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Layer is in trouble now - Anjo has advanced to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anjo scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Layer?
Anjo with the ground and pound from mount.
Anjo content just to control the position here.
Anjo sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Anjo controlling from mount.
Yoji Anjo Anjo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Anjo misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Anjo controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anjo scoring with strikes but Layer is staying in there.
Anjo controlling the pace for now.

Anjo jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Layer manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Anjo content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anjo throws a strike aimed at the side of Layer's head but Layer avoids it well.

Anjo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Layer knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Anjo has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Anjo misses with a takedown
letting Layer counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anjo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Layer dodges the punch combination from Anjo.
Yoji Anjo Anjo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Anjo closes the distance and pushes Layer back into the cage.
Layer throws a punch but it's blocked by Anjo.
Anjo is trying to pull guard but Layer has him pressed against the cage.
Willie Layer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoji Anjo Anjo.
Layer is trying to break the clinch but Anjo has him pressed against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Layer fails to land.
Layer lands a hook to the side of the head.
Layer misses with a punch on the inside.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Anjo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Layer misses the jab.
Anjo looks to clinch
and Layer counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice sprawl there from Layer as Anjo shoots in.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yoji Anjo Anjo 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. This is the final round!

Anjo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Anjo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Anjo clinches up against the cage.
A short uppercut from Layer.
Anjo is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Layer is defending well.
Layer misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Layer fails to land.
Layer misses with the head strike.
Layer scores with a shot to the side of Anjo's head.

Anjo manages to break the clinch.
Layer slaps away a takedown attempt from Anjo, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anjo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Layer.
Anjo on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Anjo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Willie Layer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoji Anjo Anjo.
Anjo tries to clinch there but Layer circles away.
Layer is looking to counter punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anjo with a lazy takedown attempt
and Layer connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Anjo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Layer manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Anjo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Layer lands a body shot.
Anjo dives in for a single leg takedown but Layer sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Anjo closes the distance looking to clinch
and Layer counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Yoji Anjo Anjo has been cut.
Anjo shoots in but Layer avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Anjo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Layer.

Anjo clinches up against the cage.
Anjo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Anjo manages to break the clinch.
Anjo fails to land the takedown.
Layer throws a big counter combination but Anjo scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anjo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Layer moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Layer throws a series of punches but Anjo moves out of range.
Layer changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Anjo looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Anjo.
A quick step to the side and Layer tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Layer misses with an uppercut. Anjo saw that one coming.
Anjo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Layer was well out of range. Poor timing from Anjo.
Anjo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Anjo slips a straight right by Layer.
Anjo on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Anjo fails with a takedown attempt.
Layer swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Layer leaves Anjo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Layer lands a body shot.
Yoji Anjo Anjo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Layer lands a really nice looking cross but Anjo seems unphased.
Anjo misses with a takedown attempt
and Layer counters with a series of strikes. Anjo will be more careful next time no doubt.
Anjo gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Layer.
Layer scores with a jab to the body.
Layer throws a body shot but no joy.
Willie Layer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anjo wants to clinch
letting Layer counter with a right hand.
Willie Layer is winning the standup battle so far.
Anjo drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Layer jabs at Anjo's body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Layer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Anjo shoots in looking for a takedown. Layer tries to sprawl out of it but Anjo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Layer manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anjo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Layer.
Layer misses the shot to the body.

Anjo scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Anjo moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Layer.
The referee asks Anjo politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Anjo prefers to stall for the moment though.

Anjo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Anjo decides to take the fight back to the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Willie Layer showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Anjo 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoji Anjo Anjo!
Yoji Anjo Anjo thanked the fans post fight for their support.