PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Clay Ler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Markus Koller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Markus Koller is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Ler
vs
Koller

150 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
134 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Good knees
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Clay Ler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Markus Koller!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ler shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Koller counters with a straight right hand.
Ler throws a sloppy head kick
and Koller counters with a straight right hand.
Ler misses with a takedown
and Koller counters with a stiff right hand.

Koller gets a clinch.
Ler has Koller pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Koller manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clay Ler. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Koller is trying to trip Ler. He has hold of a leg but Ler is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Koller persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Ler wants to stand and escape but Koller is having none of it.
Ler keeping full guard, as Koller tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ler is working an open guard so Koller takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Koller gets a takedown into half guard.
Koller is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Ler is looking to escape.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Markus Koller wasn't active enough on the ground.
Ler fails with the takedown

and Koller counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ler could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Ler keeping moving, preventing Koller from controlling successfully.
Ler might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ler is looking to stand up but Koller isn't so interested in that idea.

Koller stands up and waves to Ler to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ler fails with the takedown
and Koller counters with a nice body shot.
Clay Ler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ler takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Ler tries for a takedown but Koller circles away easily
and Koller counters with a thumping low kick.

Koller darts in and clinches Ler up against the cage.
Ler tries for a takedown but Koller manages to get underhooks.
Koller gets underhooks to prevent Ler's takedown attempt.
Ler is breathing heavily.
Koller has Ler pressed against the cage.

Koller gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Koller slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ler is trying to stand up here but Koller is controlling him well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Koller slows the pace down in half guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Markus Koller hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Ler throws a head kick that misses

and Koller counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ler's guard now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ler wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Koller manages to pass to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Markus Koller dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ler misses with a takedown attempt

and Koller counters with a shoot takedown. Ler fights it but they end up in guard.
Koller trying to control but Ler is working from the bottom.
Ler is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Koller controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Markus Koller wasn't active enough on the ground.
Ler misses with a takedown attempt

and Koller counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ler!
Koller takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Koller is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ler is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koller takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Let's hope that Koller has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Ler has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ler is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Ler avoids the strikes from Koller.
Markus Koller has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ler wants to get back to his feet.
Koller is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ler is trying to get back to his feet but Koller has full control of the position and if anything, Ler has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Ler manages to escape to a better position under a series of strikes. Koller is now in side control.
Ler wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Ler trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Markus Koller showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Ler's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Ler shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Koller counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ler won't be happy with that.
Ler wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Koller throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Ler wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Koller tries to advance to mount but Ler instead regains half guard.
Koller wants to free his trapped foot but Ler is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koller stops Ler from getting back to his feet.
Koller slows the pace down in half guard.
Ler is trying to stand back up but Koller is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Koller content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Markus Koller wasn't active enough on the ground.

Ler gets caught flat footed, as Koller shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ler wants to stand up but Koller is controlling him.
Koller must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Koller has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Clay Ler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Koller working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Koller controlling from the top position.
Koller working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Markus Koller comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Koller 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 26:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 26:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Markus Koller!