PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Salim Ayeh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ed Fazio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fazio has chosen The Mob Rules as his entrance music. Ed Fazio is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Ayeh
vs
Fazio

183 cm
20
215 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

186 cm
20
212 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

THRIFTY THREADS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Salim Ayeh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ed Fazio!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Kenichi Hosakawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fazio thows a leg kick but Ayeh checks it
and Ayeh counters with a nice leg kick.

Ayeh takes the fight into the clinch.
Ayeh stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Fazio tries to land knees in the clinch but Ayeh avoids the damage to the body.
Ayeh blocks an uppercut.
Fazio tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ayeh's elbow.
Ayeh keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Fazio's efforts to push away.
Fazio tries for a takedown but Ayeh manages to get underhooks.
I was talking to Ayeh's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Ayeh looking to stall.
Fazio tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ayeh lands a body punch in the clinch.
Ayeh tries to throw a body punch but Fazio avoids it by throwing Ayeh back against the cage.
Fazio tries to break free but Ayeh pushes him back against the cage.
Ayeh is looking to control Fazio's arms but Fazio gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ayeh has his back to the cage.
Fazio scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ayeh tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fazio blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ayeh prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fazio jumps guard but Ayeh stands there with Fazio around his waist. Fazio gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Salim Ayeh has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ed Fazio.
Ayeh is trying to stall.
Ayeh lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Ayeh lands with a right to the head.
Ayeh lands a body shot in the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Ayeh.
Ayeh stalling in the clinch.
Ayeh tries to throw a body punch but Fazio avoids it by throwing Ayeh back against the cage.
Ayeh misses with a punch to the body.
Fazio with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ayeh trying to control the position but instead, Fazio has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ayeh into the cage.
Fazio tries to stall but Ayeh uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ayeh tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fazio is trying to pull guard but Ayeh turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Good body shot from Ayeh.
Ayeh lands a shoulder strike.
Ayeh lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fazio throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Fazio looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Fazio using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ayeh has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A short right from Ayeh.
Fazio tries to pull guard but Ayeh won't allow it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Fazio.
Ayeh tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Fazio's elbow.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ayeh.
Ayeh taking a breather.
Nice body punch from Ayeh.
Fazio looks winded!
A left hand lands to the body for Ayeh.
A short left from Ayeh.
Ayeh lands a body shot in the clinch.
Ayeh working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Fazio taking a breather.
Fazio misses with a hook to the ribs.
Fazio taking a breather.
Ayeh misses with a punch to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Fazio has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ayeh avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ayeh is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A nice left hand lands by Ayeh.
A short body shot lands from Ayeh as the two fighters clinch.
Ayeh lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ayeh throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Good body shot from Ayeh.
Ayeh lands with a left to the head.
Fazio wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ayeh lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Fazio backwards.
Ayeh lands a body punch in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ayeh.
Ayeh dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ayeh works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Ayeh throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Fazios head.
Ayeh misses with a punch to the body.
Fazio goes for a takedown attempt but Ayeh pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Fazio blocks a head kick by Ayeh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ayeh chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Ayeh tries to clinch up.
Ayeh tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fazio swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fazio throws a solid leg kick but Ayeh takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Fazio.
Ayeh tries to clinch up.
Ayeh looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Fazio throws a leg kick but Ayeh checks it.
Salim Ayeh is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A jab from Ayeh misses.
Fazio throws a shot from downtown. Ayeh moves away and avoids it.
Fazio throws a leg kick but Ayeh moved away.
Fazio thows a body shot but no joy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Fazio just misses with a punch to the body.
Ayeh tries to clinch but Fazio is having none of it.
Ayeh connects with an inside leg kick.
Fazio will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nice defenses there by Ayeh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salim Ayeh dominated that round.
That's time! Ayeh's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Fazio gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Fazio takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Fazio shoots in and gets a takedown into Ayeh's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ayeh holds on and takes a little breather.
Ayeh wants to stand and escape but Fazio is having none of it.
Ayeh utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Fazio won't allow Ayeh to sweep him here.
Fazio throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ayeh works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Fazio trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ayeh is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Fazio is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fazio is looking to work some ground and pound but Ayeh has wrist control.
Fazio postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ayeh looking for a sweep. Not yet Ayeh, not yet.
Ayeh pulls Fazio in to control the position.
Fazio trying to control the position from guard on top but Ayeh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fazio is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ayeh keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Fazio misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ayeh.
Ed Fazio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ayeh tries to score with a low kick but Fazio moves his leg out of the way.
Ed Fazio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ayeh walks into a jab.
Ayeh ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Fazio throws out a loose jab but Ayeh uses good head movement to avoid it.

Fazio drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Fazio with a flurry of punches that miss.
Fazio wants to control from the top but Ayeh keeps moving.
Fazio in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Fazio chips away with some ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fazio working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ayeh's head.
Ayeh is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Still in half guard, Ayeh seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fazio trying to control from the bottom.
Fazio controlling the position for now.
Fazio trying to control but Ayeh postures up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ayeh in particular looking to stall.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Fazio trying to control from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Salim Ayeh.
Ayeh tries to clinch but Fazio is having none of it.
Fazio misses the shot to the body.
Ayeh wants to clinch.
Fazio throws a jab when Ayeh was well out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fazio walks into a stiff left hand from Ayeh.
Fazio connects with a single shot there.
Fazio punishes Ayeh's body with a nice straight punch.
Fazio lands a jab-cross combination.
Fazio thows a body shot but no joy.
A big left from Fazio misses.
Ayeh lands a jab to Fazio's midsection.
Salim Ayeh is winning the standup battle so far.
Ayeh moves to clinch but Fazio breaks away

and Fazio counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Ayeh!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ayeh gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fazio wants to free his trapped foot but Ayeh is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ayeh makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ayeh.
Ayeh pulls Fazio in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ed Fazio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Ayeh clinches up against the cage.
Ayeh lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A hook to the body from Ayeh.
A right hook to the body lands for Ayeh.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Ayeh doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ayeh trying to control the position but instead, Fazio has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ayeh into the cage.
Fazio tries to throw a body punch but Ayeh avoids it by throwing Fazio back against the cage.
Fazio looking to throw knees to the head but Ayeh is blocking nicely.
Ayeh stalling.
Ayeh wants to stall.
Ayeh throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fazio tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ayeh lands with a short shot to the head.
Ayeh digs a right hand into Fazio's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Fazio's gas tank.
Ayeh has Fazio pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ayeh lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Fazio takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ayeh tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Fazio's elbow.
Ayeh lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Fazio or not.
Ayeh working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ayeh lands a body shot.
Ayeh throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ayeh working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Ayeh - that landed with a thud.
Ayeh lands a left hand.
Ayeh softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Nice body punch from Ayeh - that landed with a thud.
Still in the clinch, Ayeh scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ayeh lands a shoulder strike.
Ayeh is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fazio can do to turn this around?
Ayeh cracks Fazio with a nice body shot.
Ayeh works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Ayeh doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ayeh is working Fazio over against the cage.
Ayeh working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Salim Ayeh has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ayeh is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Fazio throws a head punch that misses.
Fazio drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ayeh pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ayeh listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Ayeh lands a head shot.
Ayeh lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Fazio gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ayeh.

Ayeh moves into the clinch.
Fazio using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ayeh has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Fazio being controlled against the cage.
Ayeh lands a right hand that snaps the head of Fazio backwards.
Fazio swings wildly with an uppercut but Ayeh uses good head movement to avoid it.

Fazio manages to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ayeh wants to control from the top but Fazio keeps moving.
Fazio working a defensive guard but Ayeh manages to pass into side control anyway.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Fazio can do anything to dispel that myth.
Fazio is trying to control Ayeh's posture but Ayeh avoids it.
Ayeh trying to control the position but Fazio is working away.
Fazio is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Ayeh is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Fazio slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Ayeh sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fazio defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fazio trying to hold on to Ayeh's head to control him but Ayeh postures up.
Ayeh seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Fazio does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Fazio trying to control but Ayeh postures up.
Fazio wants to improve his position but Ayeh is controlling well.
Ayeh wants to stand up but Fazio is controlling the position.
Ayeh stalling.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Salim Ayeh.
Fazio missing with a left hand there. Ayeh was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Salim Ayeh showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ayeh has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Salim Ayeh!