PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Fabricio Werdum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Poi Lai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Poi Lai is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Werdum
vs
Lai

182 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

181 cm
25
169 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fabricio Werdum!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Poi Lai!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Shimada and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Werdum shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lai tests Werdum's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lai fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lai closes the distance looking to clinch
and Werdum counters with a right hand to the body.
Lai shoots in for a double leg but Werdum sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lai lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Lai keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lai shoots in but no luck this time.
Werdum is looking to counter punch.
Fabricio Werdum has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Poi Lai.
Lai fakes the leg kick and cracks Werdum in the body.
Lai fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Werdum shoots in and gets a takedown into Lai's guard.

Lai uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Lai shoots in for a double leg but Werdum sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Werdum displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lai.
Lai looks winded!
Werdum tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Lai defends well and Werdum ends up having to push Lai into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Werdum closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Lai's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Werdum wants to pass the guard but Lai is keeping the position.
Lai looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lai is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Werdum got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lai has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Werdum has managed to get both his arms back between Lai's legs - danger averted.
Werdum stands up over Lai, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Werdum cracks Lai with a solid left hand.
Werdum cracks Lai with a solid left hand.
Lai managing to control the position.
Lai looking to hit a scissor sweep but Werdum is one step ahead there.
Werdum 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Lai thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lai wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Lai working for a triangle but Werdum defends it easily.
Werdum is working Lai over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Werdum postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Lai is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Werdum, into his guard.

Lai wants to control from the top but Werdum keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lai engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Poi Lai will probably get the nod.
That's time! Werdum's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Werdum fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lai avoids it really well and circles away.
Werdum leaves Lai with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lai fails to land the takedown.
Werdum shoots for a takedown but Lai saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lai fails with a takedown attempt.
Fabricio Werdum has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Poi Lai.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Werdum throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lai fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lai swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Lai rushes Werdum and presses him up against the cage.

Lai breaks from the clinch.
Lai shoots in but no luck this time.
Lai is breathing heavily.
Werdum tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lai swivels and escapes.
Werdum tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lai swivels and escapes.
Werdum shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lai as he jumps to the side.
Lai shoots in but Werdum avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lai shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Werdum as he avoids it easily.
Werdum was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Werdum fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Werdum manages to avoid it.
Lai keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Lai has managed to clinch.

Lai decides to pull guard.

Lai is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Werdum presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Lai pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lai showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Werdum.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lai is looking to clinch but Werdum is avoiding it.

Lai closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Werdum goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lai prevents it.
Lai tries for a takedown. No joy.
Lai is trying to drag Werdum to the mat but Werdum just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Lai avoiding damage.

Lai has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Werdum uses from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Werdum trying to control but Lai is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lai is on top in guard.

Werdum utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Lai stands up from Werdum's guard - Lai perhaps looking for a knockout.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Werdum enables Lai to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Werdum manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Lai gets to his feet. Werdum looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Poi Lai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Lai connects with the punch.
Werdum fails with the takedown.
Lai shoots for a double leg takedown but Werdum sprawls well. He's pushed Lai's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nice takedown defense from Lai. No joy for Werdum on that attempt.
Lai darts in looking for a takedown but Werdum gets double underhooks and turns Lai into the cage.
Lai tries for a takedown but Werdum sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Fabricio Werdum has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Poi Lai.
Werdum stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Lai.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lai shoots in for a takedown but Werdum shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Werdum has his takedown stuffed

and Lai counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Lai jumps into guard, dragging Werdum to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lai keeping full guard, as Werdum tries to pass.
Lai managing to control the position.
Lai is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Werdum stands up over Lai, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Werdum postures up in Lai's guard and throws a big left but Lai blocks it.
Werdum throwing strikes from guard but Lai blocks nicely.

Lai has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Werdum has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Werdum is working for takedown but Lai is calmly controlling the position for now.
Lai has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lai dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Lai.
Werdum drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lai drops down looking for an ankle pick but Werdum pulls his leg out and moves away.

Lai takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Werdum prevents a takedown attempt there.

Lai pulls guard successfully.

Lai is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Lai misses with the head strike.

Lai's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lai lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Werdum decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lai tries to roll over but Werdum keeps him under control.

Lai looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lai pushes Werdum off looking to stand but Werdum dives back in and keeps control.

Werdum is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lai sees it coming and defends easily.
Poi Lai has got the better of the ground game so far.

Werdum seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Lai has recovered full guard.

Werdum drops back, looking for a kneebar! Lai looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Lai looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Lai!

And that's the end of the fight!
Poi Lai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lai 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Poi Lai!