PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mr Anderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gegard Mousasi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mousasi has chosen ZERO ONNNNNEEEEEEEEE as his entrance music. Mr Anderson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Anderson
vs
Mousasi

192 cm
20
185 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
198 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers standup

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mr Anderson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gegard Mousasi!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Wesley Smith and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anderson tries to clinch there but Mousasi circles away.
Mousasi connects with a looping right hand.
Anderson tries to clinch up.
Mousasi misses with a body shot.

Anderson tries to keep at a distance but Mousasi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Anderson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mousasi backwards.
Anderson throws a punch but it's blocked by Mousasi.
Anderson swings wildly with an uppercut but Mousasi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Anderson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Anderson is looking to control Mousasi's arms but Mousasi gets an underhook and turns him. Now Anderson has his back to the cage.
Anderson cracks Mousasi with a nice body shot.
Mousasi lands a shoulder strike.

Mousasi gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Anderson is pulling down on Mousasi's head. It's preventing any offense from Mousasi, at least for the moment.
Anderson wants to stand up but Mousasi is controlling him.
Mousasi throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson wants to stand and escape but Mousasi is having none of it.
Mousasi chips away with some ground and pound.
Mousasi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mousasi with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Mousasi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mousasi throws a big right hand that misses.
Mousasi trying to control the position from guard on top but Anderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mousasi prevents Anderson from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Mousasi wants to get up but he can't break Anderson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Anderson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mousasi.
Anderson wants to clinch

and Mousasi holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Anderson tries a body shot but Mousasi blocks it.
Mousasi blocks the elbow strike.
Mousasi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mousasi tries to pull guard but Anderson won't allow it.
Anderson tries to stall but Mousasi uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Anderson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Mousasi successfully pulls guard.
Mousasi wants to sweep but no luck.
Mousasi trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mousasi keeping moving, preventing Anderson from controlling successfully.
Mousasi looking for a sweep. Not yet Mousasi, not yet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mousasi can do anything to dispel that myth.
Mousasi looks gassed!
Anderson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mousasi's guard.
Mousasi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Anderson is one step ahead there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Anderson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Mousasi to counter with a crisp jab.
Anderson tries to clinch up

and Mousasi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mousasi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Anderson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Anderson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Anderson lands an elbow inside.
Mousasi blocks an uppercut.
Anderson tries to land knees in the clinch but Mousasi avoids the damage to the body.
Anderson misses with a punch on the inside.
Anderson trying to land knees to the body.
Mousasi tries to pull guard but Anderson won't allow it.
Mr Anderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gegard Mousasi.
Mousasi prevents a body shot from Anderson.
Anderson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Mousasi breaks from the clinch.

Mousasi decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Anderson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Anderson pulls Mousasi in to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gegard Mousasi will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Anderson closes the distance but Mousasi moves to the side

and Mousasi counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mousasi.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mousasi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Anderson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mousasi.
Mousasi throws a strike but Anderson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mousasi being controlled here, momentarily.
Mousasi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mousasi is looking to stand up but Anderson isn't so interested in that idea.
Mousasi thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Anderson wants to control from the top but Mousasi keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Mousasi moves into the clinch.
Mousasi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Anderson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Anderson chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Mousasi is breathing heavily.
Anderson tries to clinch up

and Mousasi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mousasi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mousasi managing to block the knees to the body from Anderson.
Anderson scores with a shoulder strike.
Anderson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mousasi takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Gegard Mousasi has been cut.

Mousasi has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Anderson regains guard immediately.
Mousasi stopping the sweep attempt from Anderson.
Mousasi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Anderson has control of Mousasi's left arm, preventing Mousasi from doing any damage.
Mousasi wants to stand and escape but instead Anderson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Mousasi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mousasi throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Anderson gets to his feet - Mousasi follows without any prompting.
Anderson tries to clinch up

and Mousasi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mousasi.

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.
Mousasi wants a takedown but no success here.
Anderson misses with a punch to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Anderson.
Mousasi lands with a left to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mousasi.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Mousasi takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Mousasi lands a body shot.
A knee to the head by Anderson.
Anderson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Mousasi wants a takedown.
Mr Anderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gegard Mousasi.
Anderson slowing the pace effectively.
Anderson prevents the takedown attempt.
Anderson tries to throw a body punch but Mousasi avoids it by throwing Anderson back against the cage.
Mousasi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Anderson lands a left hand.
Anderson landing knees to the body.
Mousasi blocks an elbow strike from Anderson.
Anderson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Anderson lands a shot to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Anderson tries to stall but Mousasi uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Mousasi is trying to drag Anderson to the mat but Anderson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Knees to the body from Anderson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mr Anderson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gegard Mousasi's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mousasi tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Anderson clinches but Mousasi breaks the clinch
and Mousasi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Anderson closes the distance but Mousasi moves to the side
and Mousasi counters with a straight right hand.
Anderson misses with a jab, cross combination.

Anderson pushes Mousasi up against the cage in a clinch.
Mousasi drops down looking for an ankle pick but Anderson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Anderson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Mousasi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Anderson darts in trying to clinch
and Mousasi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Mousasi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Anderson darts in trying to clinch

and Mousasi counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mousasi's guard.
Mousasi wants to sweep here but Anderson controlling him for the moment.
Mousasi is striking but Anderson is not phased and passes to half guard.
Gegard Mousasi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mousasi is looking for a sweep. Anderson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Anderson escapes and gets back to his feet.
Anderson tries to clinch but Mousasi moves away

and Mousasi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Anderson wants to get back to his feet but Mousasi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mousasi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Anderson is controlling Mousasi's posture.
Mousasi trying to control but Anderson is working from the bottom.
Mousasi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mousasi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Anderson working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mousasi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mousasi won't allow Anderson to get back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Anderson wants to clinch but Mousasi slips to the side
and Mousasi counters with a left and a right that stings Anderson.
Mr Anderson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Anderson walks into a jab.
Mr Anderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Anderson darts in trying to clinch

and Mousasi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Mousasi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Mousasi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Anderson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mousasi blocks it with crossed arms.
Anderson is trying to maintain a safe position but Mousasi gets an underhook and turns Anderson into the cage.
Mousasi fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Mousasi has clasped his hands together around Anderson's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson wants to control but Mousasi postures up.
Anderson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Mousasi is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Mousasi throws a strike aimed at the side of Anderson's head but Anderson avoids it well.
Anderson can't do much from the bottom here.
Anderson is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Anderson defending against the ground and pound.
Mousasi is trying to ground and pound but Anderson uses the momentary lack of control by Mousasi to regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gegard Mousasi really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gegard Mousasi's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Anderson scores with a nice body kick.
Anderson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Mousasi counters with a nice body shot.

Mousasi gets a clinch.
Anderson looking to stall.

Mousasi drags the fight down to the ground.
Anderson stopping the sweep attempt from Mousasi.
Mousasi punching from the bottom.
Anderson wants to stand but Mousasi is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson trying to control but Mousasi is working from the bottom.
Mousasi is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Mousasi trying to keep a closed guard but Anderson is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nice body punch from Mousasi.

Anderson rushes Mousasi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Anderson throws an elbow but misses.
Mousasi takes a knee right on the jaw!
Anderson lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mr Anderson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Anderson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Anderson looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Mousasi blocks an uppercut.

Mousasi jumps into guard, dragging Anderson to the mat.
Mousasi tries to strike from the bottom.
Mousasi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Anderson is one step ahead there.
Anderson wants to control from the top but Mousasi keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mousasi trying to keep a closed guard but Anderson is proving a slippery customer.
Mousasi wants to control but Anderson passes easily into half guard.
Mousasi is looking for a sweep. Anderson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mousasi punching from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mousasi on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Mousasi circles away from the clinch attempt
and Mousasi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Anderson thinking.
Crunch! Anderson slams his shin into Mousasi's torso.
Anderson tries to clinch but Mousasi is having none of it.
Anderson doesn't manage to clinch there - Mousasi circles away.
Anderson tries to clinch but Mousasi is having none of it.
Anderson tries to clinch
and Mousasi counters with a right hand to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mr Anderson had his way with Gegard Mousasi in that round.
The cut man is working on Gegard Mousasi's cut.
That's time! Anderson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Anderson tries to clinch

and Mousasi counters by moving into the clinch.
Anderson lands with a light punch inside.
Mousasi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Mousasi manages to break the clinch.
Anderson clinches but Mousasi breaks the clinch

and Mousasi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Anderson tries to land knees in the clinch but Mousasi avoids the damage to the body.
Anderson stops a takedown attempt from Mousasi.

Mousasi manages to break the clinch.
Anderson staying out of range there.
Anderson clinches but Mousasi breaks the clinch

and Mousasi counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Anderson!
Mousasi thowing shots but they're missing.
Anderson gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mousasi drops an elbow to the side of Anderson's head.
Mousasi is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Anderson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Mousasi postures up in Anderson's guard and throws a big left but Anderson blocks it.
Anderson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mousasi wants to pass the guard but Anderson is keeping the position.
Anderson trying to control the position.
Mousasi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mousasi scoring with some ground and pound.
Mousasi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Anderson is keeping the position for now.
Anderson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mousasi's guard.
Anderson trying to control but Mousasi is working from the bottom.
Anderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mousasi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Anderson is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mousasi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Mousasi keeping full guard, as Anderson tries to pass.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Mousasi holds on and takes a little breather.
Anderson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Mousasi throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

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.
Mousasi is trying to control the position but Anderson postures up.
Mousasi looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Anderson puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Anderson trying to control from half guard but Mousasi is working away.
Mousasi wants to control but Anderson is keeping busy.
Anderson trying to control the action but Mousasi is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gegard Mousasi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mousasi 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 47:49
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 47:48
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gegard Mousasi!
Gegard Mousasi is the new middleweight champion!