PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aito Lager (ranked 2313 p4p, 287 weight class) and Harry Winston (ranked 2917 p4p, 343 weight class). Lager's entrance music is Army Of The Pharaohs - Seven. A fine choice. Winston has chosen The Lost Boy as his entrance music. Aito Lager could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Harry Winston's chin.

Lager
vs
Winston

178 cm
29
199 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

178 cm
32
200 lbs
21 - 18 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aito Lager!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Harry Winston!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice uppercut there from Winston.
We've been informed that Winston has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Winston bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Winston misses with a wild combination.
A jab from Lager misses.
Lager lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
We've been hearing reports that Lager has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
A lazy left from Lager finds it's target.
Lager takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Winston slips under a jab.
Good exchange - Lager coming out on top.
Winston misses with a looping left.
Winston lands an overhand right.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Winston looks to land a right hand but Lager moved out of range.
A cross from Winston lands.
Lager stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A leg kick checked by Winston.
Lager moves in looking to clinch but Winston pushes him off.
Lager throws a jab but it's blocked by Winston.
Lager moves out of range as Winston strikes.
A little feinted left hand from Lager on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winston just misses with a punch to the body.
Lager misses with a body shot.
Lager is looking to score with low kicks.
Lager slips a straight right by Winston.
It looked like Lager wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Winston lands with an overhand left.
Lager takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Lager misses with a hook.
Lager doesn't manage to clinch there - Winston circles away.
Winston jabs Lager right on the nose. Lager blinks but takes it well.
Winston throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lager throwing a counter right hand but Winston manages to avoid it.
Nice straight punches there by Lager. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Lager.
Lager avoids the body shot from Winston.
Good shot there by Lager.
Lager throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Winston moves forwards but Lager connects with a nice, crisp jab.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Winston takes one to the side of the head.
Winston throws a looping overhand right but Lager ducks down to avoid it.
Lager misses with a hook. Winston ducked under it nicely.
A nice side step and Winston releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Winston is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lager.
Lager was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Lager throws a good cross that connects.
Lager slips a jab and a cross from Winston.
It looked like Lager was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Winston.
Winston keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lager.
Winston swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Winston steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lager.
Lager throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Winston uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lager.
And Winston tries to counter it with a takedown but Lager pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Lager throws a jab but it's blocked by Winston.
Lager misses with a right hand
and Winston counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Lager closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Winston is looking for a sweep. Lager is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lager landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Lager 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.
Lager throwing shots but Winston is blocking nicely.
Nice strikes from Lager there.
Winston slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Winston is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lager is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lager landing with the ground and pound.

Winston working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lager doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lager manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lager lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Lager is in close to Winston's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Lager working some strikes from top position.
Lager postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Lager keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Winston's head.

Winston is rocked!

Winston looking for a guillotine here but Lager defends easily.
Winston is still in real trouble! Can Lager finish him?
Lager landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Winston being controlled here, momentarily.
Winston seems to have recovered his senses.

Lager avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lager cracks Winston with a solid left hand.
Lager cracks Winston with a solid left hand.
Lager lands a couple of digs.
Winston wants to sweep but no luck.
Winston keeping moving, preventing Lager from controlling successfully.

Winston working for a triangle but Lager defends it easily.

Winston is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Winston keeping moving, preventing Lager from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aito Lager dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Lager takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Lager connects with an inside leg kick.
Winston changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Lager looks to throw the jab but Winston is out of range.
Winston fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Lager looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Winston uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lager.
Winston throws out a counter right but Lager avoids it with no problem.
Winston throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Lager drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Lager cracks Winston with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Winston sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Winston on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Lager looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Winston with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Lager slips a nice elbow through Winston's hands, connecting with Winston's forehead.
Lager slips a nice elbow through Winston's hands, connecting with Winston's forehead.
Winston tries to roll over but Lager keeps him under control.
Lager is nestled in close to Winston, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winston manages to get to full guard.

Winston is looking for a triangle here but Lager uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Lager lands a few punches from side control.

Lager looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Winston gets back to half guard.
Winston wants to get back to full guard.
Lager is nestled in close to Winston, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Lager is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Winston can do to turn this around?
Lager looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Winston with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Lager trying to control the action but Winston is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lager working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Winston actively working from the bottom here.
Nice strikes from Lager there.
Winston on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Winston taking some punishment here, with Lager in his half guard.
Lager controlling the pace.
Lager works his way into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lager looks up at the clock and then as Winston takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Lager smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Winston manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Winston is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Lager scores with a couple of nice shots.

Lager is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Lager drops an elbow to the side of Winston's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lager seems to be working for a kimura but Winston defends the submission attempt.
Winston is trying to maintain the position but Lager is very close to passing his half guard.

Lager is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Lager lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Lager looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Winston looking for submissions off his back.
Winston on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Winston is looking to improve his position.
Lager looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lager lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Lager connects with a nice short shot to Winston's temple.

Lager is looking for a kimura here.

Lager is working for a submission of some sort.
Lager working the head and body with strikes.

Lager is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Winston is just riding it out for now. Lager eventually gives up the hold.

Winston looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aito Lager dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lager misses with a looping right.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Winston! But no joy.
Lager scores with a nice right hand.
Winston scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Winston defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lager.
A little jabbing left from Winston on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Winston connects with a crisp jab.
Winston lands a right hook to the body.
Winston lands a really nice looking cross but Lager seems unphased.
Lager scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Lager scores with a nice right hand.
Winston missing with a left hand there. Lager was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Winston throws a body shot but no joy.
Nice cross by Winston.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lager scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Lager misses with a leg kick

and Winston counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Winston working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Winston postures up in Lager's guard and throws a big left but Lager blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lager tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Lager has an active guard here but Winston has managed to pass into half guard.

Lager looking for submissions off his back.
Ground and pound from Winston.
Winston scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Lager manages to get to full guard.
Winston scoring with some ground and pound.

Lager has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Winston can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Winston with a nice head shot there.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Winston's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Winston is in close to Lager's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Winston lands a couple of elbows.

Lager throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Lager had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Winston defends it easily.
Lager wants to sweep but no luck.
Lager is working hard here to advance position.
Winston with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Winston scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Lager tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Lager looking for a guillotine here but Winston defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lager is trying to control the position but Winston postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winston with a nice head shot there.
Winston makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Winston content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Winston postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Lager working for a triangle but Winston defends it easily.
Winston trying to control the position from guard on top but Lager is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aito Lager is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lager tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Winston stands up over Lager, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lager is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Lager had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Winston defends it easily.
Winston is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Winston trying to control but Lager is working from the bottom.

Lager has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Winston can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Winston is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Lager looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Winston got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lager has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Winston has managed to get both his arms back between Lager's legs - danger averted.
Harry Winston has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Winston is in close to Lager's body, working some short punches and elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harry Winston comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lager 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aito Lager!
After winning the bout, Aito Lager thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.