PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bob Jay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Laurent Gardan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gardan has chosen "Know your enemy" - RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Jay
vs
Gardan

176 cm
19
191 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

186 cm
19
188 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

ENDLESS 152
ENDLESS 152

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bob Jay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Laurent Gardan!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gardan thows a body shot but no joy.
Gardan blocks the body kick.

Gardan closes the distance and clinches.
Jay goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Jay missing with knees to the body.
Jay tries to pull guard but Gardan holds him up against the cage and eventually Jay drops back down to his feet.
Jay blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Jay wants to break the clinch but can't.
Jay trying to control the position but instead, Gardan has worked for underhooks and has pushed Jay into the cage.
Gardan lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Bob Jay has been cut.
Gardan landing knees to the body.
Jay on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Jay trying to stall but Gardan improves his position.
Gardan tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Jay could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Gardan manages to break the clinch.
Laurent Gardan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gardan swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Jay closes the distance but Gardan moves to the side
and Gardan counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Gardan closes the distance and pushes Jay back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardan misses with an elbow strike.
Gardan managing to block the knees to the body from Jay.

Gardan gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Jay throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Gardan wants to pass the guard but Jay is keeping the position.
Gardan is looking to stand up but Jay won't let him.

Gardan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jay manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gardan manages to get himself to full guard.
Jay stopping the sweep attempt from Gardan.
Jay pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gardan is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jay passes Gardan's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Jay is thwarting Gardan's attempts to control the position.
Gardan controlling the position for now.
Gardan is trying to stand.
Jay seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gardan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Jay is looking for a kimura but Gardan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Jay to get the leverage.
Gardan has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Jay is working away from the top position though.
Gardan misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Jay works his way into full mount!
Gardan is looking to improve his position but Jay isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gardan tries to hold on but Jay pushes him away.
Gardan is wriggling around trying to escape.

Jay moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Gardan has worked his arm free - good work by Gardan!

Jay swings around for an armbar but Gardan sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Jay's guard.
Jay is breathing heavily.
Jay keeping moving, preventing Gardan from controlling successfully.
Jay lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gardan!
Gardan is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jay is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Gardan has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Gardan!
Gardan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gardan preventing the sweep.
Jay keeping moving, preventing Gardan from controlling successfully.
Gardan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gardan postures up.
Gardan tries to free his leg and advance position but Jay is retaining full guard.
Gardan trying to control but Jay is working from the bottom.
Gardan controlling from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Laurent Gardan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bob Jay's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Jay misses with a takedown

and Gardan counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Jay is trying to control but can't.
Gardan prevents Jay from improving his position.
Jay regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gardan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Gardan trying to control but Jay is working from the bottom.
Gardan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jay is trying to control the position but Gardan postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Gardan is in close to Jay's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Jay has his foot on Gardan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gardan works his way back into a safe position though.
Jay looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gardan is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gardan postures up.
Jay keeping full guard, as Gardan tries to pass.

Gardan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Jay throws his legs up looking for a submission but Gardan uses it to pass to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jay tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gardan tries to move to mount but Jay blocks the move with his legs.
Jay tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Gardan presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Gardan trying to control but Jay is having none of it.
Gardan landing punches.
Jay is squirming around, avoiding Gardan's attempts to control the action.
Gardan scoring with strikes but Jay is staying in there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gardan with a couple of short strikes.
Gardan tries to control but Jay wriggling away.
Jay wants to control but Gardan is having none of it.
Jay keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gardan in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Jay is trying to escape the mount.
Gardan tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jay takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Jay keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
BOOM! Gardan connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Gardan putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Jay is rocked!
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!
Jay tries to reverse the position but Gardan maintains control.
Gardan tries to control but Jay wriggling away.

Gardan jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Jay is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Jay and Gardan has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Laurent Gardan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jay is trying to control Gardan's posture but Gardan avoids it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gardan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jay keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Laurent Gardan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bob Jay's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Jay tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Gardan counters with a head kick.
Gardan connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gardan scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gardan throws a front kick aimed at Jay's knee but Jay avoids it well.
Jay tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Gardan counters with a nice leg kick.
Gardan throws a leg kick but Jay sees it coming and checks it nicely.

A head kick lands from Gardan that sends Jay to the canvas. Jay tries to scramble back to his feet but Gardan brings him back down into side control.
Oh Jay is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Gardan stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Jay seems to have got his legs back now.
Gardan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Gardan scores a takedown into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardan controlling the pace for now.
Jay working to try and regain half guard.
A nice elbow there by Gardan.
Gardan lands a big shot there that rocks Jay but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Gardan goes for an armbar but Jay turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Jay.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jay is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Gardan is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Gardan has escaped and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gardan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jay controls Gardan momentarily but Gardan frees himself.
Gardan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gardan trying to control the position from guard on top but Jay is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Jay looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gardan trying to control but Jay is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gardan lets loose with a powerful body kick. Jay will feel that in the morning.
Jay walks into a stiff left hand from Gardan.
Gardan connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gardan scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Jay crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Gardan - the referee stops the clock and Jay gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Gardan. Jay manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Jay sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Bob Jay has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Laurent Gardan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Jay crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Gardan - the referee stops the clock and Jay gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Gardan. Jay manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Gardan turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nice straight punches there by Gardan. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Gardan.
Gardan misses with a head kick.
Gardan feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Jay's calf.
Jay takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Jay chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gardan can pounce on him.
Gardan throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gardan lands with a nice body kick.
Gardan throws a nice inside leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Laurent Gardan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gardan 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 26:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 26:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Laurent Gardan!