PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dreiko Lao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lao kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Drowning Pool - Let The Bodies Hit The Floor. Cage has chosen "Can't Be Touched" by Roy Jones Jr. as his entrance music. Alexander Cage has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lao
vs
Cage

187 cm
25
212 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

179 cm
22
270 lbs
6 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dreiko Lao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Cage!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cage scores a takedown into full mount!
Cage trying to control but Lao is having none of it.
Cage tries to take Lao's back but instead Lao uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Lao looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lao is staying active underneath Cage, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Lao has one foot on Cage's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Cage doesn't manage to clinch there - Lao circles away.
Lao stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lao wants it to stay on the feet.
Lao looks to land a combination but Cage avoids it well.
Lao misses with a few strikes there.
Cage shoots in and drives through. Lao sprawls well.
Lao looks to land a combination but Cage avoids it well.

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.
Cage tries to close the distance and clinch but Lao swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cage dodges the punch combination from Lao.
Lao misses with a double jab.
Lao throws a nice looking combination but Cage bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lao throws a series of punches but Cage moves out of range.
Lao circles away from the clinch attempt.
Some wild striking there from Lao.
Cage shoots in and drives through. Lao sprawls well.
Dreiko Lao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Cage.
Cage wants to clinch up but Lao keeps it at a distance.
A combination from Lao does no damage.
Some wild striking there from Lao.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cage.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Cage has eaten all the pies!
Cage looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Lao, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lao looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cage tries to clinch there but Lao circles away.
Lao throws a right and a left that Cage avoids nicely.
Lao throws a series of punches but Cage avoids them all with ease.
Lao misses with the combination.
Lao throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lao goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Lao lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cage circles away quickly and effectively.
Lao will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Lao misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lao displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cage.
Dreiko Lao is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lao misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lao lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Cage dodges the punch combination from Lao.
Lao lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cage circles away quickly and effectively.
Lao tries to bum rush Cage with a series of wild strikes but Cage uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cage dodges the punch combination from Lao.
Lao tries to bum rush Cage with a series of wild strikes but Cage uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lao displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dreiko Lao dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lao scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Lao misses with a jab, cross combination.
A punch combination from Lao misses.
Some wild striking there from Lao.
Lao throws a nice looking combination but Cage bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lao throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cage.
Lao misses with a wild combination.
Cage shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lao but Lao pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cage slips a jab and a cross from Lao.
Cage tries to clinch but Lao is having none of it.
Cage is breathing heavily.
Lao fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Lao does no damage.
Lao misses with a two punch combination.
Cage shoots in but no luck this time.
Cage showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lao.
Lao misses with a two punch combination.
Lao will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lao displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Lao misses with a series of wild punches.
A punch combination from Lao misses.
Lao lands a jab-cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lao defends it nicely.
Dreiko Lao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Cage.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Lao!
Lao closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Dreiko Lao is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No joy there for Lao, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lao scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Lao misses with a wild combination.
A punch combination from Lao misses.
Lao fails to land with a series of punches.
A punch combination from Lao misses.
Alexander Cage seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cage is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Lao.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lao misses with a double jab.
Cage avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lao closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Left hook, right uppercut from Lao.
Lao lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Lao misses with a few strikes there.
Lao throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cage.
Lao misses with a series of wild punches.
Lao closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Lao throws a series of punches but Cage moves out of range.
Lao looks to land a combination but Cage avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lao swinging wildly here.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Lao here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Lao goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Lao scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Dreiko Lao is winning the standup battle so far.
Lao throws a right and a left that Cage avoids nicely.
Cage fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lao avoids it really well and circles away.
Lao throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lao works over Cage's head and body with a nice combination.
Lao misses with a series of wild punches.
Lao is working the combinations to good effect here.
Lao lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dreiko Lao dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Lao lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Cage backs up against the cage.
Nice takedown defense from Lao. No joy for Cage on that attempt.
Cage fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lao throws a series of punches but Cage moves out of range.
Lao closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Cage shoots for a double leg takedown but Lao sprawls well. He's pushed Cage's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Dreiko Lao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Cage.
Lao swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Some wild striking there from Lao.
Lao fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lao fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cage takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lao looks to land a combination but Cage avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lao misses with a series of wild punches.
Lao throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lao moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Lao moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Lao moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Lao lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Cage backs up against the cage.
Lao throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cage is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Lao.
Lao fails to land with a series of punches.
Lao moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Lao throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lao lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Lao.
Cage tries to clinch up but Lao circles away and keeps his distance.
Lao rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cage moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lao throws a series of strikes that have Cage backpedaling.
Lao misses with a double jab.
Lao looks to land a combination but Cage avoids it well.
Lao throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lao moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Danga de danga de dang - Lao scores with a four punch combination!
Lao throws a series of punches but Cage moves out of range.
Lao throws a series of punches but Cage avoids them all with ease.
Lao goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Lao does no damage.
A combination from Lao does no damage.
A nice combination there by Lao.
Lao throws a series of punches but Cage moves out of range.
Lao throws a nice looking combination but Cage bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cage is defended easily by Lao.
Lao misses with a few strikes there.
Lao scores with a three punch combo!
Lao scores with a one two! Cage had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
A combination from Lao does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lao throws a series of punches but Cage moves out of range.
Lao lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Cage backs up against the cage.
Cage shoots in but Lao avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lao throws a nice looking combination but Cage bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lao lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Cage is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Lao.
Lao scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Lao throws a right hand that Cage ducks under and follows up with a left that Cage also avoids with ease.
A combination from Lao does no damage.
Lao scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Alexander Cage has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dreiko Lao is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cage shoots for a double leg takedown but Lao sprawls well. He's pushed Cage's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dreiko Lao showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lao, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:25
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:25
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dreiko Lao!