PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Watanabe Iori (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Laurent (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laurent has chosen Megadeth - Symphony of Destruction as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Iori
vs
Laurent

152 cm
22
135 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

168 cm
28
158 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Watanabe Iori!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, James Laurent!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Paulsen Ambrosius and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laurent throws a wild body kick that Iori sees coming a mile off.
Iori takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Iori avoids the body shot from Laurent.
Iori takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Laurent moves in looking to clinch but Iori pushes him off.

Laurent closes the distance and pushes Iori back into the cage.

Iori pulls guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Laurent looking to sit in guard and control but Iori gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Iori loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Iori stops Laurent from standing up.
Iori with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laurent looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Laurent is a very stocky fighter. Infact he's such a weird shape that he's almost like some sort of comedy character - it's hard to believe he's real.
Iori pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Laurent is keeping the position for now.
Iori trying to control the position from guard on top but Laurent is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Iori looking to pass the guard.

Laurent is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Laurent can't find room to land a body shot as Iori controls the action.
Laurent misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Iori tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Laurent smiles and moves away.
A jab from Laurent misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laurent throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Laurent uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Iori is looking to score with low kicks.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Laurent stuffs the takedown attempt from Iori. Iori gets slowly back to his feet.
Iori rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Laurent moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Iori gets a takedown into half guard.
Iori 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.
Iori is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Laurent is trying to control but can't.
Iori throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Iori is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Laurent doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Iori.
Iori trying to control from half guard but Laurent is working away.
Laurent won't allow Iori to pass to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iori missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Laurent tries to kick Iori off but Iori keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Iori wants to control but Laurent is keeping him busy.

Iori is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Iori is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Laurent sees it coming and defends easily.
Iori is trying to control the action in half guard but Laurent is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Iori is looking to advance position but Laurent won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Watanabe Iori dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Iori with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Laurent to score with a decent uppercut.
Laurent scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Laurent misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Laurent with a jab.
Iori waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Laurent.
Iori shoots in for a double leg but Laurent sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Iori fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Laurent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laurent uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Iori.
Iori throws a leg kick but Laurent sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Iori gets tackled into the cage by Laurent. Laurent maintains the clinch.
Laurent stops a takedown attempt from Iori.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Watanabe Iori. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice right hand lands inside from Laurent.
Laurent wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Iori is trying to drag Laurent to the mat but Laurent just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Laurent manages to break the clinch.
Laurent has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Iori avoids the body shot from Laurent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iori avoids the body shot from Laurent.
Laurent just misses with a punch to the body.
Laurent avoids the body shot from Iori.
Laurent ducks under a wild hook from Iori.
Laurent wants to clinch up but Iori keeps it at a distance.
Iori throws a low kick but Laurent avoids it.
Laurent misses with a straight left.
Laurent just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laurent misses with a looping left.
Iori misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
No luck for Iori with that takedown attempt.
Iori throws a leg kick but Laurent sees it coming and moves out of range.
Iori misses with a body shot.
A lazy left from Laurent finds it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laurent scores with a body shot.
Iori is looking to clinch.
Laurent takes a swing at Iori's ribcage but misses.
James Laurent is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A swing and a miss from Iori.
Iori is trying hard to land a takedown here. Laurent sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Iori looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Iori is looking for a kimura here.

Iori 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but James Laurent will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Laurent cracks a nice hook into Iori's ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Iori shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Laurent but Laurent pushes him off and we're back to square one.
No joy there for Laurent, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laurent throws a right and a left that Iori avoids nicely.
Iori keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Iori closes this distance looking for a takedown but Laurent circles away.
Iori tries for a takedown but Laurent sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Watanabe Iori. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Iori is defended easily by Laurent.
Laurent is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Iori rather than just go for the knockout.
Laurent connects with a right hand. Iori shakes it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Laurent moves into range and clinches up with Iori.
Laurent tries to stall but Iori uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Iori takes a shot to the head.
Iori takes a shot to the head.

Laurent breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Iori blocks the body kick.
Iori misses with a looping right.
Laurent lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Iori at a distance.
Laurent looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iori takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Iori throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Iori pivots, looking for a leg kick but Laurent is out of range and Iori settles back down.
Laurent thuds his right hand into Iori's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Iori throws out a leg kick but Laurent moves out of range and Iori only half commits.
Laurent is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Iori.
A jab from Laurent finds it's way through Iori's defenses.
Laurent jabs Iori to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iori gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Laurent lands a jab to the head.
Laurent throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Laurent misses with a double jab.
Iori moves out of range as Laurent throws a body kick.
Iori throws a jab when Laurent was well out of range.
Iori takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Laurent comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Laurent 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Laurent!
James Laurent took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, [GTI] Divine Clothing for their support in the buildup to the fight.