PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jeremy Crusher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Katsu Laoka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Crusher comes to the cage accompanied by Around The Fur by Deftones. Laoka has chosen The Bell Tolls as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Crusher
vs
Laoka

185 cm
29
197 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

188 cm
28
191 lbs
13 - 4 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

GREEN!160
Spartan Nutrition

Spartan Nutrition
GREEN!160

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 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jeremy Crusher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Katsu Laoka!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Daniel Franklin and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laoka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Crusher manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Laoka connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Crusher momentarily.
Crusher fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Laoka manages to avoid it.
Crusher looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Crusher avoids a punch combination nicely.
Crusher gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Crusher jabs Laoka to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Laoka takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Good standup being displayed there by Laoka as he connects with a hook.
A slow jab from Laoka misses its intended target.
Crusher throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Laoka stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Laoka misses with a hook. Crusher ducked under it nicely.
Laoka throws a hook to the side of Crusher's head but Crusher sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice leg kick lands there from Laoka.
Laoka jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Crusher is looking to counter punch.
Crusher tries to score a power double leg takedown but Laoka sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Crusher somewhat.
Laoka feints a counter leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laoka looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Laoka rushes Crusher and presses him up against the cage.
Crusher blocking some punches.
Crusher leaning his opponent against the cage.
Crusher wants a takedown.
Laoka prevents Crusher from breaking the clinch.
Laoka slowing the pace effectively.
Laoka keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Crusher's efforts to push away.
Crusher jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Laoka walks away with a smile on his face. Crusher gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeremy Crusher. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Crusher throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laoka avoids the body shot from Crusher.
Laoka drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Laoka lands a high kick!
Laoka walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Crusher slips under a jab.
Laoka uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Crusher.

Laoka tries to sprawl but Crusher drives through with a takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Crusher throwing shots but Laoka is blocking nicely.
Crusher stalling away here and it's allowed Laoka to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Laoka keeping moving, preventing Crusher from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Crusher accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laoka pulls Crusher in close to prevent any damage.
Crusher looking to sit in guard and control but Laoka gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Crusher doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Crusher not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Crusher.
Laoka with the counter takedown but Crusher avoids it easily.
Laoka throws a right hand that Crusher ducks under and follows up with a left that Crusher also avoids with ease.
Crusher scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Crusher lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crusher walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Crusher misses with a looping right.

Laoka darts in and clinches Crusher up against the cage.

Crusher pulls guard successfully.
Crusher looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Laoka stands up from Crusher's guard - Laoka perhaps looking for a knockout.
Laoka slips under a jab from Crusher.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Laoka avoids the body shot from Crusher.
Laoka looks to score with a jab to the body but Crusher is just out of range.
Crusher keeps the fight on the outside.

Crusher closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Laoka did well to prevent Crusher getting side control.
Crusher controlling the action here.
Crusher not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Katsu Laoka will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Laoka gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Crusher.
Crusher moves out of range of the body kick.
Laoka swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Crusher drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Laoka moves into range and clinches up with Crusher.
Laoka misses with some punches.
Crusher tries to pull guard but Laoka holds him up against the cage and eventually Crusher drops back down to his feet.
Crusher misses with a short punch on the inside.
Laoka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Laoka connects with a nasty looking knee right to Crusher's face.
Crusher is trying to break free.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crusher's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Crusher fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Laoka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Crusher is defending well for now.
Crusher taking a breather.
Laoka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Crusher blocks it with crossed arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crusher tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Crusher blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Crusher jumps guard but Laoka turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeremy Crusher. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Crusher tries to score a body lock takedown but Laoka shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Laoka lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Crusher backwards.
Laoka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Crusher trying to stall but Laoka improves his position.
Maybe Crusher would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
Crusher blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Laoka gets underhooks to prevent Crusher's takedown attempt.
Crusher fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Crusher can't break the clinch.
Laoka with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Crusher lands a right hand that snaps the head of Laoka backwards.
Crusher wants to take the fight to the mat but Laoka manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Laoka displaying some good clinch control by pressing Crusher up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crusher goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Laoka with a knee to the head.
Laoka lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Laoka landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Laoka.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Laoka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Crusher is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Laoka to keep the fight standing.
Laoka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Laoka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Laoka misses with the head strike.
Laoka lands an uppercut.
Crusher blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Crusher wants a takedown but no success here.
Laoka is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Crusher is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Laoka is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crusher is trying to pull guard but Laoka turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Crusher manages to break the clinch.
Laoka tries to clinch up.
Crusher drops down looking for a counter takedown but Laoka sprawls and moves away.
Laoka throws a one two combo.
Crusher takes a swing at Laoka's ribcage but misses.
A swing and a miss from Laoka.
Laoka lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Laoka avoids the body shot from Crusher.
Laoka swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Laoka scores with a leg kick.
Laoka swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Crusher tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Laoka swivels and escapes.
Laoka throws a nice inside leg kick.
Crusher pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Katsu Laoka seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laoka uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Laoka scores with a hook.
No luck for Crusher with that takedown attempt.
Crusher misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Laoka.
The fighters circling - Laoka throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Katsu Laoka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Crusher swings for the body but Laoka moves out of range.
Laoka leaves Crusher with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Crusher misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Laoka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Crusher connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Crusher.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katsu Laoka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Crusher uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Laoka.
Crusher takes a swing at Laoka's ribcage but misses.
Laoka unleashes a big counter combination but Crusher bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Laoka pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Crusher swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Crusher will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Crusher connects with a good right hand that stumbles Laoka. Laoka circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Laoka bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Laoka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Crusher.
Laoka walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Crusher checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Crusher jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Crusher swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Laoka with the counter takedown but Crusher avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crusher on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Crusher thows a left - swing and a miss!
Laoka uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Crusher has time to react.
Laoka gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Laoka throws a leg kick which misses Crusher's front leg but catches the back leg as Crusher tries to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laoka fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jab, jab by Laoka - just one landing.
Laoka has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Crusher scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Crusher misses with an uppercut

and Laoka counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Crusher has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Laoka is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Crusher.

Laoka has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Crusher lands with an uppercut that bounces Laoka off the cage and back into range.
Crusher swats away the attempt to clinch by Laoka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laoka closes the distance looking to clinch

and Crusher counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
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!
Crusher wants to pass the guard but Laoka is defending well.
Crusher is keen to just control but Laoka is a slippery customer.
Crusher with the ground and pound but Laoka uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Crusher throws a big right hand that misses.
Laoka keeping full guard, as Crusher tries to pass.
Laoka not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Jeremy Crusher has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crusher makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Crusher 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.
Laoka utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Crusher controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Crusher trying to control but Laoka is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Katsu Laoka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Crusher just misses with a punch to the body.
Crusher misses with an uppercut. Laoka saw that one coming.
Crusher throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Crusher walks into a left hand.
Laoka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Laoka tries to clinch there but Crusher circles away.
Laoka sizes up Crusher with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laoka moves out of range of the strikes.
Nice body punch from Laoka.
A looping hook to the body misses from Crusher. Laoka does a little dance to reset his feet.
Crusher looks to score with a jab to the body but Laoka is just out of range.
Laoka takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Crusher misses with a wild body shot.
The fighters circle momentarily. Laoka darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Laoka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Crusher just misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters circle momentarily. Laoka darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Crusher circles away from the clinch attempt.
Crusher looks to land a right hand but Laoka moved out of range.
Crusher ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Laoka moves away.
Laoka staying out of range there.
Laoka misses with a wild combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jeremy Crusher.
I think Laoka 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!