PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alex Shafer (ranked 23628 p4p, 702 weight class) and Karnak Lao (ranked 22946 p4p, 710 weight class). Karnak Lao is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Shafer
vs
Lao

175 cm
27
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
28
155 lbs
3 - 6 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alex Shafer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Karnak Lao!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Damien Edna and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shafer gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Shafer ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Shafer no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Lao not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Lao trying to control the position from guard on top but Shafer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shafer is pulling down on Lao's head. It's preventing any offense from Lao, at least for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lao looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shafer is trying to keep Lao in close.
Lao seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Lao gets to his feet - Shafer follows without any prompting.
Lao tries to clinch up.
Shafer keeps the fight on the outside.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lao.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Shafer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shafer feints and then cracks Lao's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Lao down.

Shafer closes the distance and clinches.
Shafer looking for a takedown.
Shafer unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Shafer pulls guard successfully.
Shafer is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Lao wanted to stand there but Shafer had control of the position.
Shafer keeping moving, preventing Lao from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lao lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Lao controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Shafer on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Shafer tries to get out of the position.
Shafer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lao is one step ahead there.
Shafer has a closed guard, preventing Lao from standing up.
Lao looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Shafer stuffs the takedown.

Shafer pushes Lao up against the cage in a clinch.

Shafer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shafer throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Lao fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lao looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Shafer with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lao is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Shafer.
Lao takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Lao shoots in for a double leg but Shafer sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Shafer drives through and clinches with Lao against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lao shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Shafer pinned against the cage. Shafer gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Shafer throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Lao is trying hard to land a takedown here. Shafer sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Shafer is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lao can do to turn this around?
A kick lands to the mid section there for Shafer.
Shafer lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Lao tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shafer lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Danga de danga de dang - Shafer scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Karnak Lao has been cut.
Shafer lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Shafer has closed the distance and engaged Lao in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shafer drags the fight down to the ground.
Lao preventing the sweep.
Lao sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Shafer tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lao trying to control but Shafer is working from the bottom.
Shafer keeping full guard, as Lao tries to pass.
Lao slips nicely into half guard.
Shafer knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lao on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shafer is refusing to be controlled, as Lao sits in half guard.

Lao is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Shafer doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lao.
Lao is just content to waste time from the top position. Shafer takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lao wants to control from the top but Shafer keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shafer wants to get back to his feet but Lao is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Lao throwing strikes but missing.

Lao stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Alex Shafer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lao shoots for a takedown but Shafer saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Alex Shafer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Karnak Lao.
Lao tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shafer manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lao has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Shafer.

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.
Shafer digs a good body shot into Lao's ribs.
Lao needs to keep his hands up - Shafer had a free shot at his head there.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Shafer!
Shafer throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Shafer fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Lao dives in and grabs Shafer's left leg, looking for a takedown. Shafer pushes down on Lao's head and hops out.
Shafer throws a big counter combination but Lao scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Lao looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Shafer lands with a kick to the temple. Lao shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Shafer digs a good body shot into Lao's ribs.
Shafer stalks Lao and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Lao's face. Lao staggers backwards, shaken.
Shafer throws a one two combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Shafer dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Karnak Lao's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Lao tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Shafer counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Lao looks for a takedown but Shafer sprawls well.

Shafer closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Lao is trying to drag Shafer to the mat but Shafer just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Lao changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Shafer fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Alex Shafer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Karnak Lao.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shafer scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Lao shoots in for a takedown but Shafer shows good takedown defense.
Lao gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Shafer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lao fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Shafer seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Lao misses with a takedown
and Shafer counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Lao takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shafer throws a front kick that sends Lao stumbling back into the cage.

Shafer clinches up with Lao and pushes him back against the cage.

Shafer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shafer is looking to wear down Lao with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Shafer rushes Lao and presses him up against the cage.

Shafer breaks the clinch.
Alex Shafer is winning the standup battle so far.
A slapping leg kick lands for Shafer.
Lao dives in for a single leg takedown but Shafer sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Shafer appears to be looking for a big counter.
Shafer feints and then cracks Lao's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Lao down.

Shafer closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shafer escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
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!
Shafer scores with a one two! Lao had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Shafer closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Shafer tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lao sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Shafer somewhat.

Shafer dives in and scores a takedown into Lao's guard.
Shafer is fighting to break Lao's control of his arms but Lao is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Lao looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lao looking for a triangle here. Shafer is fighting it but it looks tight! Lao pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Shafer is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Karnak Lao!