PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Katsu Laoka (ranked 2632 p4p, 359 weight class) and Jaromir Sambor (ranked 2543 p4p, 348 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Laoka
vs
Sambor

188 cm
43
205 lbs
36 - 24 - 5

193 cm
31
214 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 36 - 24 - 5, fighting out of Las Vegas, Katsu Laoka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jaromir Sambor!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Ian Loll and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laoka looks to throw the jab but Sambor is out of range.
Laoka is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sambor.
Sambor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Laoka was well out of range. Poor timing from Sambor.

Sambor instigates a clinch.
Sambor leaning against his opponent.
Laoka lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sambor.

Sambor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sambor throws a jab when Laoka was well out of range.
Laoka throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Sambor counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Laoka throws the left hand but Sambor avoids the punch easily.
Sambor pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sambor lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Good shot there by Laoka.

It looks like Jaromir Sambor has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sambor throws a jab but it's blocked by Laoka.
It looked like Laoka was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Sambor.
Laoka lunges at Sambor with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sambor's hand.
Sambor pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Laoka takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Laoka swings widly with a right hand
and Sambor counters with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laoka throws the kick towards the body but Sambor avoids it.
Sambor looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Laoka thuds his right hand into Sambor's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sambor misses with a head kick.
Laoka feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Laoka lands a lovely overhand right.
Laoka blocks a head kick by Sambor.
Sambor misses with a head kick.
Laoka ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Laoka. That's going to slow Sambor down.
Katsu Laoka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Laoka is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sambor.
Laoka throws an off balance right hand
letting Sambor counter with a right hand.
Sambor looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Laoka lands with a thumping leg kick.
Laoka jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Laoka jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Sambor slips under a jab from Laoka.
Sambor fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sambor takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Laoka misses with a hook.
Laoka lands a head kick!
Laoka throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Sambor pulls out of a head kick attempt.
It appears Laoka was looking to counter with a kick there.

Sambor forces Laoka back against the cage and clinches.
Laoka misses with a short punch on the inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Laoka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sambor's elbow.
Sambor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Sambor is trying to break free.
Sambor prevents a body shot from Laoka.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sambor.
Laoka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sambor lands a good knee to the midsection. Laoka won't want to take too many of those.
Laoka tries to work over Sambor's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Sambor breaks from the clinch.

Sambor closes the distance and clinches.
Sambor blocks an uppercut.
Sambor makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Laoka blocks a body shot from Sambor.
A nice left hand lands by Laoka.

Sambor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sambor scores with a nice strike.
Laoka misses with a hook
and Sambor counters with a one-two to the body.
Sambor connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sambor throws out a loose jab but Laoka uses good head movement to avoid it.
Laoka throws a jab but it's blocked by Sambor.
Laoka lands a head shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sambor. Laoka does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sambor on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Laoka. Laoka obviously looking to wear him down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sambor missing with a left hand there. Laoka was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Laoka tries to land a front kick but Sambor steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sambor defending well as Laoka loads up on a big left hand.
Laoka throws a leg kick
and Sambor counters with a stiff right hand.
Laoka takes a jab right on the kisser.
Laoka ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sambor pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Laoka throws a nice looking combination but Sambor bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Laoka throws a poor cross that misses
and Sambor counters with a straight right hand.
Sambor throws a looping overhand right but Laoka ducks down to avoid it.
Sambor throws a hook but Laoka avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sambor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sambor has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Laoka finds it's way round the side to connect with Sambor's head.
Laoka throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Laoka ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jaromir Sambor will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jaromir Sambor's cut.
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.

Laoka punishes Sambor's body with a nice straight punch.

Sambor moves into the clinch.
Sambor misses with a hook from the clinch.

Sambor manages to break the clinch.
Sambor tries to land a front kick but Laoka steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Laoka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sambor.
Laoka keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sambor.
Laoka avoids the body shot from Sambor.
Sambor walks into a straight right hand from Laoka.
Sambor just misses with a punch to the body.
Laoka missing with a left hand there. Sambor was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laoka scoring well with a low kick there.
Sambor takes a jab right on the kisser.
Laoka throws a big shot that misses.
Sambor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Laoka was well out of range. Poor timing from Sambor.
Sambor throws a low kick, looking for Laoka's leg but Laoka calmly moves out of range.
Laoka feinted there with a counter leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sambor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice shot lands for Laoka.
Sambor throws a big shot that misses.
Laoka stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Sambor.
Sambor waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Laoka.
Laoka checks a low kick from Sambor.
Sambor throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A big left from Sambor misses.
Laoka appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Laoka misses with a wild body shot.
Sambor pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Laoka back to the cage. Sambor follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sambor.
Laoka misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sambor throws a body punch but Laoka moves out of range.
Laoka fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sambor manages to avoid it.
Sambor lands with a good body shot.
An inside leg kick from Sambor misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Laoka ducks under a wild hook from Sambor.
Sambor lands a nice hook to Laoka's body. Laoka takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sambor thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sambor takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Laoka defending well as Sambor loads up on a big left hand.
Laoka moves out of range of the strikes.
Laoka is looking to counter punch.
Sambor throws a shot from downtown. Laoka moves away and avoids it.
Laoka throws out a loose jab but Sambor uses good head movement to avoid it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sambor.
Sambor takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Laoka feints and then cracks Sambor's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sambor down.
Laoka fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sambor.
Sambor tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Laoka is able to avoid easily.
Laoka avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Sambor checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sambor drops his hands momentarily and Laoka takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Laoka moves out of range of the strikes.
Laoka goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Laoka scores with a nice right hand.
Jaromir Sambor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Laoka jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sambor keeps the fight on the outside.
Sambor uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Laoka.
Sambor catches Laoka with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Sambor throws a body shot but no joy.
Sambor with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Laoka to score with a decent uppercut.

Sambor clinches.
Laoka misses with a punch on the inside.
Laoka misses with a punch on the inside.
Sambor stalling.
Sambor takes a shot to the head.
Laoka cracks Sambor with a nice body shot.
Jaromir Sambor seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Laoka lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Laoka creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Laoka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sambor blocks it with crossed arms.
Laoka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sambor has had enough of the clinch but Laoka keeps him there for the moment.
Sambor just leaning against Laoka, taking a breather.
Sambor crunches a lovely knee into Laoka's ribcage.
Sambor trying to land knees to the body.
Laoka tries a body shot but Sambor blocks it.
Laoka wants to stall.

Sambor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Laoka misses with a kick to the body.
Laoka scoring well with a low kick there.
Sambor uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Laoka.
Sambor was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Laoka lands a nice shot that snaps Sambor's head back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Katsu Laoka will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jaromir Sambor's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Sambor jabs at Laoka's body.
Laoka looks to land a left hand but Sambor moved out of range nicely.
Sambor thuds his shin into the meat of Laoka's side.
Laoka misses with a straight right.
Laoka misses with a few strikes there.
Sambor throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Laoka counters with a stiff right hand.
Laoka throws a leg kick but Sambor sees it coming and moves out of range.
Laoka slips a straight right by Sambor.
Laoka seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Laoka with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sambor takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sambor throws a hook but Laoka avoids it easily.
Sambor throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
It looked like Laoka was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Sambor.
Sambor lands with a straight right. Laoka didn't see that one coming.
Laoka throws a leg kick that is checked
and Sambor counters with a stiff right hand.
Sambor pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laoka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
An inside leg kick from Sambor misses.
Sambor ducks under a wild hook from Laoka.
Sambor throws out a counter right but Laoka avoids it with no problem.
Laoka gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Laoka throws a chopping leg kick but Sambor manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Laoka thows a left - swing and a miss!
Laoka scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Sambor misses with a looping right.
The fighters circling - Laoka throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sambor paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Sambor looks to score with a jab to the body but Laoka is just out of range.
Sambor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Laoka moves away.
Laoka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sambor.
Laoka connects with a solid leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sambor darts in and clinches Laoka up against the cage.
Laoka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Laoka misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sambor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Laoka scores with a shot to the side of Sambor's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A body shot lands from Sambor.
Laoka lands with a left to the head.

Sambor breaks the clinch.
Sambor swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Laoka.
Sambor circles away from the clinch attempt.
Laoka thows a leg kick but Sambor checks it
and Sambor counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sambor swats away the attempt to clinch by Laoka.
Laoka throws an off balance right hand
and Sambor counters with a two punch combo.
Sambor bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Laoka misses with a straight left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laoka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Laoka connects with a looping right hand.
Laoka scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Laoka throws out a powerful jab.
Sambor falls off balance throwing a combination
and Laoka counters with a nice uppercut.
A slow jab from Laoka misses its intended target.
Sambor changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Laoka gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Sambor counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sambor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Laoka.
A slapping leg kick lands for Laoka.
Laoka throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Laoka just misses with a punch to the body.
Sambor misses with a looping right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laoka fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sambor looks to land a body kick but Laoka moved away.
Sambor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Laoka takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Sambor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sambor blocks a low kick nicely.
Sambor misses with a kick to the body
and Laoka counters with a good low kick that Sambor was not able to check.
Sambor will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Sambor lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sambor drops his hands momentarily and Laoka takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Laoka gets a clinch.
Sambor tries to land knees in the clinch but Laoka avoids the damage to the body.
Laoka with a knee to the head.
Laoka lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sambor.
Sambor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Laoka tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

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 Katsu Laoka.
I think Laoka has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Katsu Laoka!
In his post fight interview, Katsu Laoka started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.