PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Renato Laranja (ranked 2615 p4p, 48 weight class) and Czech Yosef (ranked 4010 p4p, 87 weight class). Czech Yosef will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Laranja
vs
Yosef

185 cm
26
215 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

184 cm
25
205 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Renato Laranja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Czech Yosef!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, William Gold and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yosef misses with a right hand

and Laranja counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Yosef is looking to get back to is feet but Laranja passes into side control.

Laranja goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Yosef has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Laranja but great work by Yosef.

Yosef stands up.
Yosef closes the distance looking to clinch

and Laranja counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Laranja controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Laranja has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laranja is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Laranja stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yosef swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Laranja slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

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.
Laranja pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yosef is keeping the position for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Yosef throws a series of punches but Laranja moves out of range.
Yosef is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Laranja.
Laranja tries to counter with a takedown but Yosef is quick to defend against it.
The crowd cheers as Yosef lands an impressive looking overhand right. Laranja doesn't seem phased though.
A cross from Yosef lands.
Yosef thows a leg kick but Laranja checks it

and Laranja counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Laranja trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Laranja seems to be looking for submissions.

Laranja is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Laranja is keen to just control but Yosef is a slippery customer.

Laranja 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.
Yosef is refusing to be controlled, as Laranja sits in half guard.

That's four 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.
Laranja wants to pass the guard but Yosef is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yosef is trying to stand back up but Laranja is controlling him
Laranja sitting and controlling from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Renato Laranja will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Laranja keeps the fight on the outside.

Laranja moves into the clinch.
Laranja is trying to pull guard but Yosef turns him against the ropes and we stay in the clinch.
Laranja taking a breather.
Yosef wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Laranja looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Laranja keeps control of Yosef as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Laranja taking a breather.
Laranja jumps guard but Yosef turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.
Yosef wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Laranja has him pressed against the ropes.
Yosef has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Laranja manages to pull guard.
Laranja is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laranja controlling Yosef's posture.

Laranja has his foot on Yosef's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Yosef works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yosef wants to control from the top but Laranja keeps moving.
Laranja pulls Yosef in to control the position.

Laranja is looking for a triangle but Yosef pushes his legs off easily.
Laranja seems keen to control Yosef's posture.
Yosef tries to stand but Laranja is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Yosef wants to control from the top but Laranja keeps moving.

Laranja is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Laranja is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Yosef is aware though and is defending well.

Laranja is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Laranja controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yosef postures up.

Laranja throws his legs up looking for a submission but Yosef uses it to pass to side control.
Laranja tries to bench press Yosef off him but Yosef keeps the position.
Yosef tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Laranja is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yosef can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Laranja tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Yosef easily slips into full mount!
Laranja sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Laranja is trying to get back to full guard.
Yosef not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Laranja tries to get to full guard but Yosef has control of the leg.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Laranja looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renato Laranja dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Good exchange - Yosef coming out on top.
Yosef throws a leg kick that is checked

and Laranja counters with a nice double leg into side control. Yosef won't be happy with that.
Yosef seems a little lost for a moment, as Laranja dominates the positioning.
Laranja passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Yosef!
Laranja looking to take Yosef's back but Yosef rolls and after a scramble, Yosef ends up on top in guard. Nice escape there from Yosef to escape a tricky position.
Laranja looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laranja is looking for a triangle but Yosef pushes his legs off easily.

Laranja looking for a guillotine here but Yosef defends easily.

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.
Yosef has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Laranja is proving hard to escape from.

Laranja looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Yosef must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Yosef trying to stand up but can't free himself from Laranja's guard.
Laranja controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yosef trying to control the position from guard on top but Laranja is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yosef would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Laranja keeping moving, preventing Yosef from controlling successfully.
Yosef would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Laranja had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Yosef defends it easily.
Czech Yosef has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four 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.
Yosef wants to get up but he can't break Laranja's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Laranja working a defensive guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Yosef fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Laranja has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yosef takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Yosef looks to clinch

so Laranja counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

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 Renato Laranja.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Laranja, 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

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