PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Georges Laraque (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Saltz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Laraque
vs
Saltz

195 cm
23
225 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

192 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Georges Laraque!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Justin Saltz!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Elvis Blanc and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laraque showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Saltz.
Saltz misses with a wild combination.

Laraque drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Saltz looks gassed!

Laraque gets to his feet. Saltz looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Laraque doesn't manage to clinch there - Saltz circles away.

Laraque pushes Saltz up against the cage in a clinch.

Laraque escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Georges Laraque seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saltz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Laraque is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Laraque throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Laraque is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Laraque lands a head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laraque is looking to clinch.
Laraque bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Saltz's head.
Laraque lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Laraque fails to land with a series of punches.
Laraque tries to clinch up but Saltz circles away and keeps his distance.
Laraque tries a head kick but it misses.
No joy there for Laraque, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Laraque throws a series of punches but Saltz moves out of range.

Laraque drives through with a takedown into guard.

Laraque gets to his feet - Saltz follows without any prompting.
Laraque lands with a straight right. Saltz didn't see that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saltz keeps the fight on the outside.
Saltz walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Laraque throws a nice outside leg kick.
Laraque tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Laraque moves in looking to clinch but Saltz pushes him off.
Laraque fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A left and a right from Laraque both land. Nice combination.
Laraque fails with an attempt to clinch.
Laraque shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Saltz defends it nicely.

Laraque scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Laraque stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Laraque.
Saltz is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Laraque is controlling him well.

Laraque looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Laraque just content to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laraque prevents Saltz from escaping the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Laraque stands up and beckons Saltz to his feet.
Laraque tries to close the distance and clinch but Saltz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georges Laraque dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nice body punch from Laraque.
Saltz throws a combination that misses
and Laraque cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Laraque throws a good cross that connects.

Laraque drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Saltz is trying to escape the position but Laraque is controlling the position.

Laraque decides to stand back up. Laraque steps back and let's Saltz get back to his feet.
Laraque lands a nice looking body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Laraque tries to clinch up but Saltz circles away and keeps his distance.
Good exchange - Laraque coming out on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saltz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Laraque cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Laraque tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Laraque uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Saltz.
Saltz swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Laraque counters with a straight right hand.
Laraque keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Laraque tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Laraque manages to pull guard.
Saltz postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Laraque looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Laraque wants to stand and escape but Saltz is having none of it.
Laraque working a defensive guard here.

Laraque scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Saltz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Saltz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laraque lands a nice looking body shot.
Laraque connects with a crisp jab.
Georges Laraque is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Saltz throws a series of punches but Laraque avoids them all with ease.
Justin Saltz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Laraque fails in his attempt to clinch.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Laraque.
Saltz throws a combination that misses
and Laraque makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Laraque throws a head kick that misses.
Saltz misses with a combination
and Laraque counters with a body kick.

Laraque looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laraque slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Laraque wants to control from the top but Saltz keeps moving.
Saltz wants to stand and escape but Laraque is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georges Laraque dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Laraque fails in his attempt to clinch.
Saltz takes a kick to the side of the head.
Saltz takes a kick to the side of the head.
Laraque lands a with a good body shot.
Laraque lets loose with a powerful body kick. Saltz will feel that in the morning.
Saltz takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Saltz needs to keep his hands up - Laraque had a free shot at his head there.
Laraque connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Saltz momentarily.
Saltz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Laraque.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice shot by Laraque.
Laraque slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Saltz swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Laraque counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saltz falls off balance throwing a combination
and Laraque counters with a three punch combo that has Saltz backing up. Saltz nods at Laraque to acknowledge the strikes.
Saltz misses with a double jab

and Laraque holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Saltz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Laraque drops down looking for an ankle pick but Saltz pulls his leg out and moves away.
Saltz takes one to the side of the head.
Saltz takes a swing at Laraque's ribcage but misses.

That's two 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.

Saltz gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Laraque wants to pass the guard but Saltz is keeping the position.
Laraque content to stall in guard here.
Laraque is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saltz can do to turn this around?

Laraque gets to his feet. Saltz looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laraque fails in his attempt to clinch.
Saltz bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Laraque's head.
Laraque tries to clinch up.
Laraque tries to clinch up but Saltz circles away and keeps his distance.
Laraque fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Georges Laraque. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laraque throws a series of strikes that have Saltz backpedaling.
Laraque tries to clinch up.
Saltz swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Laraque counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Saltz throws a right and a left that Laraque avoids nicely.
Saltz walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Laraque tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Justin Saltz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Saltz walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Saltz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Laraque counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Georges Laraque is winning the standup battle so far.
Laraque looks to land a left hand but Saltz moved out of range nicely.
Saltz swats away the attempt to clinch by Laraque.
Laraque tries to clinch up but Saltz circles away and keeps his distance.
Laraque tries to clinch up.
Georges Laraque is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Laraque throws out a powerful jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Georges Laraque showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Laraque has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:26
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:26
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Georges Laraque!