PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Renato Laranja (ranked 1670 p4p, 1883 weight class) and Michael Fochi (ranked 233 p4p, 259 weight class). Laranja comes to the cage accompanied by Sepultura - The Hunt. Renato Laranja had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Laranja
vs
Fochi

178 cm
34
177
9 - 12 - 0

168 cm
24
182
8 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Renato Laranja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Fochi!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Chris Downing and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fochi on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Fochi throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Fochi misses with a body shot.
Laranja is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Fochi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Laranja swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Fochi throws a predictable looking body shot
and Laranja counters with a right hand to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Laranja.
Fochi takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Laranja tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Fochi with the counter takedown but Laranja avoids it easily.
Laranja scores with a kick to the midsection.
A nice leg kick lands there from Laranja.
Laranja jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fochi takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Laranja cracks Fochi with an open hand slap.
Laranja lands a jab.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Fochi has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Renato Laranja seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Laranja fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Fochi misses with a series of wild punches.
Fochi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Laranja throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Laranja looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Fochi staying out of range there.
Fochi changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laranja looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Laranja throws an off balance right hand

and Fochi counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Laranja won't allow Fochi to pass to mount.
Laranja is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Fochi is pressing down on Laranja's thigh, looking to free his foot. Laranja is holding on for now.
Laranja is holding on to half guard well.

Laranja looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Laranja is looking to control Fochi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Laranja avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fochi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Laranja does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Laranja trying to control but Fochi postures up.

Laranja actively working from the bottom here.
Fochi tries to pass the half guard into mount. Laranja knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Laranja gets full guard.
Fochi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Laranja is keeping the position for now.
Fochi postures up.

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.
Fochi advances to half guard.
Fochi wants to control but Laranja is keeping him busy.
Laranja wants to get back to full guard but Fochi has passed into side control.
Laranja is not content to let Fochi control the position.
Laranja is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Fochi's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Fochi trying to pass the guard but Laranja defending well.
Laranja trying to control here.
Laranja slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
And that is 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 minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Laranja pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Fochi is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Fochi shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Laranja napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Laranja manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Fochi looking for submissions off his back.
Fochi is not content to let Laranja control the position.
Laranja controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Laranja seems to be looking for submissions.
Fochi tries to get to full guard but Laranja has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laranja stalling.
Laranja is looking to advance position but Fochi won't allow it.

Laranja is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Fochi has managed to free his arm - good work.
Fochi is looking for a sweep. Laranja is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Fochi wants to control but Laranja passes into side.
Laranja taking a break here but Fochi is having none of it and regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Fochi is staying active underneath Laranja, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Michael Fochi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Laranja is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Fochi is staying active underneath Laranja, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Fochi wants to get back to full guard.

Laranja moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Fochi.
Fochi is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fochi is still trying to improve position.
Laranja scores with punches from side control.

Laranja looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Laranja trying to control the action but Fochi is working from the bottom.
Fochi tries to bench press Laranja off him but Laranja keeps the position.
Fochi gets back to half guard.
Laranja is looking to take a break and control but Fochi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Laranja is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Fochi as he works his way to full guard.

Fochi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Laranja defends it easily.
Laranja passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Fochi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fochi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Renato Laranja will probably get the nod.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Laranja lands with a kick to the temple. Fochi shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Fochi blocks the body kick.
Laranja turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Laranja scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Fochi doesn't seem bothered though.
Laranja throws a body punch but Fochi moves out of range.
Fochi dodges the punch combination from Laranja.
Fochi throws out a counter right but Laranja avoids it with no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laranja lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Laranja is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fochi can do to turn this around?
Laranja missing with a left hand there. Fochi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot by Fochi.
Fochi takes a jab right on the kisser.
Fochi blocks a head kick by Laranja.
Laranja lands with a cross.
Laranja buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Fochi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Laranja throws a hook but Fochi avoids it easily.
Fochi throws out a counter right but Laranja avoids it with no problem.
Fochi is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Laranja throws a good cross that connects.
Michael Fochi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laranja slips a jab from Fochi.
Laranja throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Fochi misses with an uppercut. Laranja saw that one coming.
Laranja is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Laranja thumps Fochi with a low kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Laranja goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Laranja.
Laranja throws a nice inside leg kick.
Laranja tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And Fochi tries to counter it with a takedown but Laranja pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Laranja throws a head kick that misses

and Fochi counters with a single leg into guard. Laranja didn't expect that.
Fochi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Laranja is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fochi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Fochi passes Laranja's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Fochi wants to free his trapped foot but Laranja is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Laranja trying to control from the bottom.
Fochi trying to control the action but Laranja is working from the bottom.
Laranja is in trouble now - Fochi has advanced to mount!
Laranja is looking to improve his position but Fochi isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laranja is working hard here to advance position.
Laranja tries to lock up and control but Fochi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Laranja slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Fochi works his way into side control.
You can see the frustration on Laranja's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Fochi tries for a kimura but Laranja is defending well.

Fochi tries for a kimura but Laranja is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Renato Laranja showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Renato Laranja!
Renato Laranja decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.