PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jichang Wook (ranked 4626 p4p, 4358 weight class) and Josiah Laughlin (ranked 479 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Wook
vs
Laughlin

178 cm
20
158
2 - 0 - 0

174 cm
18
164
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jichang Wook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Josiah Laughlin!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laughlin lands with a nice combination. Wook backs away looking to recover.
Jichang Wook seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wook fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Laughlin avoids it really well and circles away.
Laughlin falls off balance throwing a combination

and Wook counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Wook.

Wook stands up from Laughlin's guard - Wook perhaps looking for a knockout.

Wook clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laughlin is trying to force a seperation but Wook has the dominant position.
Wook lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Laughlin has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Wook has picked Laughlin up - he's going for a ride! Wook dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wook looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Wook is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Wook gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

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.
Laughlin throws a nice looking combination but Wook bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Wook attempts a counter takedown but Laughlin avoids it well and moves away.
Laughlin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Wook tries to counter by clinching up but Laughlin breaks away and moves out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Wook lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Wook seems content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ground and pound from Wook.
Laughlin on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Wook looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wook is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Wook wants to pass the guard but Laughlin is defending well.

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.
Wook perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Wook is working for a submission of some sort.

Wook is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Laughlin sees it coming and defends easily.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wook keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

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

Wook gets in close and instigates a clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jichang Wook dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Laughlin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Wook counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Wook holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Wook escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Horrible takedown attempt by Wook or perhaps it was just good defense by Laughlin, which made it look bad.
Laughlin throws a right hand that Wook ducks under and follows up with a left that Wook also avoids with ease.
Laughlin moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Laughlin lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laughlin avoids the head kick by Wook.
Laughlin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Wook moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Wook is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Laughlin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Wook with that takedown attempt.
Wook sets himself, and Laughlin steps forward looking for the clinch! Wook avoids it this time.
Laughlin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Laughlin wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jichang Wook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laughlin's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Laughlin duly obliges.

Wook closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Wook lands in his opponent's guard.
Wook is looking to work some ground and pound but Laughlin has wrist control.
Wook is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Wook has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laughlin wants to stand up but Wook is controlling him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Wook accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Wook postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Laughlin is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Wook, into his guard.

Laughlin won't allow Wook to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wook manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Laughlin manages to get himself to full guard.

Wook with a flurry of punches that miss.
Wook looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Wook passes Laughlin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Nice strikes from Wook there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wook content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Wook decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Wook looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wook is taking a breather. Laughlin says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Josiah Laughlin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Laughlin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Wook throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Laughlin throws a counter combo.

Wook shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Laughlin's guard.
Wook slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Jichang Wook overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laughlin wants to get back to his feet but Wook is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wook pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Laughlin is keeping the position for now.
Laughlin wants to get back to his feet but Wook is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Wook pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Laughlin is keeping the position for now.
Laughlin wants to get back to his feet but Wook is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Laughlin lands a two punch combo.

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.

Wook clinches with his opponent.
Laughlin is trying to break the clinch but Wook is controlling him.
Laughlin wants to break the clinch but can't.
Laughlin being controlled against the cage.

Wook gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Laughlin is trying to stand.
Wook controlling the pace.
Wook tries to pass to full mount but Laughlin defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wook is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Wook's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Wook is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Laughlin can do to turn this around?

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.
Laughlin is trying to stand.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A nice combination there by Laughlin.
Laughlin walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Laughlin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Wook takes the fight into the clinch.

Wook has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Laughlin uses from the top position.
Wook managing to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Wook is looking for a triangle but Laughlin pushes his legs off easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jichang Wook showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Wook 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jichang Wook!