PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joel Joyce (ranked 5243 p4p, 4734 weight class) and Jenel Lausa (ranked 297 p4p, 277 weight class). Lausa comes into a darkened arena with his song building. PILIPINAS kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Joel Joyce has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Joyce
vs
Lausa

173 cm
23
135
0 - 1 - 0

165 cm
23
130
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

BANZAI COMBAT NUTRITION

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joel Joyce!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jenel Lausa!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Lausa.
Lausa throws a shot from downtown. Joyce moves away and avoids it.

Lausa shoots in and gets a takedown into Joyce's guard.
Joyce has a closed guard, preventing Lausa from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lausa works over Joyce with some ground and pound from guard.
Joyce not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lausa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Joyce works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lausa scoring with some ground and pound.
Lausa trying to control but Joyce is working from the bottom.
Lausa wants to stand and escape but instead Joyce has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joyce throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lausa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lausa wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lausa pulls Joyce in close to prevent any damage.
Joyce trying to control the position from guard on top but Lausa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lausa has his hands on Joyce's head, controlling the position.
Lausa keeping moving, preventing Joyce from controlling successfully.
Lausa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Joyce. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lausa seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Joyce advances position into side control!
Lausa is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Joyce off and has taken his back!
Joyce is trying to break free.
Joyce is working hard here to advance position.
Lausa is working the ground and pound. Can Joyce escape?
Joyce turns into Lausa and is now in his guard.
Joyce won't allow Lausa to sweep him here.

Lausa throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Joyce escapes and throws Lausa's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joyce working the ground and pound from side control.
A lull in the action here as Joyce stalls from top position.

Joyce is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lausa has escaped the position, nice work there.

Joyce is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lausa has escaped the position, nice work there.
Lausa is looking to regain half guard here but Joyce keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Joyce wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lausa keeps working.
Joyce tries to move to mount but Lausa blocks the move with his legs.
Lausa struggling a bit here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
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 Joel Joyce will probably get the nod.
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.

Joyce rushes Lausa and presses him up against the cage.
Lausa is trying to break free.
Joyce putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Lausa in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Joyce pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Joyce is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Joyce lands a nice elbow.

Lausa has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Joyce uses from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Jenel Lausa has got the better of the ground game so far.

Joyce is looking for a triangle but Lausa pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lausa lands a couple of elbows.
Lausa with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Lausa is working Joyce over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Lausa throwing strikes from guard but Joyce blocks nicely.
Lausa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Joyce is trying to control the position but Lausa postures up.
Lausa is working Joyce over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Lausa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lausa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lausa keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Joyce's head.
Joyce not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lausa scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lausa wants to control from the top but Joyce keeps moving.
Joyce can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lausa controls the pace.
Lausa postures up.
Lausa cracks Joyce with a solid left hand.

Joyce is looking for a triangle but Lausa pushes his legs off easily.

Lausa decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Joyce, up you get!

Lausa darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lausa wants to control but Joyce is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lausa is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Lausa is nestled in close to Joyce, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Joyce is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lausa pulls his head out easily.
Lausa working Joyce over with strikes.
Lausa looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Lausa throws a strike but Joyce avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Lausa throws a sloppy strike and Joyce has hooked up an armbar on the loose arm! He's turned and extended fully! Lausa is forced to tap! Great BJJ from Joyce!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Joel Joyce!
Jenel Lausa was interviewed post fight and said 'I AM SORRY'.