PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tang Po (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Caloy Labayen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tang Po has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Po
vs
Labayen

190 cm
22
175 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

195 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tang Po!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Caloy Labayen!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Po wants to clinch up but Labayen keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Po looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Po tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Labayen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Po moves in looking to clinch but Labayen pushes him off.
Po tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Labayen is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Labayen wants to clinch

and Po counters by clinching up.
Po lands an elbow just above Labayen 's eye.
Po trying to land knees to the body.
Po prevents the takedown attempt.
Labayen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Po just stands there and leans against the cage.
Po tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Labayen working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Po gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Po misses with a knee to the head.
Po landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Po putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Labayen in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Po lands a knee to the body.
Labayen looks gassed!
Labayen takes a knee right on the jaw!
Po lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Po scores a nice knee to the body.
Labayen working hard to break the clinch.
Po lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Caloy Labayen has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Knees to the body from Po.
Po connects with a nasty looking knee right to Labayen's face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Po unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Po scores with a knee to the head.
Po landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Po connects with a knee to the head.
Po landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Po lands an elbow inside that Labayen shrugs off.
Po utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Labayen takes a knee to the side of the body.
Po with a knee to the head.
Labayen tries to work over Po's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Po lands an elbow just above Labayen 's eye.
Labayen is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Po is keeping busy.
Po landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Po on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Labayen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Po putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Labayen in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Labayen takes a knee right on the jaw!
Labayen jumps guard but Po stands there with Labayen around his waist. Labayen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tang Po has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Caloy Labayen.
Po working Labayen over with knees to the body.
Po lands an elbow inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Labayen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Labayen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Labayen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Po lands an elbow inside.
Labayen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Po lands a good knee to the midsection. Labayen won't want to take too many of those.
Labayen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Po.
Po putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Labayen in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Po misses with a knee strike.
Nice elbow from Po.

Labayen pulls guard effortlessly.
Po trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Labayen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Po passes into half guard.
Labayen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Po.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Po missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Po gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Po avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Po tries to clinch up

and Labayen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Labayen.
Po trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Po pushes Labayen off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Labayen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Labayen fails with the takedown.
Po tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Po tries to close the distance and clinch up but Labayen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Po doesn't manage to clinch there - Labayen circles away.
Tang Po is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Po avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Po fails in his attempt to clinch.
Labayen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Po.
Po tries to clinch there but Labayen circles away.
Po fails in his attempt to clinch.
Po clinches but Labayen breaks the clinch

and Labayen counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Po sneaks out the side door and pushes Labayen away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Labayen.
Po is looking to clinch but Labayen is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tang Po dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Caloy Labayen's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Po circles away from the clinch attempt.
Po tries to close the distance and clinch up but Labayen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Po tries to clinch up but Labayen circles away and keeps his distance.
Labayen throws a jab when Po was well out of range.
Labayen swats away the attempt to clinch by Po.
Po avoids a kick to the body.
Labayen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Po wants to clinch but Labayen slips to the side

and Labayen counters by moving into the clinch.
Po lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Po misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Labayen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Po working Labayen over with knees to the body.

Labayen jumps guard and drags Po to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Po lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Po missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Po decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Po tries to close the distance and clinch up but Labayen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Po wants to clinch.
Po darts in trying to clinch

so Labayen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Po striking from the bottom.
Po trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Po has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Po throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Po wants to get back to his feet but Labayen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Po kicks Labayen off and gets to his feet.

Labayen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Po lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Labayen tries to circle away but Po has him pinned against the cage.
Labayen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Po just stands there and leans against the cage.
Po creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Labayen's defenses.
Po has Labayen pressed against the cage, preventing Labayen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Po working Labayen over with knees to the body.
Po connects with a nasty looking knee right to Labayen's face.
Labayen is trying to maintain a safe position but Po gets an underhook and turns Labayen into the cage.
Knees to the body from Po.
Po lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Po misses with a knee strike.
Po lands a good knee to the midsection. Labayen won't want to take too many of those.

Labayen wants the takedown. Po is fighting it off but Labayen persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Po's guard against the cage.
Po throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Po trying to strike off his back.
Labayen looking to pass the guard.

Labayen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Labayen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Labayen wanted to stand there but Po had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Po keeping moving, preventing Labayen from controlling successfully.
Po wants to stand and escape but Labayen is having none of it.
Po throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Po closes the distance but Labayen moves to the side

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

Po is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Po blocks a body shot from Labayen.
Labayen working hard to break the clinch.
Po landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Po with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Labayen jumps guard but Po stands there with Labayen around his waist. Labayen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Po looking to throw knees to the head but Labayen is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Po comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Labayen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Po smiles and moves away.
Tang Po has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Caloy Labayen.
Labayen misses with a kick to the body

and Po moves into the clinch.
Po working Labayen over with knees to the body.
Po lands an elbow inside that Labayen shrugs off.
Labayen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Po with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Po lands an elbow inside that Labayen shrugs off.
Labayen tries to break the clinch but Po is controlling the position.
Labayen takes a knee to the side of the body.
Po crunches a lovely knee into Labayen's ribcage.
Labayen misses with the head strike.
Po lands an elbow inside.
Po using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Labayen is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Labayen wants to break free but Po has control.
Po connects with a knee to the head.
Po missing with knees to the body.
Labayen tries to break the clinch but Po is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caloy Labayen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Caloy Labayen's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Po tries to clinch up

and Labayen counters with a takedown into side control.
Po takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Po is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Labayen is controlling him well.
Po is looking for a sweep.
Po bucks up and tries to throw Labayen off but instead Labayen has got his back!
What can Po do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Labayen is trying to stick to Po's back but Po is turning into Labayen. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Labayen's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Po.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Labayen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Labayen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Labayen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Po thows a big elbow that misses.
Po throws a big right hand that misses.
Po thows a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
The fight stays on the outside here - Labayen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Labayen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Labayen shoots for a takedown but Po saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Po fails with an attempt to clinch.

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.
Po tries to clinch up but Labayen circles away and keeps his distance.
Tang Po seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Labayen shoots in but no luck this time.
Po wants to clinch up but Labayen keeps it at a distance.
Po is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Po darts in trying to clinch

and Labayen counters with a single leg into guard. Po didn't expect that.

Labayen drops back looking for a leg! Po is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Po manages to kick Labayen off! Labayen jumps back into Po's guard.
Labayen won't allow Po to get back to his feet.
Labayen trying to control the position from guard on top but Po is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Labayen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Po trying to strike off his back.
Labayen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Po throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Po wriggles free and stands up.

Po moves into range and clinches up with Labayen.

Labayen successfully pulls guard.
Po postures up in Labayen's guard and throws a big left but Labayen blocks it.
Labayen will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Po postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Po loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Po missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Labayen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Labayen wants to sweep here but Po controlling him for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Po takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Po tries to clinch up.

Po fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Labayen, pushing him back against the cage.
Po crunches a lovely knee into Labayen's ribcage.
Labayen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Labayen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Po blocks an elbow strike from Labayen.
Po is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Labayen is defending well for now.
Labayen blocks the elbow strike.

Labayen jumps guard.
Po throws a strike but Labayen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

And that's the end of the fight!
Caloy Labayen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Labayen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Suge Night scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Caloy Labayen!