PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tony Jaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vincent LaCroix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jaa
vs
LaCroix

165 cm
20
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Great elbows
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 Tokyo, Tony Jaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Vincent LaCroix!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

LaCroix decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
LaCroix is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Jaa tries to kick LaCroix off but LaCroix keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Jaa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
LaCroix is taking a breather. Jaa 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.
Jaa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from LaCroix.
Jaa tries to roll over but LaCroix keeps him under control.

LaCroix gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Jaa tries to clinch but LaCroix moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaa tries to clinch but LaCroix moves out of range.
Jaa doesn't succeed with the takedown

and LaCroix counters with a single leg into guard. Jaa didn't expect that.
LaCroix seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
LaCroix's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Jaa wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
LaCroix slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
LaCroix looking to pass the guard.
LaCroix looking to sit in guard and control but Jaa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

LaCroix uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Jaa gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows LaCroix to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaa keeping moving, preventing LaCroix from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
LaCroix drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Jaa manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now LaCroix has Jaa in his guard.
LaCroix looks gassed!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now LaCroix is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Jaa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. LaCroix defends it easily.
Jaa looking to control.
Jaa has LaCroix pulled in close to control his posture.
LaCroix controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Jaa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and LaCroix defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vincent LaCroix dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

No joy there for LaCroix, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Jaa clinches up against the cage.
LaCroix lands a knee to the body.

LaCroix ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. LaCroix no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

LaCroix manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Jaa throws a head kick that misses

and LaCroix counters with a nice double leg into guard.
LaCroix controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Let's hope that LaCroix has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Jaa wants to sweep but no luck.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

LaCroix gets to his feet. Jaa looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Jaa fails with the takedown

and LaCroix counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Jaa's guard now.
Jaa wants to get back to his feet but LaCroix is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
LaCroix wants to pass the guard but Jaa is keeping the position.

Jaa is working an open guard so LaCroix takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

LaCroix closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Jaa did well to prevent LaCroix getting side control.
LaCroix lands with a punch from half guard.
LaCroix thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Jaa's head.
LaCroix slows the pace down in half guard.
LaCroix working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Well, if LaCroix is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
LaCroix not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaa wants to get back to full guard.
Still in half guard, LaCroix seems content to control.
Jaa wants to improve his position but LaCroix is controlling well.
LaCroix is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Jaa working to try and regain half guard.
LaCroix landing strikes from the mount.

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.
LaCroix postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Jaa looks a forlorn figure.
LaCroix takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Jaa really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vincent LaCroix showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

LaCroix scores with a takedown into Jaa's guard.
LaCroix trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
LaCroix throws a strike but Jaa rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Jaa looking to sit in guard and control but LaCroix gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
LaCroix is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaCroix pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jaa is keeping the position for now.
LaCroix trying to control the position from guard on top but Jaa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
LaCroix prevents Jaa from getting back to his feet.
LaCroix trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Jaa manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
LaCroix is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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.
Jaa wants to control from the top but LaCroix keeps moving.
LaCroix is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
LaCroix unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Jaa goes for a takedown attempt but LaCroix pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Jaa looks to throw a body kick

and LaCroix counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaCroix perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

LaCroix stands up out of the half guard.

LaCroix fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jaa, pushing him back against the cage.

LaCroix works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
LaCroix trying to control but Jaa is working from the bottom.
LaCroix wants to get up but he can't break Jaa's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
LaCroix with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jaa trying to control the position.
LaCroix postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
LaCroix postures up.
LaCroix passes Jaa's left leg - he's now in half guard.
LaCroix controlling the action here.
LaCroix is trying to control the action in half guard but Jaa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vincent LaCroix comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well LaCroix has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vincent LaCroix!