PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johnny LaRusso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tabor Nok (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). LaRusso kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is You're The Best!. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

LaRusso
vs
Nok

182 cm
19
197 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johnny LaRusso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tabor Nok!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Trevor Gratis and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
LaRusso fails to land the takedown.
LaRusso pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nok has a takedown stuffed.
Nok tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but LaRusso paws at him with a jab and circles away.
LaRusso lands with a nice body kick.
LaRusso is looking to clinch.
Nok shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. LaRusso defends it nicely.
LaRusso connects with a jab.
Johnny LaRusso seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nok shoots in but no luck this time.
Johnny LaRusso has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tabor Nok.
Nok shoots in for a takedown but LaRusso shows good takedown defense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nok looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nok looks gassed!
LaRusso shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nok as he jumps to the side.
Nok takes a head kick and keeps coming.
No joy there for Nok, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nok shoots in and drives through. LaRusso sprawls well.

Excellent takedown into side control there by LaRusso.
A lull in the action here.
LaRusso advances nicely into full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

LaRusso is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Nok is surviving well by controlling LaRusso's body position as best he can.
LaRusso fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nok can do anything to dispel that myth.
LaRusso controlling the position easily from mount.
LaRusso thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaRusso looking to control and managing it successfully.
LaRusso fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

LaRusso has control of Nok's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Nok regains control of the situation pretty easily.
LaRusso takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Nok should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
LaRusso thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
LaRusso controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny LaRusso dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

LaRusso lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by LaRusso.

It looks like Tabor Nok has been cut.
LaRusso dives in and grabs Nok's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nok pushes down on LaRusso's head and hops out.
Johnny LaRusso is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nok shoots in for a takedown but LaRusso shows good takedown defense.
LaRusso stuns Nok with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

LaRusso closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nok to the mat! Nok manages to get full guard.
LaRusso controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Nok is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nok is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nok can't keep his opponent in guard - LaRusso advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
LaRusso looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
LaRusso throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
LaRusso controlling the pace.

That's two 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.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
LaRusso has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Johnny LaRusso wasn't doing enough on the ground.

LaRusso closes the distance and pushes Nok back into the ropes.
LaRusso jumps guard but Nok stands there with LaRusso around his waist. LaRusso gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
LaRusso tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nok just stands there and leans against the ropes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny LaRusso. That's going to take a lot out of him.
LaRusso with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
LaRusso is working for takedown but Nok is calmly controlling the position for now.
LaRusso cracks Nok with a nice body shot.
LaRusso looking to stall.
LaRusso wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nok throws an elbow but it's blocked.
LaRusso prevents the takedown attempt.
Nok tries to break free but LaRusso pushes him back against the ropes.
LaRusso tries to pull guard but Nok won't allow it.
LaRusso trying to control the position but instead, Nok has worked for underhooks and has pushed LaRusso into the ropes.

LaRusso's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nok misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
LaRusso goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Nok slaps away a takedown attempt from LaRusso, before circling back to the center of the mat.
LaRusso wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
LaRusso closes the distance and clinches up with Nok, looking for a takedown. LaRusso pushes Nok against the ropes but Nok circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Johnny LaRusso is winning the standup battle so far.
LaRusso tries to clinch

and Nok moves into the clinch.
Nok tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. LaRusso smiles and moves away.

LaRusso clinches up against the ropes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

LaRusso's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
LaRusso shoots in but Nok avoids the takedown attempt easily.
LaRusso shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nok as he avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny LaRusso dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tabor Nok's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Nok gets tackled into the ropes by LaRusso. LaRusso maintains the clinch.
Nok looking for a takedown.
Nok prevents LaRusso from breaking the clinch.
Nok stops a takedown attempt from LaRusso.

Nok breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
LaRusso lands a right hook to the body.
LaRusso tries for a takedown but Nok circles away easily

and Nok decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in LaRusso's guard.
LaRusso is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
LaRusso not doing much here.
LaRusso has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Nok takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaRusso unloads with some shots from mount but Nok bucks and avoids them well.
LaRusso takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
LaRusso'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.

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.
LaRusso looking to ground and pound but Nok is blocking nicely.
LaRusso throws some wild stikes that Nok manages to avoid easily.
LaRusso sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
LaRusso takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Nok bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Nok must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nok tries to stand but LaRusso is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaRusso is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
LaRusso is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

LaRusso wants to work for an arm triangle but Nok is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Tabor Nok has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.

LaRusso is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
LaRusso wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nok keeps working.
LaRusso thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nok's head.
Johnny LaRusso is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
LaRusso controlling the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Johnny LaRusso.
Well LaRusso has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight for Johnny LaRusso!
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight for Johnny LaRusso!
Judge William Peck scores the fight for Johnny LaRusso!

Johnny LaRusso wins by unanimous decision!