PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Negreanu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruben Lagus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Negreanu kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Ari Gold - Let's Hug It Out, BITCH. Lagus has chosen Llevas Polka as his entrance music. Daniel Negreanu has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Negreanu
vs
Lagus

184 cm
25
215 lbs
13 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
205 lbs
15 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Next Level Nutrition--159q (video proof)$60
Gilop®

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Daniel Negreanu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ruben Lagus!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Anthony Taglia and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Negreanu fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lagus throws a looping overhand right but Negreanu ducks down to avoid it.
Lagus just misses with a punch to the body.
Ruben Lagus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big right from Lagus misses.
Lagus throws a shot from downtown. Negreanu moves away and avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lagus shoots and misses
and Negreanu makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lagus fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Negreanu manages to avoid it.
Lagus throws a poor cross that misses
and Negreanu finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Negreanu lands with a good body shot.
Lagus throws a right hand that misses
and Negreanu counters with a head kick.
Lagus throws a poor cross that misses

and Negreanu counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Lagus keeping moving, preventing Negreanu from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Negreanu is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Lagus is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Lagus is trying to control the position but Negreanu postures up.
Lagus controlling Negreanu's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Daniel Negreanu just wasn't active enough.
Lagus lands with an uppercut that bounces Negreanu off the cage and back into rage.
Lagus misses with a shot to the body
and Negreanu counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Lagus throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Negreanu counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Negreanu thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Lagus if he has to take too many more of those.
Lagus misses with a lunging right hand
and Negreanu counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Negreanu digs a good body shot into Lagus's ribs.
Lagus swings widly with a right hand
and Negreanu counters with a slapping leg kick.
A jab from Lagus misses.
A good leg kick by Negreanu.
Negreanu with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lagus counters with a series of strikes. Negreanu will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lagus throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Negreanu counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Negreanu bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Lagus's face as Negreanu controls the position.
Negreanu moves into full mount!
Negreanu sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lagus is desperately trying to improve his position but Negreanu has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Negreanu dominated that round.
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.

Negreanu just misses with a punch to the body.
Negreanu with a poor takedown
and Lagus counters with a nice body shot.
Lagus connects with a jab.
Negreanu ducks under a wild hook from Lagus.
A low kick from Lagus is predictable there
and Negreanu counters with an outside leg kick.
Negreanu avoids the head kick by Lagus.
Negreanu scores with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Negreanu defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lagus.
Lagus shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Negreanu.
Negreanu takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Lagus tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Negreanu is able to avoid easily.
Lagus swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lagus throws an off balance right hand
and Negreanu finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Lagus swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Negreanu counters with a right hand to the body.
Negreanu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lagus manages to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Negreanu. Lagus does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lagus is trying hard to land a takedown here. Negreanu sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Daniel Negreanu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruben Lagus.
Lagus misses with an uppercut
and Negreanu counters with a good low kick that Lagus was not able to check.
Lagus has his takedown stuffed

and Negreanu counters with a takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Negreanu trying to control the action but Lagus is working from the bottom.
Lagus sneaks back into half guard.
Lagus regains full guard. Nicely done.
Negreanu pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lagus is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Lagus seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Negreanu is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Lagus manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Negreanu manages to regain half guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Daniel Negreanu will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Negreanu looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Negreanu is looking to take a break and control but Lagus is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lagus wants to improve his position but Negreanu is controlling well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lagus landing small, sideways elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lagus is trying to get back to full guard.
Negreanu wants to take a breather but Lagus is having none of it.
Still in half guard, Negreanu seems content to control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Lagus is trying to control but can't.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Negreanu in particular looking to stall.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Daniel Negreanu wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A telegraphed right hand from Lagus misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lagus is looking to chop away at Negreanu's legs.
Lagus misses with an uppercut
and Negreanu counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Negreanu is looking to wear down Lagus with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Lagus misses with a wild body shot.
Negreanu tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lagus sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Negreanu somewhat.
Negreanu ducks under a wild hook from Lagus.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lagus waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Negreanu.
Negreanu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lagus.
Lagus misses with a hook to the body

and Negreanu counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Negreanu.
Lagus keeping full guard, as Negreanu tries to pass.

Lagus has his foot on Negreanu's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Negreanu works his way back into a safe position though.
Lagus wants to improve his position but instead Negreanu has moved into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Negreanu is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Negreanu trying to control from half guard but Lagus is working away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lagus is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Negreanu clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lagus throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Negreanu's waist but Negreanu gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lagus off to one side.
Negreanu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lagus misses with a lunging right hand
and Negreanu counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Negreanu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lagus.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lagus throws a right hand that misses
and Negreanu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A low kick from Lagus misses
and Negreanu counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lagus connects with a crisp jab.
Lagus throws a shot from downtown. Negreanu moves away and avoids it.
Negreanu misses with a wild body shot.
A slow jab from Lagus misses its intended target.
Daniel Negreanu is winning the standup battle so far.
Lagus throws a right hand that misses
and Negreanu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lagus misses with an uppercut

and Negreanu counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lagus is on top in guard.
Negreanu is trying to control the position but Lagus postures up.
Lagus is fighting to break Negreanu's control of his arms but Negreanu is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Lagus throwing strikes from guard but Negreanu blocks nicely.
Lagus trying to control the position from guard on top but Negreanu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Daniel Negreanu has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Lagus throws a leg kick
and Negreanu counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Lagus scores with a punch to the head.
Lagus misses the body punch
and Negreanu counters with a nice kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Negreanu looks to score with a jab to the body but Lagus is just out of range.
Negreanu throws a leg kick that is checked
and Lagus counters with a nice uppercut.
Lagus swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Lagus has his takedown stuffed

so Negreanu counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Lagus keeping full guard, as Negreanu tries to pass.
Negreanu passes Lagus's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Negreanu had his way with Ruben Lagus in that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Negreanu closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lagus circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Negreanu.
Lagus tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Lagus misses with a leg kick
and Negreanu makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Lagus really felt that one!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Negreanu looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Lagus shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lagus thows a leg kick but Negreanu checks it

and Negreanu counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Negreanu is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Negreanu seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Lagus for as long as he can get away with.
Negreanu preventing the sweep.
Ruben Lagus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Negreanu pushing down on Lagus's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Lagus trying to hold on to Negreanu's head to control him but Negreanu postures up.
Negreanu tries to pass to full mount but Lagus defends it.

Negreanu is looking for a kimura here.
Lagus is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Negreanu wants to control but Lagus is keeping him busy.
Negreanu prevents Lagus from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lagus actively working from the bottom here.
Lagus works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Lagus lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Negreanu!
Lagus lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Negreanu tries to hold on but Lagus postures up.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Lagus cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

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 Daniel Negreanu.
Well Negreanu 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 50:45
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 50:45
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Negreanu!