PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Derek Laplaglia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Magnet The Punching Machine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Laplaglia
vs
The Punching Machine

170 cm
20
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Derek Laplaglia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Magnet The Punching Machine!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Micheangelo Fripello and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Laplaglia has managed to clinch.
Laplaglia with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Magnet The Punching Machine has been cut.
Laplaglia blocks an elbow strike from The Punching Machine.
The Punching Machine looking to throw knees to the head but Laplaglia is blocking nicely.
Laplaglia connects with a nasty looking knee right to The Punching Machine's face.
A short right from Laplaglia on the inside.
Laplaglia softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Laplaglia softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The Punching Machine lands a right hand.
Laplaglia makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Laplaglia misses with some punches.
Laplaglia looking to throw knees to the head but The Punching Machine is blocking nicely.
The Punching Machine pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Laplaglia goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The Punching Machine can't get the takedown.
The Punching Machine can't get the takedown.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Laplaglia swings wildly with an uppercut but The Punching Machine uses good head movement to avoid it.
Laplaglia with an attempt at a knee that misses.
The Punching Machine drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Derek Laplaglia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Magnet The Punching Machine.
Laplaglia tries to land a knee to the head but The Punching Machine blocks with his arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Punching Machine is working for takedown but Laplaglia is calmly controlling the position for now.
Laplaglia throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but The Punching Machine blocks it with crossed arms.
The Punching Machine takes a shot to the head.
Laplaglia pushes The Punching Machine back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

The Punching Machine gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Laplaglia pulls The Punching Machine in close to his closed guard and prevents The Punching Machine from doing any damage or advancing position.
The Punching Machine wants to pass the guard but Laplaglia is keeping the position.

The Punching Machine thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Punching Machine is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The Punching Machine stops Laplaglia from standing up.
The Punching Machine makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The Punching Machine won't allow Laplaglia to get back to his feet.
Laplaglia is trying to hold The Punching Machine in close to prevent damage but The Punching Machine has managed to pass into half guard.
Laplaglia is looking for a sweep. The Punching Machine is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with The Punching Machine in particular looking to stall.
The Punching Machine passes to side control.
Laplaglia is breathing heavily.
The Punching Machine is looking to take a break and control but Laplaglia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The Punching Machine is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Laplaglia's shoulder. That is not cool.
The Punching Machine creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Laplaglia struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Punching Machine in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The Punching Machine trying to control the action but Laplaglia is working from the bottom.
The Punching Machine is putting a hurting on Laplaglia here, landing some big shots from side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The Punching Machine landing a few strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Magnet The Punching Machine will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Magnet The Punching Machine's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

The Punching Machine tries to close the distance and clinch but Laplaglia swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The Punching Machine circles away from the clinch attempt.
Laplaglia moves in looking to clinch but The Punching Machine pushes him off.
Laplaglia fails in his attempt to clinch.
The Punching Machine swats away the attempt to clinch by Laplaglia.
The Punching Machine is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The Punching Machine tries to clinch there but Laplaglia circles away.
The Punching Machine swats away the attempt to clinch by Laplaglia.
The Punching Machine tries to close the distance and clinch but Laplaglia swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Laplaglia tries to clinch but The Punching Machine moves out of range.
Laplaglia wants to clinch up but The Punching Machine keeps it at a distance.
Laplaglia moves to clinch but The Punching Machine breaks away
and The Punching Machine counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Derek Laplaglia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Laplaglia moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laplaglia throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but The Punching Machine blocks it with crossed arms.
Laplaglia misses with a punch on the inside.
The Punching Machine is trying to maintain a safe position but Laplaglia gets an underhook and turns The Punching Machine into the cage.
The Punching Machine lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Laplaglia scores with a shot to the side of The Punching Machine's head.
The Punching Machine misses with an elbow over the top.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
The Punching Machine misses with an elbow strike.
Laplaglia prevents a takedown attempt there.
Laplaglia throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but The Punching Machine blocks it with crossed arms.
The Punching Machine has had enough of the clinch but Laplaglia keeps him there for the moment.
Laplaglia misses with a knee strike.
The Punching Machine wants a takedown but no success here.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Laplaglia creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Laplaglia misses with a knee strike.
Laplaglia has a couple of punches blocked by The Punching Machine.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laplaglia misses with a punch to the body.
Laplaglia lands an elbow inside.
The Punching Machine fails to pull guard.
Derek Laplaglia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Magnet The Punching Machine.
The Punching Machine is breathing heavily.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Laplaglia.
Laplaglia is struggling to control the position.
Laplaglia lands a hook that snaps the head of The Punching Machine backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The Punching Machine is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Laplaglia is defending well.
The Punching Machine throws a head punch that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Laplaglia.
Laplaglia lands with a light punch inside.
The Punching Machine is looking for a takedown.
Laplaglia throws a blind hook that connects with the side of The Punching Machines head.
Laplaglia tries a knee to the head but The Punching Machine blocks it.

The Punching Machine has picked Laplaglia up - he's going for a ride! The Punching Machine dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Laplaglia is controlling The Punching Machine's trapped leg to prevent The Punching Machine from advancing to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Punching Machine is trying to control. Laplaglia wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The Punching Machine stops Laplaglia from getting back to his feet.
The Punching Machine trying to control the action but Laplaglia is working from the bottom.
Laplaglia wants to control but The Punching Machine is keeping busy.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Laplaglia has The Punching Machine up against the cage in a clinch.
The Punching Machine goes for a takedown attempt but Laplaglia pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Derek Laplaglia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Laplaglia takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laplaglia lands an uppercut.
Laplaglia lands with a left to the head.
Laplaglia lands a left hand that snaps the head of The Punching Machine backwards.
Laplaglia connects with a nasty looking knee right to The Punching Machine's face.
Laplaglia lands an elbow inside.
Laplaglia tries to land a knee to the head but The Punching Machine blocks with his arms.
The Punching Machine looking to slow down the pace here.
Laplaglia blocks an elbow strike from The Punching Machine.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Laplaglia lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of The Punching Machine backwards.
A knee to the head by Laplaglia.

The Punching Machine has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Laplaglia is trying to keep an underhook but The Punching Machine manages to get the takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Laplaglia dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Magnet The Punching Machine's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Laplaglia works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Laplaglia scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Laplaglia misses with a wild combination.
Laplaglia falls off balance throwing a combination
and The Punching Machine makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

The Punching Machine drives through with a takedown into guard.
The Punching Machine lands a couple of elbows.
Laplaglia keeping full guard, as The Punching Machine tries to pass.
The Punching Machine prevents Laplaglia from getting back to his feet.
The Punching Machine throws a big elbow that misses.
The Punching Machine loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Punching Machine tries to free his leg and advance position but Laplaglia is retaining full guard.
The Punching Machine sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Laplaglia's guard.
The Punching Machine not doing much here.
Laplaglia knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for The Punching Machine on the ground.
The Punching Machine drops an elbow to the side of Laplaglia's head.
Laplaglia on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Laplaglia tries to get out of the position.
The Punching Machine lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Laplaglia is refusing to be controlled, as The Punching Machine sits in half guard.
The Punching Machine is looking to advance position but Laplaglia won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Punching Machine sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Laplaglia defending well though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The Punching Machine trying to pass the guard but Laplaglia defending well.
The Punching Machine is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Laplaglia reverses the position - he's now on top in The Punching Machine's guard.
The Punching Machine wants to stand but Laplaglia is controlling the position.
Laplaglia trying to control but The Punching Machine is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Punching Machine not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Derek Laplaglia.
Laplaglia fails with an attempt to clinch.
Laplaglia tries to close the distance and clinch up but The Punching Machine swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The Punching Machine fails in his attempt to clinch.
Laplaglia wants to clinch.
Laplaglia misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laplaglia tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. The Punching Machine manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Laplaglia doesn't manage to clinch there - The Punching Machine circles away.
Laplaglia misses with a few strikes there.
The Punching Machine fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Laplaglia, right into the meat.

Laplaglia rushes The Punching Machine and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A knee to the head by Laplaglia.
The Punching Machine is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Laplaglia lands a nice uppercut.
Laplaglia tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Laplaglia misses with a knee to the head.
Laplaglia misses with a knee to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Magnet The Punching Machine comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think The Punching Machine 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight for Derek Laplaglia!
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Magnet The Punching Machine!
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight for Derek Laplaglia!

Derek Laplaglia wins by split decision!