PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Akira Kirabot (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derek Laplaglia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Kirabot
vs
Laplaglia

180 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
153 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Akira Kirabot!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Derek Laplaglia!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Paul Gruel and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kirabot darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kirabot looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kirabot throwing shots but Laplaglia is blocking nicely.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Kirabot throwing shots but Laplaglia is blocking nicely.
Kirabot throwing shots but Laplaglia is blocking nicely.
Kirabot missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Laplaglia is trying to get back to full guard.
Kirabot throwing shots but Laplaglia is blocking nicely.
Laplaglia wants to control but Kirabot is keeping busy.
Laplaglia looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kirabot not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirabot not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Laplaglia is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Kirabot lands strikes from half guard.
Kirabot working the head and body with strikes.
Kirabot looks to land a strike but Laplaglia avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Laplaglia is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kirabot throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kirabot throwing strikes but missing.
Kirabot 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.
Kirabot is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirabot landing some decent shots from guard.
Kirabot throws an elbow that misses. Laplaglia uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kirabot's guard. Nice move by Laplaglia!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Laplaglia trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kirabot's guard.
Kirabot bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Laplaglia's guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kirabot loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kirabot landing with the ground and pound.
Kirabot throws a strike but Laplaglia rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laplaglia wants to stand but Kirabot has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kirabot managing to control the position.
Kirabot has a closed guard, preventing Laplaglia from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laplaglia tries to free his leg and advance position but Kirabot is retaining full guard.
Laplaglia trying to control but Kirabot is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Derek Laplaglia.

Kirabot drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kirabot lands a decent elbow from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Kirabot dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Laplaglia gets a clinch.
Laplaglia working aggressively here.
Laplaglia tries to work over Kirabot's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kirabot blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Laplaglia misses with a short punch on the inside.
Laplaglia is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Laplaglia pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Kirabot drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Laplaglia gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Kirabot works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Kirabot throwing strikes from guard but Laplaglia blocks nicely.
Laplaglia is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laplaglia works his way into full mount!
Laplaglia wants to control the pace but Kirabot is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laplaglia might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kirabot kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Derek Laplaglia has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Laplaglia leaves Kirabot with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akira Kirabot. That's going to take a lot out of him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kirabot is working for takedown but Laplaglia is calmly controlling the position for now.
Laplaglia looking to throw knees to the head but Kirabot is blocking nicely.
Kirabot blocks an elbow strike.
Laplaglia lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Kirabot tightens his grip and picks Laplaglia up, before dumping him to the ground. Laplaglia manages to land in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kirabot landing with the ground and pound.
Kirabot throws a strike but Laplaglia rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirabot keeping moving, preventing Laplaglia from controlling successfully.
Laplaglia wants to stand but Kirabot has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kirabot keeping moving, preventing Laplaglia from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Laplaglia wanted to stand there but Kirabot had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Laplaglia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Laplaglia fails to land with a series of punches.

Laplaglia closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Kirabot takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kirabot blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Laplaglia tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Laplaglia throws a knee to the head but misses.
Laplaglia tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kirabot can't get the takedown.
Laplaglia stops a takedown attempt from Kirabot.
Laplaglia lands a body punch in the clinch.
Laplaglia throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kirabot blocks it with crossed arms.
Laplaglia can't find room to land a body shot as Kirabot controls the action.
Laplaglia lands an elbow just above Kirabot 's eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laplaglia prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akira Kirabot. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kirabot blocks the elbow strike.
Laplaglia swings wildly with an uppercut but Kirabot uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kirabot tries to score a body lock takedown but Laplaglia shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Laplaglia fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Laplaglia scores with a knee to the head.
Laplaglia misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Laplaglia on the inside.
A short right from Laplaglia on the inside.
Kirabot blocks an elbow strike from Laplaglia.
Laplaglia with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirabot wants a takedown.
Kirabot takes a knee right on the jaw!
Laplaglia with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Laplaglia misses with a knee to the head.
Laplaglia misses with some punches.
Laplaglia lands with a short shot to the head.
Kirabot tries for a takedown. No joy.
Laplaglia misses with a knee strike.
Laplaglia throws a punch but it's blocked by Kirabot.
Laplaglia gets underhooks to prevent Kirabot's takedown attempt.
Laplaglia misses with a knee strike.
Kirabot is trying to drag Laplaglia to the mat but Laplaglia just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laplaglia misses with an elbow strike.
Laplaglia looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Laplaglia gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Kirabot avoids a wild elbow strike from Laplaglia.
Kirabot has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Laplaglia is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Laplaglia lands a knee to the head.
Derek Laplaglia seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Laplaglia goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Laplaglia looking to throw knees to the head but Kirabot is blocking nicely.
Laplaglia pushes Kirabot back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kirabot goes for a takedown in the clinch but Laplaglia prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirabot is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Laplaglia gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Laplaglia lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Laplaglia lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Laplaglia pushes Kirabot back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Laplaglia throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kirabot wants a takedown.
Laplaglia with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Laplaglia looking to throw knees to the head but Kirabot is blocking nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kirabot tries to score a body lock takedown but Laplaglia shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Laplaglia fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Kirabot has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Laplaglia is trying to keep an underhook but Kirabot manages to get the takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derek Laplaglia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Laplaglia 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 Colin Fray scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight for Derek Laplaglia!
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight as a draw!

The fight ends as a draw!