PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vincenzo Lauretta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Slessor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lauretta
vs
Slessor

195 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

179 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Vincenzo Lauretta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Slessor!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, John Mangel and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lauretta scores with a kick to the body.
Slessor displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lauretta.

Lauretta tries to keep at a distance but Slessor has taken the fight into the clinch.
Slessor goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lauretta prevents it.
Lauretta is looking for a takedown.
Slessor lands a right hand.
Slessor is pressed up against the cage. Lauretta has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Slessor down to the mat. Slessor avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vincenzo Lauretta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lauretta throws a head kick but Slessor moves out of range.
Lauretta has a takedown stuffed.
Lauretta takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Slessor gets a double leg takedown into Lauretta's guard.
Lauretta will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Slessor is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Slessor in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lauretta wants to get back to his feet but Slessor passes into half guard.
Slessor content to control rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lauretta trying to control here.
Slessor perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

OK we're going to have a standup here. James Slessor hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Slessor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lauretta paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Slessor forces Lauretta back against the cage and clinches.

Slessor successfully pulls guard.

Slessor scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Slessor clinches up with Lauretta and pushes him back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lauretta misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Slessor.
Slessor tries to pull guard but Lauretta won't allow it.

Slessor gets control of Lauretta's arms and successfully pulls guard. Slessor will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lauretta is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Lauretta trying to control but Slessor is working from the bottom.
Lauretta knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Slessor on the ground.

Lauretta postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Slessor is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Lauretta, into his guard.
Slessor postures up.

Slessor stands up from Lauretta's guard - Slessor perhaps looking for a knockout.
Lauretta takes a swing at Slessor's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lauretta is trying hard to land a takedown here. Slessor sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Some wild striking there from Lauretta.
Lauretta is breathing heavily.
Lauretta tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Slessor swivels and escapes.

Slessor closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Slessor looking to throw knees to the head but Lauretta is blocking nicely.
Lauretta tries to pull guard but Slessor won't allow it.

Slessor gets control of Lauretta's arms and successfully pulls guard. Slessor will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Slessor pushes Lauretta off and gets back to his feet.
Lauretta really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Slessor closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Slessor 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.

Slessor misses with a wild combination.
Slessor circles away from the clinch attempt
and Slessor counters with a head kick.
Vincenzo Lauretta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lauretta stuffs the takedown.
Slessor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lauretta.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Slessor enables Lauretta to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Slessor manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Slessor throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Slessor keeping moving, preventing Lauretta from controlling successfully.
Lauretta throws a strike but Slessor rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Lauretta wants to control the position but Slessor says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Slessor decides to return to a standing position.
Slessor swinging wildly here.
Slessor avoids the head kick by Lauretta.
Lauretta shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Slessor but Slessor pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Slessor clinches with his opponent.
Slessor lands a hook that snaps the head of Lauretta backwards.
Lauretta is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Slessor to keep the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slessor tries to land knees in the clinch but Lauretta avoids the damage to the body.
Lauretta is looking to break free of the clinch but Slessor has double underhooks.
Slessor is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Lauretta pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Slessor has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Lauretta after a bit of a struggle.
Vincenzo Lauretta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Slessor.
Slessor can't get the takedown.
Slessor drops down looking for an ankle pick but Lauretta pulls his leg out and moves away.
Lauretta fails to land the takedown.
Lauretta is looking to clinch but Slessor is avoiding it.
Vincenzo Lauretta is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Slessor shoots in for a double leg but Lauretta sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lauretta moves in looking to clinch but Slessor pushes him off.
Slessor misses with a takedown attempt - Lauretta sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lauretta throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Slessor.
Slessor leaves Lauretta with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Slessor drives through and clinches with Lauretta against the cage.
Slessor throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lauretta blocks it with crossed arms.
Lauretta wants a takedown but no success here.
Slessor can't get the takedown.
Slessor is working for takedown but Lauretta is calmly controlling the position for now.
Lauretta is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Slessor gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slessor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lauretta.
Lauretta has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Slessor avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Lauretta trying to control the position but instead, Slessor has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lauretta into the cage.
Lauretta prevents a takedown attempt there.
Lauretta drops down looking for an ankle pick but Slessor pulls his leg out and moves away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Slessor forces Lauretta back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but James Slessor will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Lauretta closes the distance but Slessor moves to the side
and Slessor counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Lauretta looks for a takedown but Slessor sprawls well.
Lauretta showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Slessor.
Slessor pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lauretta shoots in and drives through. Slessor sprawls well.
Lauretta avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Slessor throws a head kick but Lauretta moves out of range.
Slessor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lauretta is looking to land body kicks.
Slessor leaves Lauretta 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 Vincenzo Lauretta. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Slessor closes the distance and pushes Lauretta back into the cage.
Slessor wants to take the fight to the mat but Lauretta manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Lauretta breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Slessor moves out of range as Lauretta throws a body kick.
Slessor lands with a right hand.
Slessor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lauretta swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lauretta shoots for a takedown but Slessor saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Slessor has Lauretta up against the cage in a clinch.
Slessor is looking to take this one to the mat.
Lauretta looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Slessor.
Slessor is working for takedown but Lauretta is calmly controlling the position for now.
Slessor is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Slessor is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Lauretta goes for a takedown attempt but Slessor pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nice takedown defense from Slessor. No joy for Lauretta on that attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slessor misses with a head kick.
Lauretta shoots in looking for a takedown but Slessor manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lauretta's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Slessor shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lauretta as he avoids it easily.
Slessor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Slessor misses with a head kick.
Lauretta fails to land the takedown.
Lauretta fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
James Slessor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lauretta tries to clinch

and Slessor counters by clinching up.
Lauretta has had enough of the clinch but Slessor keeps him there for the moment.
James Slessor seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Slessor breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slessor looks for a takedown but Lauretta sprawls well.
Horrible takedown by Lauretta or perhaps it was just good defense by Slessor which made him look bad.
Slessor throws a head kick that misses.
Slessor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lauretta looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Slessor is fending him off so far but Lauretta persists. Nope, Slessor circles away and we're back to standing.

Lauretta tries to keep at a distance but Slessor has taken the fight into the clinch.
James Slessor is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Slessor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vincenzo Lauretta has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lauretta misses with a body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Slessor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Slessor 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Slessor!