PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Josh Laston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dim Lovein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laston comes to the cage accompanied by The Nortorious Big- Big Poppa. Lovein has chosen Ice Cube Check Yo Self as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Laston
vs
Lovein

185 cm
20
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

211 cm
21
186 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 Las Vegas, Josh Laston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dim Lovein!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lovein pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Laston feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Lovein is looking to stand up but Laston isn't so interested in that idea.
Laston looking to sit in guard and control but Lovein gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Lovein must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Laston wants to stand but Lovein is controlling the position.
Laston trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lovein wants to get up but he can't break Laston's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Laston might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Lovein stands and steps away. Laston gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Laston shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Laston shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Laston drops an elbow to the side of Lovein's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lovein looks like he's trying to stand up.
Laston passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Lovein!
Laston scoring with strikes but Lovein is staying in there.
You get the feeling that Lovein really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laston trying to control but Lovein is having none of it.
Laston with shots to the head and body - Lovein looks very uncomfortable down there.
Lovein wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Lovein looks winded!
Laston raining down hammerfists from mount.
Lovein is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laston cracks Lovein with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Laston scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Laston lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Lovein is rocked!
Laston 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.
Laston tries to control but Lovein wriggling away.
Lovein is still in real trouble! Can Laston finish him?
Lovein wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Lovein seems to have recovered his senses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Laston landing strikes, looking to finish!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Laston goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Lovein turns into him and now he's in Laston's guard.
Laston wants to stand and escape but Lovein is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lovein decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Laston, up you get!

Laston closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Lovein quickly recovers to half guard.
Laston takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Laston missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Laston passes to full mount!
Laston raining down shots from the mount!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Laston can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lovein is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Laston dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lovein moves in looking to clinch but Laston pushes him off.
Laston fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lovein shoots in looking for a takedown but Laston manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lovein's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Lovein misses with a wild combination.

Laston throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Lovein tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Laston is in Lovein's guard.
Laston throws a strike but Lovein rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Laston kicks Lovein off and gets to his feet.
Lovein is breathing heavily.
Laston circles away from the clinch attempt.

Laston closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laston drops down looking for an ankle pick but Lovein pulls his leg out and moves away.
Lovein slaps away a takedown attempt from Laston, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Laston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laston takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Lovein gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Laston to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Lovein pushes Laston off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Lovein tries to land a leg kick but Laston saw it coming and moves away.
Lovein fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Laston manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laston has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Lovein staying out of range there.
Lovein scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Laston doesn't seem bothered though.

Laston gets a takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Laston prevents Lovein from standing back up.
It looks like Laston is going to stand back up.
Josh Laston overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Laston is trying to control the action in half guard but Lovein is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Lovein wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laston wants to pass the guard but Lovein is defending well.
Laston is looking to take a break and control but Lovein is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Josh Laston wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Lovein moves out of range of the strikes.
Lovein defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Laston.
Josh Laston is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Laston takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Laston looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lovein is fending him off so far but Laston persists. Nope, Lovein circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice takedown defense from Lovein. No joy for Laston on that attempt.
Lovein tries to clinch up but Laston circles away and keeps his distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Laston.

Lovein has closed the distance and engaged Laston in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lovein wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Laston tries to score a body lock takedown but Lovein shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Lovein is trying to push Laston away but Laston has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Laston drops down looking for an ankle pick but Lovein pulls his leg out and moves away.
Laston shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lovein pinned against the cage. Lovein gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Lovein has closed the distance and engaged Laston in a clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Laston manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Laston dominated that second round.
That's time! Laston's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Lovein takes the fight into the clinch.
Lovein stops a takedown attempt from Laston.
Lovein is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Laston wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Laston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lovein lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Laston keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lovein's efforts to push away.
Laston has Lovein pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lovein manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Laston is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lovein is defending well for now.
Laston with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Lovein manages to break the clinch.
Lovein misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lovein walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Laston checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Laston checks a leg kick.
Lovein attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Lovein clinches up against the cage.
Lovein drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Laston has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Lovein avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Laston has Lovein pressed against the cage, preventing Lovein from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Lovein escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lovein slaps away a takedown attempt from Laston, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lovein tries to clinch there but Laston circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laston shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lovein as he jumps to the side.
Lovein closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Lovein misses with a body kick.
Lovein scores with a jab. Laston acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Laston feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Laston trying to control but Lovein is working from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Laston pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lovein is keeping the position for now.

Lovein has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Laston has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Laston has Lovein pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lovein manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Laston breaks from the clinch.
Lovein fails with the takedown.
Lovein throws a series of punches but Laston moves out of range.

Laston manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Lovein on his heels. He'll look to pass Lovein's guard now, I'm sure.
Lovein wants to stand but Laston is controlling the position.
Josh Laston is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Laston trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Laston trying to control but Lovein is working from the bottom.
Laston advances position into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laston is looking to take a break and control but Lovein is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lovein is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Laston is looking to take a break and control but Lovein is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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 Josh Laston.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Laston, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Laston!
The defeated Dim Lovein had this to say: 'I went easy tonight, but tomorrow and another day, I'll go serious and kick ass, I just went easy tonight, I didn't want to hurt my opponents feelings.'.