PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between David Laroux (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Drederick Tatum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Drederick Tatum has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with David Laroux's chin.

Laroux
vs
Tatum

195 cm
31
210 lbs
22 - 13 - 0

180 cm
36
213 lbs
27 - 19 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, David Laroux!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Drederick Tatum!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Richard Clark and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tatum tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tatum fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Laroux manages to avoid it.
Tatum rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Laroux moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A lazy left from Laroux finds it's target.
Laroux steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tatum.
Tatum swings widly with a right hand
and Laroux counters with a leg kick.
Laroux checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Tatum lands a jab to the head.
Laroux throws a head kick but Tatum moves out of range.
Tatum throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Laroux sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Laroux lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

It looks like Drederick Tatum has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fighters circling - Tatum throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Laroux slips a jab from Tatum.
Laroux displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tatum throws out the jab.
Tatum scores with a jab. Laroux acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tatum throws an off balance right hand
and Laroux counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A big right from Tatum misses.
Laroux misses with a body shot
enabling Tatum to counter with a crisp jab.
Laroux ducks under a wild hook from Tatum.
Laroux rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tatum moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tatum throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Laroux.
Laroux takes a swing at Tatum's ribcage but misses.
Tatum throws a jab but it's blocked by Laroux.
Tatum bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Laroux's head.
Laroux goes for a double leg but Tatum avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Tatum continues to drive forward.
Laroux tries to circle away but Tatum has him pinned against the cage.
Laroux wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Laroux is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tatum pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Laroux wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tatum pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Laroux steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tatum.
Tatum throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Laroux tries a head kick but it misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tatum keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Laroux keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tatum.

Laroux shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Tatum napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Tatum regains half guard.
Laroux sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tatum defending well though.
Laroux missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Tatum blocking the ground and pound attempt from Laroux.

Laroux is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laroux thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tatum's head.

Laroux wants to work for an arm triangle but Tatum is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Laroux tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tatum knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Tatum wants to get back to his feet.
Laroux misses with a head shot. Tatum uses the momentum to regain guard.
Laroux trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laroux 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.
Laroux throws a big elbow that misses.
Tatum can't keep his opponent in guard - Laroux advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Tatum tries to kick Laroux off in order to stand up. Laroux Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Tatum avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Laroux.
Laroux will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tatum is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Laroux asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Laroux goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Tatum has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Laroux but great work by Tatum.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Laroux dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Drederick Tatum's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tatum is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Laroux.
Laroux pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Laroux misses with the combination.
Laroux keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tatum scores with a one two! Laroux had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Laroux scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Drederick Tatum seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Laroux lands with a nice combination. Tatum backs away looking to recover.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Laroux staying out of range there.
Tatum misses with a wild body shot.
Tatum misses with a low kick.

Laroux clinches up with Tatum and pushes him back against the cage.
Tatum taking a breather.

Tatum breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tatum walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Laroux, right into the meat.
Laroux's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Laroux duly obliges.
Tatum connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Tatum throws a nice outside leg kick.
David Laroux is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Laroux ducks under a wild hook from Tatum.
David Laroux is winning the standup battle so far.
Laroux feints a jab promting Tatum to slip. Laroux then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Tatum slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Laroux slips a straight right by Tatum.
Tatum lands a nice hook to Laroux's body. Laroux takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Laroux uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tatum.
Laroux uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tatum.
Tatum's coach down at Sensei Sens's & co. Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Tatum's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tatum misses with a hook
and Laroux counters with a thumping low kick.
Tatum misses with a right hand
and Laroux counters with a straight right hand.
Laroux fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tatum throws an overhand right that lands on Laroux's shoulder, as Laroux tries to avoid the shot.
The crowd cheers as Tatum lands an impressive looking overhand right. Laroux doesn't seem phased though.
Tatum throws a leg kick that is checked
and Laroux counters with a left to the body.
Laroux keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tatum misses with an uppercut. Laroux saw that one coming.
Laroux is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Tatum pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tatum misses with an uppercut. Laroux saw that one coming.
A jab from Laroux does it's job there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laroux lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tatum circles away quickly and effectively.
Laroux is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tatum.
Laroux fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tatum works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Laroux blocks a low kick nicely.
Tatum lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Laroux backs up against the cage.
Laroux ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tatum pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Laroux takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Tatum tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Laroux was well out of range. Poor timing from Tatum.
Tatum throws a sloppy head kick and Laroux moves out of range easily.
Tatum swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tatum scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Laroux looks to land a combination but Tatum avoids it well.
Drederick Tatum is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tatum punishes Laroux's body with a nice straight punch.
A big right from Tatum misses.
Laroux displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tatum throws out the jab.
Tatum misses with an uppercut.
Tatum throws a low kick but Laroux moves out of range easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tatum misses with a looping left.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Laroux closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Laroux throws a looping overhand right but Tatum ducks down to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from Tatum.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Laroux dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Drederick Tatum's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Tatum connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Tatum throws a lazy uppercut
and Laroux cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A jab from Tatum misses.
Tatum misses with an uppercut. Laroux saw that one coming.
Tatum lands with a nice combination. Laroux backs away looking to recover.
Laroux slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
The fighters circling - Laroux throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Laroux is looking to clinch.
Laroux takes a jab right on the kisser.
Tatum throws a looping overhand right but Laroux ducks down to avoid it.
Laroux displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tatum throws out the jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Laroux misses with a straight left.
Laroux lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Tatum.
Laroux takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Laroux blocks a jab.
Tatum throws out a loose jab but Laroux uses good head movement to avoid it.
Laroux's corner calls for a 1-2. Laroux obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Tatum stuns Laroux with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Laroux looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tatum rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Laroux counter with a right hand.
Tatum pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Laroux closes the distance and pushes Tatum back into the cage.
Laroux looking to slow down the pace here.
Still in the clinch, Laroux scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laroux is trying to force a seperation but Tatum has the dominant position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tatum can't break the clinch.
Laroux wants to break free but Tatum has control.

Tatum manages to break the clinch.
Tatum dips to his left and cracks Laroux with an uppercut!
Laroux tries for a takedown but Tatum sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tatum throws a jab when Laroux was well out of range.
Tatum misses with a double jab.
Laroux swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Laroux takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Tatum scores with a sloppy right hand. Laroux should have avoided that one.
Tatum throws a shot from downtown. Laroux moves away and avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Laroux closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Laroux is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Tatum has escaped the position, nice work there.
Laroux misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Laroux is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Tatum is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Laroux misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The strikes coming from Laroux are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Laroux thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Laroux tries for a kimura but Tatum is defending well.

Laroux is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tatum knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Drederick Tatum has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
An elbow from Laroux crashes against the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Laroux showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Laroux 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Laroux!
Jumping up and down and very excited, David Laroux waved his t-shirt featuring GTI - 1337 sponsors VERSUS's logo in front of the cameras.