PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alberto Lara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Jaa (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.

Lara
vs
Jaa

180 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

160 cm
23
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alberto Lara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tony Jaa!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Bruno Lombardi and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jaa dives in for a single leg takedown but Lara sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Lara tries to pull guard but Jaa won't allow it.

Lara jumps into guard, dragging Jaa to the mat.
Lara really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Jaa won't allow Lara to get back to his feet.
Jaa throws a strike but Lara rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Lara looking to sit in guard and control but Jaa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lara can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Jaa controls the pace.
Jaa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lara wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaa with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jaa is looking to work some ground and pound but Lara has wrist control.
Jaa trying to stand up but can't free himself from Lara's guard.
Lara is trying to control the position but Jaa postures up.
Lara is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Jaa seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jaa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jaa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jaa wants it to stay on the feet.
Nice uppercut lands for Lara. That snapped Jaa's head back.

Jaa has Lara up against the cage in a clinch.

Lara ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Lara no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Jaa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lara working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jaa.

Jaa decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Jaa fails with a takedown attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jaa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaa throws a combination that misses

and Lara moves into the clinch.
Lara prevents Jaa from breaking the clinch.
Jaa goes for a takedown attempt but Lara pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Alberto Lara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Jaa.
Lara lands a front kick.
Jaa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lara sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jaa somewhat.
Jaa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jaa wants it to stay on the feet.
Jaa changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lara tries to avoid it but Jaa manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lara to the ground. Lara escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lara goes for a double leg but Jaa avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Jaa continues to drive forward.
Lara can't find room to land a body shot as Jaa controls the action.
A frustrated look appears on Jaa's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Jaa tries to pull guard but Lara won't allow it.
Jaa looks winded!
Jaa fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Lara is trying to pull guard but Jaa has him pressed against the cage.
Jaa tries to pull guard but Lara forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Lara successfully pulls guard.
Lara trying to keep a closed guard but Jaa is proving a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lara controlling Jaa's posture.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Jaa wants to control from the top but Lara keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tony Jaa will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Jaa thuds a left hand into Lara's body.
Jaa moves in looking to clinch but Lara pushes him off.
Lara is trying hard to land a takedown here. Jaa sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Jaa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Lara darts in looking for a takedown but Jaa gets double underhooks and turns Lara into the cage.

Jaa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jaa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lara as he jumps to the side.
Lara scores with a decent looking hook.
Lara moves to clinch but Jaa breaks away

and Jaa counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Jaa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lara has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lara prevents the takedown attempt.
Alberto Lara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Jaa.

Jaa breaks the clinch.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Lara.
Jaa stuffs the takedown attempt from Lara. Lara gets slowly back to his feet.
Jaa shoots for a double leg takedown but Lara sprawls well. He's pushed Jaa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lara shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jaa as he avoids it easily.
Jaa tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lara looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jaa shoots in for a takedown but Lara shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jaa is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lara closes the distance and clinches.
Lara working hard to break the clinch.
Lara is struggling to control the position.
Lara lands a nice knee to the body.
Jaa has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lara is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Jaa tries to land knees in the clinch but Lara avoids the damage to the body.
Jaa is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Lara is defending well.
Jaa is pressed up against the cage. Lara has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Jaa down to the mat. Jaa avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Jaa fails with the takedown.
Jaa goes for a double leg but Lara avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Lara continues to drive forward.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lara is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Jaa gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Lara stalling the fight.
Lara looking for a takedown.
Jaa throws a head punch that misses.
Jaa fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Lara keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Jaa's efforts to push away.
Lara goes for a takedown attempt but Jaa pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Jaa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lara's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Lara duly obliges.
Lara shoots in and drives through. Jaa sprawls well.
Jaa tries to work over Lara's front leg with a kick but Lara checks it.
Lara looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Jaa takes the fight into the clinch.
Jaa tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Lara just stands there and leans against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jaa tries to pull guard but Lara forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Lara jumps into guard, dragging Jaa to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Alberto Lara will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Lara stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lara wants it to stay on the feet.
Alberto Lara is winning the standup battle so far.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lara.
Lara keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Jaa.

Jaa clinches up against the cage.
Jaa is trying to stall.
Jaa can't get the takedown.

Jaa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lara shoots in and drives through. Jaa sprawls well.
An inside leg kick from Lara misses.
Jaa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lara shoots in looking for a takedown but Jaa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lara's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alberto Lara. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lara fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Jaa.
Lara shoots in but Jaa avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lara looks for a takedown but Jaa sprawls well.
Jaa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jaa shoots in but no luck this time.
Jaa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lara sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jaa somewhat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lara misses with a takedown attempt - Jaa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lara is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lara stuffs the takedown attempt from Jaa. Jaa gets slowly back to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lara drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lara stops a takedown attempt from Jaa.
Lara goes for a takedown in the clinch but Jaa prevents it.
Jaa is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Lara to keep the fight standing.
Lara tries to break free but Jaa pushes him back against the cage.

Jaa gets control of Lara's arms and successfully pulls guard. Jaa will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Lara stands up over Jaa, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Jaa is adopting a defensive guard.
Lara slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaa can't keep his opponent in guard - Lara advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Lara trying to control the action but Jaa is working from the bottom.
Lara takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lara has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Alberto Lara.
Jaa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lara pinned against the cage. Lara gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

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 Alberto Lara.
I think Lara has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alberto Lara!