PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Richard Head (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juliano Lao Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lao Jr has chosen Kenny Loggins - Danger Zone as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Head
vs
Lao Jr

177 cm
22
192 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
185 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Richard Head!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Juliano Lao Jr!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Head throws a right and a left that Lao Jr avoids nicely.

Head fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lao Jr sprawls well initially but Head persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Head is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Head trying to control but Lao Jr is having none of it.

Head has hold of Lao Jr's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Lao Jr manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Head cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Lao Jr looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Head controlling the pace for now.
Head with good strikes from the mount here!
Lao Jr wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

Head goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Lao Jr turns into him and now he's in Head's guard.
Head looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Head pushes Lao Jr off and gets back to his feet.

Head closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Head is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lao Jr gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Head.
Lao Jr throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Head blocks it with crossed arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Head fails to pull guard.
Head is looking to break free of the clinch but Lao Jr has double underhooks.
Head can't break the clinch.
Head is trying to break the clinch but Lao Jr has him pressed against the cage.
Head is trying to break free.
Head wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lao Jr has him pressed against the cage.
Head has had enough of the clinch but Lao Jr keeps him there for the moment.

Head manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Lao Jr. No joy for Head on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richard Head. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Head fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lao Jr, pushing him back against the cage.
Lao Jr managing to block the knees to the body from Head.
Head wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lao Jr has him pressed against the cage.
Lao Jr prevents Head from breaking the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Head wants to get back to striking at distance but Lao Jr won't allow it.
Lao Jr with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Head wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lao Jr has him pressed against the cage.
Head swings wildly with an uppercut but Lao Jr uses good head movement to avoid it.
Head tries to break the clinch but Lao Jr is controlling the position.
Head drops down looking for an ankle pick but Lao Jr pulls his leg out and moves away.

Head gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Head throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Lao Jr misses with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Head 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.

Head shoots in for a double leg but Lao Jr sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Head shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Head postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Lao Jr looks a forlorn figure.
Head punishing his opponent with strikes.
A nice elbow there by Head.
Head is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Lao Jr can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Head unloading with bombs!
Head is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Head knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lao Jr on the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Head lands a big elbow.
Head postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Lao Jr looks a forlorn figure.
Head tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Head with a couple of short strikes.
Head controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Head working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Head connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
BOOM! Head connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Head scoring with strikes but Lao Jr is staying in there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Head landing shots from mount.
Head lands a big elbow.
Head landing punches.
Head lands a nice shot to the head.
Lao Jr is bucking up trying to escape but Head cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Head is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Lao Jr has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Head controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Head looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Head with a couple of short strikes.
Head landing strikes from the mount.
Head is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Lao Jr can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Head raining down shots from the mount!
Head with good strikes from the mount here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Head dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Lao Jr with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Head to score with a decent uppercut.

It looks like Juliano Lao Jr has been cut.
Lao Jr gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Lao Jr is rocked!
Head throws a series of punches but Lao Jr avoids them all with ease.
Lao Jr is still on wobbly legs! Can Head finish him?
Head moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Lao Jr seems to have recovered his senses.
Head fails to land with a series of punches.
Lao Jr stuffs the takedown.
Lao Jr moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Head getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Head will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Head misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richard Head. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lao Jr slips a jab and a cross from Head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Head tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lao Jr swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Juliano Lao Jr is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Head shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lao Jr as he avoids it easily.

Head shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Head stands up from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lao Jr takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Richard Head is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Head shoots for a double leg takedown but Lao Jr sprawls well. He's pushed Head's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lao Jr clinches but Head breaks the clinch

and Head counters by moving into the clinch.
Head wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Lao Jr prevents Head from breaking the clinch.
Head tries to pull guard but Lao Jr won't allow it.
Head is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Head is looking to break free of the clinch but Lao Jr has double underhooks.
Head has Lao Jr pushed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lao Jr looking to throw knees to the head but Head is blocking nicely.

Head breaks from the clinch.
Head throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lao Jr is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Head.
Head shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lao Jr fails with an attempt to clinch.
Head shoots in but Lao Jr avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lao Jr closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Lao Jr stuffs the takedown attempt from Head. Head gets slowly back to his feet.
Richard Head seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Head misses.
Head works the jab nicely.
Head looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lao Jr is fending him off so far but Head persists. Nope, Lao Jr circles away and we're back to standing.
Head doesn't manage to clinch there - Lao Jr circles away.
Head tries to close the distance and clinch but Lao Jr swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Head closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Head lands in his opponent's guard.
Juliano Lao Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Richard Head is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Lao Jr is looking for a triangle but Head pushes his legs off easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard Head showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Head 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:26
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:26
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard Head!