PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Renato Laranja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darth Vader (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vader has chosen The Imperial March as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Darth Vader was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Laranja
vs
Vader

170 cm
28
146 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

165 cm
28
134 lbs
17 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition
GREEN!160

Sun-Tzu
Grand Champion Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Renato Laranja!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Darth Vader !
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Steven Brown and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vader lands a jab to the nose.
A swing and a miss from Laranja.
The fight stays on the outside here - Laranja looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vader is trying to counter with his kicks.
Vader lets loose with a powerful body kick. Laranja will feel that in the morning.
Vader tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Laranja counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laranja fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laranja keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Vader avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Laranja sets himself, and Vader steps forward looking for the clinch! Laranja avoids it this time.

Laranja closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Vader 's guard.
Laranja content to stall in guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vader keeping full guard, as Laranja tries to pass.
Laranja is working hard here to advance position.
Vader trying to keep a closed guard but Laranja is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vader has control of Laranja's left arm, preventing Laranja from doing any damage.
Laranja pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vader is keeping the position for now.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Vader keeping moving, preventing Laranja from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Vader misses with a leg kick.
Laranja shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vader as he avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vader pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Laranja tries to counter with a takedown but Vader is quick to defend against it.
Laranja shoots for a takedown but Vader saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Vader appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renato Laranja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laranja moves out of range of the leg kick from Vader .
Laranja moves in looking to clinch but Vader pushes him off.
Vader connects with a right hand. Laranja shakes it off.
Laranja closes the distance and clinches up with Vader , looking for a takedown. Laranja pushes Vader against the cage but Vader circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Vader appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Vader defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Laranja.
Laranja is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Vader shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laranja throws a leg kick that is checked
and Vader counters with a slapping leg kick.
Darth Vader is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vader with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Laranja misses with a takedown
and Vader counters with an inside leg kick.
Vader throws a chopping leg kick but Laranja manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Laranja takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Vader thuds his shin into the meat of Laranja's side.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Laranja tries to score a power double leg takedown but Vader sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Laranja somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darth Vader dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A solid leg kick lands there for Vader .
Laranja with a lazy takedown attempt
and Vader counters with a straight right hand.
Laranja throws a leg kick
and Vader counters with a slapping leg kick.
Renato Laranja seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vader thows a left - swing and a miss!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laranja throws a body punch but Vader moves out of range.
Vader is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Laranja drops down looking for a counter takedown but Vader sprawls and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vader throws a leg kick which misses Laranja's front leg but catches the back leg as Laranja tries to avoid it.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Vader .

Vader gets a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vader .
Vader blocks an uppercut.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Vader takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Vader pushes Laranja back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Vader lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vader misses with a punch to the body.
Vader throws a punch but it's blocked by Laranja.
Vader tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vader .
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vader .
Vader throws a head punch that misses.
Laranja is trying to break the clinch but Vader has him pressed against the cage.
Laranja is trying to pull guard but Vader turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Laranja tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vader 's elbow.
Laranja jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Vader walks away with a smile on his face. Laranja gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renato Laranja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laranja swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Vader counters with a nice leg kick.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laranja fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Laranja drives through with a takedown into guard.
Laranja trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vader has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Laranja has passed into side control.
Laranja trying to control the action but Vader is working from the bottom.
Vader has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vader is trying to control Laranja's posture but Laranja avoids it.
Vader is looking to reverse the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Laranja has knee on belly momentarily but Vader bucks him off and regains half guard.

Laranja wants to work for an arm triangle but Vader is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darth Vader showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Vader scores with a kick to the body.
Vader throws out a leg kick but Laranja moves out of range and Vader only half commits.
Vader throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Laranja.
Laranja takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Vader goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vader throws a wild body kick that Laranja sees coming a mile off.
Vader is looking to slow Laranja down with leg kicks.
A nice inside leg kick there by Vader . That's going to slow Laranja down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vader thumps Laranja with a low kick.
Vader lands a leg kick that knocks Laranja off balance momentarily.
Laranja tries a head kick but it misses.
Vader takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A little jabbing left from Vader on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Vader drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Vader throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Laranja counters with a single leg into guard. Vader didn't expect that.
Vader pulls Laranja in close to his closed guard and prevents Laranja from doing any damage or advancing position.
Laranja trying to control but Vader is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laranja stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vader swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vader wants to improve his position but instead Laranja has moved into half guard.
Laranja wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vader keeps working.
Vader felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Laranja looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laranja stalling away here and it's allowed Vader to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Vader is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Laranja trying to get back to full guard but Vader takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laranja is trying to escape the mount.
Vader sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Vader is continuing to stall.
Laranja is looking to improve his position but Vader isn't that keen on the idea.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vader working Laranja over with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darth Vader really 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.

Laranja swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Laranja moves in looking to clinch but Vader pushes him off.
Vader lands with a thumping leg kick.
Laranja tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Vader defends well and Laranja ends up having to push Vader into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Laranja moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromVader .
Vader punishes Laranja's body with a nice straight punch.
Laranja throws a body punch but Vader moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vader lands with a slapping head kick.

Laranja is rocked!

It looks like Renato Laranja has been cut.
Vader throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Laranja.
Laranja was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Vader chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Vader lands a jab to Laranja's midsection.
Darth Vader seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vader looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Laranja drops down looking for a counter takedown but Vader sprawls and moves away.
Laranja doesn't manage to clinch there - Vader circles away.
Vader checks a leg kick.
Laranja backing away here, and Vader unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

Laranja drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Laranja trying to control the position from guard on top but Vader is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laranja looking to pass the guard.
Laranja looking to sit in guard and control but Vader gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Laranja is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Laranja keeping moving, preventing Vader from controlling successfully.

Laranja looking for a guillotine here but Vader defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Laranja working for a triangle but Vader defends it easily.
Laranja working a defensive guard here.
Vader trying to control the position from guard on top but Laranja is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vader makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Laranja working a defensive guard here.

Laranja is looking for a triangle here but Vader uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Laranja taking a bit of punishment here - Vader scoring with strikes.
Vader working the ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vader in side control lands a decent elbow.
Laranja is not content to let Vader control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darth Vader dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Renato Laranja's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Laranja has his takedown stuffed
and Vader makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Vader throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Vader throws a sloppy head kick and Laranja moves out of range easily.
Laranja attempts a counter takedown but Vader avoids it well and moves away.
Vader throws a nice outside leg kick.
Vader tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laranja throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Laranja takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vader is looking to chop away at Laranja's legs.
A bone on bone clash there as Vader blocks the leg kick.
Vader motions for Laranja to come forward. Vader throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Laranja tries to counter with a takedown but Vader is quick to defend against it.
Vader attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Laranja takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Vader throws a leg kick but Laranja checks it.
Laranja half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Laranja throws a leg kick but Vader moved away.
Vader replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Laranja blocks it well.
Laranja is looking to clinch but Vader is avoiding it.
Vader follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Renato Laranja has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vader lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Laranja takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Laranja is looking to land body kicks.
A lazy left from Vader finds it's target.
Vader looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Vader throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Laranja throws a leg kick that is checked
and Vader counters with an outside leg kick.
Vader tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vader gets caught napping as Laranja dives in and scores a takedown. Vader manages to retain guard.
Laranja preventing the sweep.
Vader controlling the position.
Vader bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Laranja's guard.

Darth Vader is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Vader must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Laranja trying to control the position.
Vader is working Laranja over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Vader trying to control the position from guard on top but Laranja is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Laranja working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vader wants to control from the top but Laranja keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vader accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Laranja not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Laranja throws a chopping leg kick but Vader manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vader misses with a kick to the body.
Laranja on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darth Vader comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vader winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 45:50
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 45:50
Judge William Gold scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darth Vader ! Darth Vader retains his bantamweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Darth Vader thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
Renato Laranja spoke after the fight, saying 'I didnt eat enouf frui and vegtables. Thats verr importint...'.