PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hwai Ja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renato Laranja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hwai Ja has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Ja
vs
Laranja

180 cm
21
170 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Prefers standup

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hwai Ja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Renato Laranja!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yukihiro Shimada and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ja fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Laranja, pushing him back against the ropes.
Laranja wants to break free but Ja has control.
Ja gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Laranja.
Ja is struggling to control the position.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ja obliges.
Ja connects with a nasty looking knee right to Laranja's face.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laranja tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ja just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Ja pushes off an throws an elbow but Laranja leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Ja lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ja misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ja has Laranja pushed against the ropes.
Laranja is trying to pull guard but Ja turns him against the ropes and we stay in the clinch.
Hwai Ja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Renato Laranja.
Ja lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Ja using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Laranja has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Laranja tries to pull guard but Ja holds him up against the ropes and eventually Laranja drops back down to his feet.
Ja's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Laranja goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ja prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ja throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Laranja blocks it with crossed arms.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Ja struggles to land a body shot inside as Laranja controls his hands.
Ja tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Laranja avoids it.
Laranja fails to pull guard.
Laranja can't get the takedown.
Ja misses with a knee strike.
Laranja is looking to control Ja's arms but Ja gets an underhook and turns him. Now Laranja has his back to the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Ja.
Ja holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Laranja wants to take the fight to the mat but Ja manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Laranja changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ja fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ja attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Ja swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Laranja counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Ja!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ja is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Laranja off and has taken his back!
Ja looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Ja tries to get the hooks in deep but Laranja pushed the leg off.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Laranja avoids the strikes from Ja.

Ja is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Laranja knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Laranja for a finish.
Ja not allowing Laranja to control his hands.
Ja thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
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!
Ja punches Laranja on the ear.
Laranja trying to control the action but Ja just sinks the hooks in.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ja tries to get the hooks in deep but Laranja pushed the leg off.
Laranja trying to control the position but Ja manages to sink in the hooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hwai Ja dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ja gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ja.
Ja tries to stall but Laranja uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ja using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Laranja has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ja with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ja with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ja looking to throw knees to the head but Laranja is blocking nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ja misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ja gets underhooks to prevent Laranja's takedown attempt.
Hwai Ja has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Laranja avoiding damage as Ja throws knees to the body.
Ja using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Laranja has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ja is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Laranja tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ja just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Ja lands an elbow that stopped Laranja in his tracks for a moment.
Laranja takes a shot to the head.
Ja with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ja landing knees to the body.
Ja has Laranja pressed against the ropes.
Ja misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Laranja taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ja throws a punch but it's blocked by Laranja.
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 Ja walks away with a smile on his face. Laranja gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Hwai Ja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Renato Laranja.
Ja throws a solid leg kick but Laranja takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Ja.
Laranja feints the counter takedown.
Ja throws out a leg kick but Laranja moves out of range and Ja only half commits.

Ja gets a clinch.
Ja tries a knee to the head but Laranja blocks it.
Ja tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ja landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Ja is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Laranja can do to turn this around?
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!
Laranja fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laranja tries to pull guard but Ja won't allow it.
Ja is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Ja lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Laranja backwards.
Ja gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Laranja.
Laranja tries to score a body lock takedown but Ja shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ja using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Laranja has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ja throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Laranja blocks it with crossed arms.
Laranja fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ja stalling the fight.
We've been informed that Laranja has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Ja lands a nice shot to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Ja.
A shot in the inside from Ja.
Laranja is trying to pull guard but Ja has him pressed against the ropes.
Ja goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ja lands with a right to the head.
Ja lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Laranja or not.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hwai Ja dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ja closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Ja throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Ja misses with a knee strike.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Laranja goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ja prevents it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ja lands a good knee to the midsection. Laranja won't want to take too many of those.
Ja stalling.
Ja lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laranja is working for takedown but Ja is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ja throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ja is struggling to control the position.
Ja lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ja displaying some good clinch control by pressing Laranja up against the ropes.
Ja cracks Laranja with a nice body shot.

Ja drops Laranja with a big knee straight up the middle! Laranja is covering up against the ropes but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!
Renato Laranja has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Laranja is rocked!

It looks like Renato Laranja has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ja misses with a body shot.
Laranja is still on wobbly legs! Can Ja finish him?

Ja has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Laranja looking for a takedown.
Hwai Ja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Renato Laranja.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ja as Laranja tries to tie him up.
Laranja seems to have recovered his senses.
Laranja takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Laranja is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ja pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ja with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ja is stalling here.
Ja with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Laranja's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Laranja is trying to pull guard but Ja has him pressed against the ropes.
Ja throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ja using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Laranja has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ja throws an elbow but it's blocked.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Ja tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Laranja is looking to take this one to the mat.
Laranja takes a shot to the head.
Laranja fails to pull guard.
Hwai Ja is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ja can't find room to land a body shot as Laranja controls the action.
Ja misses with a knee strike.
Laranja tries to pull guard but Ja won't allow it.
Ja misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Laranja tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Laranja has Ja pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Ja manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ja lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Laranja or not.
Laranja tries a body shot but Ja blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hwai Ja showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ja 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:25
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:25
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hwai Ja!