PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ben Lauzon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Santiago Sorias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sorias has chosen Fight - Future World Music 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!

Lauzon
vs
Santiago Sorias

168 cm
24
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

169 cm
28
146 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ben Lauzon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Juan Santiago Sorias!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Vladimir Khabensky and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sorias closes the distance and clinches.
Still in the clinch, Sorias scores with a nice short uppercut.
Lauzon blocks the elbow strike.
Lauzon fails to pull guard.
Lauzon is looking to take this one to the mat.

Sorias decides to pull guard.
Sorias is controlling Lauzon's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lauzon preventing the sweep.
Lauzon with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sorias 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lauzon trying to control but Sorias is working from the bottom.
Lauzon throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sorias managing to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lauzon throws a big right hand that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lauzon accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lauzon tries to free his leg and advance position but Sorias is retaining full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lauzon accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sorias keeping moving, preventing Lauzon from controlling successfully.
Lauzon throwing strikes from guard but Sorias blocks nicely.
Sorias is wriggling around but Lauzon manages to pass to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Lauzon thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sorias tries to roll over but Lauzon keeps him under control.

Lauzon is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Sorias to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Lauzon trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lauzon throws a big elbow that misses.
Sorias wants to stand and escape but Lauzon is having none of it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Sorias has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Lauzon is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Lauzon tests Sorias's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Sorias fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lauzon, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lauzon prevents the takedown attempt.
Lauzon tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sorias just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Lauzon. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Lauzon has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Sorias uses from the top position.
Sorias with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sorias works over Lauzon with some ground and pound from guard.

Lauzon is looking for a triangle but Sorias pushes his legs off easily.
Sorias trying to control but Lauzon is working from the bottom.
Sorias throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lauzon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sorias trying to control but Lauzon is working from the bottom.

Lauzon has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sorias can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sorias trying to control but Lauzon is working from the bottom.
Sorias might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Lauzon haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sorias cracks Lauzon with a right hand to the side of the head.
Sorias throws out a loose jab but Lauzon uses good head movement to avoid it.

Lauzon has managed to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Juan Santiago Sorias will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sorias connects with a good right hand that stumbles Lauzon. Lauzon circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Juan Santiago Sorias seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lauzon keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sorias.
Lauzon tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sorias swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lauzon checks a leg kick.
Sorias throws a body shot but no joy.
Sorias avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lauzon defending well as Sorias loads up on a big left hand.
Donk. Sorias catches Lauzon right on the button with a cross.

Lauzon rushes Sorias and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Sorias has Lauzon pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Sorias pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Lauzon tumbling to the mat - Sorias dives into Lauzon's guard.

Lauzon kicks Sorias off and gets to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sorias throws a front kick aimed at Lauzon's knee but Lauzon avoids it well.
Sorias throws a jab when Lauzon was well out of range.
The fighters circling - Sorias throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Lauzon is looking to counter punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lauzon wants to clinch up but Sorias keeps it at a distance.
Juan Santiago Sorias is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sorias pushes Lauzon up against the cage in a clinch.
Sorias is looking to break free of the clinch but Lauzon has double underhooks.
Sorias can't break the clinch.
Sorias looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lauzon pushes Sorias back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lauzon scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sorias misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sorias lands a nice shot to the body.
Sorias letting Lauzon take a breather here.
Lauzon scores with a shot to the side of Sorias's head.
Sorias is stalling here.
Sorias working aggressively here.
Sorias just leaning against Lauzon, taking a breather.
Sorias stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sorias scores with a shot to the side of Lauzon's head.
Sorias looking to slow down the pace here.
Sorias'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.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Juan Santiago Sorias.
Lauzon uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sorias.
Lauzon tries to clinch but Sorias is having none of it.

Lauzon has closed the distance and engaged Sorias in a clinch.
Lauzon tries a knee to the head but Sorias blocks it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lauzon tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sorias smiles and moves away.
Lauzon misses the shot to the body.
Lauzon dives in and grabs Sorias's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sorias pushes down on Lauzon's head and hops out.

Lauzon has Sorias up against the cage in a clinch.
Sorias blocks an uppercut.
Lauzon lands a knee to the body.
Sorias tries to pull guard but Lauzon won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sorias blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Lauzon jumps guard.
Sorias wants to control from the top but Lauzon keeps moving.
Ben Lauzon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lauzon avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sorias wants to control from the top but Lauzon keeps moving.
Sorias sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Lauzon's guard.

Lauzon looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sorias slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sorias is keen to just control but Lauzon is a slippery customer.

Lauzon has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Sorias escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Sorias!
Lauzon is looking for a sweep.
Sorias trying to control the action but Lauzon is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Juan Santiago Sorias will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sorias swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Lauzon.
Sorias looks to throw the jab but Lauzon is out of range.
Sorias will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lauzon is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Sorias moves into range and clinches up with Lauzon.
Sorias misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lauzon is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Sorias looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sorias stalling.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Lauzon.
Lauzon lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Sorias.
Sorias is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Lauzon to keep the fight standing.
Our sources have told us that Lauzon has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Sorias lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Lauzon with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sorias scores with a shoulder strike.
Lauzon working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Lauzon lands a nice uppercut.
Lauzon throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lauzon scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Lauzon tries to pull guard but Sorias holds him up against the cage and eventually Lauzon drops back down to his feet.
Sorias swings wildly with an uppercut but Lauzon uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ben Lauzon has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sorias wants to break the clinch but can't.

Sorias is trying to trip Lauzon. He has hold of a leg but Lauzon is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Sorias persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sorias tries to stand but Lauzon is controlling from the bottom.
Lauzon tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ben Lauzon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sorias wants to control from the top but Lauzon keeps moving.
Sorias is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Lauzon being controlled here, momentarily.

Lauzon is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sorias is aware though and is defending well.
Sorias's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Lauzon is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lauzon working for a triangle but Sorias defends it easily.
Sorias in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sorias throws an elbow that misses. Lauzon uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sorias's guard. Nice move by Lauzon!

Sorias being controlled here, momentarily.
Lauzon stops Sorias from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sorias controlling the position.
Sorias looking for a sweep. Not yet Sorias, not yet.
Lauzon trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sorias is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lauzon waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sorias.
Lauzon moves into range and connects with a jab.
Lauzon has a takedown stuffed.
Juan Santiago Sorias seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sorias throws a body punch but Lauzon moves out of range.

Lauzon has Sorias up against the cage in a clinch.
Sorias blocks an uppercut.

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 Ben Lauzon.
I think Sorias has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Santiago Sorias!
An out of breath Juan Santiago Sorias thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.