PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Katsu Laoka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Quin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laoka comes to the cage accompanied by The Bell Tolls. Quin has chosen Captain Jack - Iko Iko as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Laoka
vs
Quin

188 cm
35
186 lbs
24 - 10 - 4

195 cm
31
190 lbs
21 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
Voodoo Nutrition

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 24 - 10 - 4, fighting out of Las Vegas, Katsu Laoka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Quin!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Laoka, as that shot connected.

Quin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Quin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Quin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Laoka's head.
We've been hearing good reports from Laoka's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Quin is trying to work for a kimura but Laoka is defending well.
Quin trying to control the pace.
Quin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Quin is working for a submission of some sort.
Quin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Laoka knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laoka is defending against the submission attempts here by Quin.
Laoka is trying to stand up here but Quin is controlling him well.
Laoka keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Quin working Laoka over with strikes.
Quin winds up and cracks Laoka with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Laoka keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Quin trying to mount his opponent but Laoka defends it.
Quin is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Laoka regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Quin.
Laoka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Quin slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Quin creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Laoka sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Quin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Laoka keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Quin working the strikes but Laoka uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Quin prevents Laoka from standing back up.
Quin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Quin sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Quin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Laoka kicks Quin off and gets back to his feet.
Quin has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Laoka finds it's way round the side to connect with Quin's head.
Quin closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Laoka lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laoka scores with a crisp jab that stopped Quin in his tracks.
Quin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Quin looks to score with a jab to the body but Laoka is just out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jab from Quin.
A combination from Quin does no damage.
Quin shoots for a takedown but Laoka saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Quin lands with a hook. Laoka tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A nice inside leg kick there by Laoka. That's going to slow Quin down.
Laoka scores with a punch to the head.
Katsu Laoka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Quin connects with a crisp jab.
Laoka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Laoka shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Laoka connects with a solid leg kick.
Laoka misses with an attempted mid kick.
Laoka looks to score with a jab to the body but Quin is just out of range.
Laoka looks to throw the jab but Quin is out of range.
Laoka takes one to the chin there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matt Quin will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Quin misses with a wild body shot.
Quin checks a leg kick.
A low kick from Laoka misses

and Quin counters with a single leg into guard. Laoka didn't expect that.

Laoka manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Quin works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Laoka scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Laoka lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Quin with a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Laoka tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Quin counters with a three punch combo that has Laoka backing up. Laoka nods at Quin to acknowledge the strikes.
Quin misses with a body shot.
Quin works the jab nicely.
Quin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Quin fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Quin scores with a jab to the jaw.
Quin connects with a crisp jab.
Quin misses with a takedown
enabling Laoka to counter with a crisp jab.
Matt Quin seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Quin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Quin misses the shot to the body.

Laoka has Quin up against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Quin fails to land.

Quin breaks from the clinch.
Quin blocks a jab.
Laoka's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Quin connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Laoka scrambles back to his feet.
Laoka throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Quin misses with a hook.
Quin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Laoka defends it nicely.
Laoka misses with a combination
and Quin counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Laoka works the jab nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Quin moves out of range of the leg kick from Laoka.
Quin tests Laoka's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Laoka fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Quin manages to avoid it.
Quin moves out of range of the strikes.
Quin has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Quin throws a series of punches but Laoka moves out of range.
Quin looks to score with a jab to the body but Laoka is just out of range.
Laoka lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Quin circles away quickly and effectively.
Laoka takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Laoka misses with a body shot.
Laoka takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Laoka gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Quin.
Decent striking displayed by Quin there.
Quin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Quin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Laoka was well out of range. Poor timing from Quin.
Nice shot lands for Quin.
A looping hook to the body misses from Quin. Laoka does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Quin bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Laoka's head.
Laoka scores with a nice body kick.
Quin works the jab nicely.
Laoka misses with a straight right.
Quin throws a series of punches but Laoka avoids them all with ease.
Quin misses with a hook.
Laoka scores with a sloppy right hand. Quin should have avoided that one.
Quin lands a jab to the nose.
Laoka tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Quin is able to avoid easily.

Laoka rushes Quin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Quin will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Laoka up against the cage.
Quin is looking to take this one to the mat.
Katsu Laoka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Quin.

Quin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Laoka looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Laoka tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Quin was well out of range. Poor timing from Laoka.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Quin lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Laoka buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Quin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Laoka.
Quin throws a big shot that misses.
Quin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Laoka.
Quin fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Nice uppercut lands for Quin. That snapped Laoka's head back.
Laoka lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Laoka misses with a straight left.
Laoka throws a good cross that connects.
Laoka misses with a hook.
Quin needs to keep his hands up - Laoka had a free shot at his head there.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Laoka shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A shot to the liver by Quin. Beautiful body shot.
Laoka is looking to score with low kicks.
Quin throws out a powerful jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Quin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Laoka lands with a straight right. Quin didn't see that one coming.
Laoka tries to clinch but Quin is having none of it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Laoka.
Laoka takes a jab right on the kisser.
Laoka throws the left hand but Quin avoids the punch easily.
Laoka avoids the body shot from Quin.
A decent looking cross lands there for Quin.
Laoka fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Quin looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Laoka wants to slow Quin down by chopping away at his legs.
Quin drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Laoka defends it well.
Laoka throws a front kick that sends Quin stumbling back into the cage.
Quin moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Quin just misses with a punch to the body.
Quin lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Quin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Quin checks a low kick from Laoka.
Laoka swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Laoka is predictable there
and Quin counters with a nice body shot.
Quin walks into a jab.
Quin changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Quin slips a jab and a cross from Laoka.
Quin with the counter takedown but Laoka avoids it easily.
Laoka throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Laoka takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Laoka is looking to score with low kicks.
Laoka takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Quin scores with a hook to the body. Laoka takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Laoka takes a jab right on the kisser.
Laoka with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Quin to score with a decent uppercut.
Quin throws a right hand that Laoka ducks under and follows up with a left that Laoka also avoids with ease.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Quin connects with a jab.
Quin throws a lazy uppercut

and Laoka counters with a takedown into side control.

Laoka has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Quin with a hook.
Laoka throws a front kick that sends Quin stumbling back into the cage.
Quin lunges at Laoka with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Laoka's hand.
Laoka stuffs the takedown.
Quin thuds a left hand into Laoka's body.
Laoka steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Quin.
Quin throws a jab but it's blocked by Laoka.
Laoka wants to slow Quin down by chopping away at his legs.
Laoka throws a leg kick but Quin sees it coming and moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Quin.
Laoka throws a hook but Quin blocks it.

Laoka gets a clinch.
Laoka keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Quin's efforts to push away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laoka works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Quin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Laoka is looking to control Quin's arms but Quin gets an underhook and turns him. Now Laoka has his back to the cage.
Laoka connects with a knee to the head.
Laoka lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Quin taking a breather.
Quin wants to take the fight to the mat but Laoka manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Laoka gets through Quin's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Katsu Laoka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Quin is trying to force a seperation but Laoka has the dominant position.
Laoka lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Quin drops down looking for an ankle pick but Laoka pulls his leg out and moves away.
Katsu Laoka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Quin.
The fighters circling - Laoka throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Laoka explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Quin fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Laoka works the jab nicely.
Quin throws a good cross that connects.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Quin works Laoka's body with a nice hook.
Laoka keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Quin lands an overhand right.
Quin lunges at Laoka with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Laoka's hand.
Laoka stuffs the takedown.
Laoka looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Quin ducks right into an uppercut from Laoka.
Quin moves out of range as Laoka strikes.
Quin smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Quin works the jab nicely.
Good standup being displayed there by Quin as he connects with a hook.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Laoka walks into a straight right hand from Quin.
Laoka takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Quin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Laoka lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

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 Katsu Laoka.
I think Quin 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Katsu Laoka!
Katsu Laoka spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.