PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Waldo Claudiano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Lauzon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Claudiano
vs
Lauzon

160 cm
26
149 lbs
6 - 7 - 1

168 cm
25
145 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

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 6 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Waldo Claudiano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ben Lauzon!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Konstantin Menshow and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lauzon tries to score a power double leg takedown but Claudiano sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lauzon somewhat.
Some wild striking there from Claudiano.
Claudiano misses with a looping right.
Claudiano throws a hook to the side of Lauzon's head but Lauzon sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Claudiano takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Lauzon fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Claudiano, pushing him back against the cage.
Claudiano lands a left hand that snaps the head of Lauzon backwards.
Claudiano working aggressively here.
Lauzon is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Claudiano misses with a short punch on the inside.

Lauzon turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Claudiano gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Lauzon looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Claudiano has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lauzon is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claudiano manages to get to full guard.
Claudiano keeping full guard, as Lauzon tries to pass.
Claudiano tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lauzon chips away with some ground and pound.
Lauzon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Claudiano is keeping the position for now.
Claudiano looking to control.
Claudiano has his hands on Lauzon's head, controlling the position.

That's two 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.
Lauzon missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Claudiano trying to keep a closed guard but Lauzon is proving a slippery customer.
Claudiano seems keen to control Lauzon's posture.
Claudiano trying to control the position.
Claudiano has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

Claudiano looking for a guillotine here but Lauzon defends easily.
Claudiano keeping moving, preventing Lauzon from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Claudiano will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Waldo Claudiano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Claudiano wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Lauzon clinches with his opponent.
Lauzon prevents a body shot from Claudiano.
Lauzon has a couple of punches blocked by Claudiano.
Claudiano pushes Lauzon back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Claudiano swings wildly with an uppercut but Lauzon uses good head movement to avoid it.
Claudiano is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Lauzon misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lauzon.
Lauzon connects with a nasty looking knee right to Claudiano's face.

It looks like Waldo Claudiano has been cut.
Lauzon is looking to take this one to the mat.
Lauzon softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Lauzon taking a breather.
Lauzon displaying some good clinch control by pressing Claudiano up against the cage.
Lauzon trying to control the position but instead, Claudiano has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lauzon into the cage.
Lauzon is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Claudiano is keeping busy.
Claudiano misses with some punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Claudiano takes a knee right on the jaw!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Claudiano lands a right hand that snaps the head of Lauzon backwards.
Claudiano scores with a shot to the side of Lauzon's head.
Lauzon missing with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ben Lauzon will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Waldo Claudiano's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lauzon tries to clinch but Claudiano moves out of range.

Claudiano moves into the clinch successfully.
Claudiano tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lauzon wants a takedown but no success here.
Lauzon looking to throw knees to the head but Claudiano is blocking nicely.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Lauzon.
Claudiano stops a takedown attempt from Lauzon.
Lauzon blocking some punches.
Lauzon lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lauzon blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Claudiano lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lauzon backwards.
Claudiano misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Claudiano blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Claudiano tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lauzon's elbow.
Lauzon is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Claudiano pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Waldo Claudiano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Lauzon.
Claudiano softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A knee to the head by Lauzon.
Claudiano working aggressively here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Claudiano tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lauzon's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Lauzon.
Claudiano working aggressively here.
Claudiano makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Claudiano fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lauzon scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Lauzon prevents the takedown attempt.
Lauzon softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Lauzon effectively controlling the action here.
Claudiano drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lauzon gets the underhooks and prevents it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Claudiano.
Lauzon tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lauzon tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lauzon is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Claudiano swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano scores with a shoulder strike.
A body shot lands from Claudiano.
Lauzon lands a nice uppercut.
Lauzon misses with a hook from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lauzon blocks an uppercut.
Ben Lauzon seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A head punch on the inside from Claudiano fails to land.
Claudiano dodges an elbow strike from Lauzon.
Claudiano misses with some punches.
Lauzon prevents a body shot from Claudiano.
Lauzon is looking to take this one to the mat.

Lauzon tightens his grip and picks Claudiano up, before dumping him to the ground. Claudiano manages to land in guard.
Claudiano 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.
Claudiano has control of Lauzon's left arm, preventing Lauzon from doing any damage.
Lauzon loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lauzon slips nicely into half guard.

Lauzon seems to be looking for submissions.
Claudiano trying to control from the bottom.
Claudiano is controlling Lauzon's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Claudiano is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Claudiano wants to control but Lauzon is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ben Lauzon has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Lauzon is trying to work for a kimura but Claudiano is defending well.
Claudiano regains full guard. Nicely done.
Claudiano keeping moving, preventing Lauzon from controlling successfully.

Claudiano throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Lauzon escapes and throws Claudiano's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Lauzon trying to control the position but Claudiano is working away.
Claudiano is looking to regain half guard here but Lauzon keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Lauzon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Waldo Claudiano's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, 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.

Lauzon shoots in for a double leg but Claudiano sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Lauzon closes the distance and clinches.
Lauzon's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Claudiano scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Lauzon misses with some punches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Claudiano creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Claudiano misses with a short punch on the inside.

Lauzon turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Claudiano gets back to half guard.
Claudiano wants to control but Lauzon is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Claudiano is looking to improve his position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Lauzon is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Claudiano doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lauzon.
Lauzon not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claudiano has a hand on Lauzon's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Lauzon takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Claudiano gets back to half guard.
Lauzon thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Claudiano's head.

Claudiano looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lauzon misses with a head shot. Claudiano uses the momentum to regain guard.
Waldo Claudiano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ben Lauzon is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lauzon wants to pass the guard but Claudiano is keeping the position.
Claudiano wants to sweep here but Lauzon controlling him for the moment.
Claudiano has control of Lauzon's left arm, preventing Lauzon from doing any damage.
Claudiano not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Claudiano pulls Lauzon in close to his closed guard and prevents Lauzon from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lauzon not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A big left from Claudiano misses.
Claudiano misses with a two punch combination.
A little jabbing left from Lauzon on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Claudiano keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lauzon shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Claudiano sprawls well. Claudiano wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lauzon gets slowly back to his feet.
Waldo Claudiano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Lauzon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lauzon avoids the body shot from Claudiano.
Lauzon checks a leg kick.
Claudiano throws a body shot but no joy.

Lauzon bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Claudiano is looking for a sweep.
Claudiano is letting Lauzon control him for a moment.
Claudiano tries to bench press Lauzon off him but Lauzon keeps the position.
Claudiano struggling a bit here.
Claudiano is looking for a sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lauzon trying to control the action but Claudiano is working from the bottom.
Claudiano is trying to buck Lauzon off.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ben Lauzon.
I've got Lauzon 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Lauzon!
Ben Lauzon was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.