PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Karnak Lao (ranked 6542 p4p, 492 weight class) and Raeven Gracie (ranked 5324 p4p, 454 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lao
vs
Gracie

170 cm
26
155 lbs
2 - 2 - 1

178 cm
25
158 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Karnak Lao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of New York, Raeven Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Anthony Taglia and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Gracie. No joy for Lao on that attempt.
Gracie looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lao is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Lao gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Lao jumps guard but Gracie stands there with Lao around his waist. Lao gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
We've been informed that Gracie has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracie turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Lao tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gracie has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Lao regains half guard.
Lao is controlling Gracie's trapped leg to prevent Gracie from advancing to side control.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura but Lao is defending well.
Lao manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Lao seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Lao working a defensive guard here.

Lao has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Gracie has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Lao is trying to force a seperation but Gracie has the dominant position.
Gracie tries to stall but Lao uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Lao throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Lao can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Karnak Lao. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lao missing with knees to the body.
Lao tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gracie smiles and moves away.
Gracie throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lao.
No luck for Lao with that takedown attempt.

Lao drives through with a takedown into Gracie's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Lao controlling from the top position.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Lao defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lao slips nicely into half guard.
Lao lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Lao is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nice strikes from Lao there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karnak Lao dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lao darts in looking for a takedown but Gracie gets double underhooks and turns Lao into the cage.
Lao tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lao tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gracie swivels and escapes.
Lao shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gracie but Gracie pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Karnak Lao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lao fails with a takedown attempt.
Gracie wants to counter with a clinch but Lao pushes him away.
Lao shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gracie as he avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracie closes the distance and pushes Lao back into the cage.
Lao stops a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Lao is looking to break free of the clinch but Gracie has double underhooks.
Lao is trying to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lao tries to pull guard but Gracie holds him up against the cage and eventually Lao drops back down to his feet.
Lao is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Gracie to keep the fight standing.
Lao tries to score a body lock takedown but Gracie shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Gracie jumps guard but Lao stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Lao tries to pull guard but Gracie won't allow it.
Lao has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lao is looking to take this one to the mat.
Gracie keeps control of Lao as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gracie goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lao prevents it.
Lao is trying to pull guard but Gracie has him pressed against the cage.
Lao holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Gracie avoids the elbow strike from Lao, against the cage.
Lao misses with a body punch.
Lao wants to take the fight to the mat but Gracie manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Lao missing with knees to the body.
Gracie is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lao tries to work over Gracie's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lao tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gracie avoids it.
Gracie goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lao misses with a body punch.
Gracie gets underhooks to prevent Lao's takedown attempt.
Lao is working for takedown but Gracie is calmly controlling the position for now.
Lao jumps guard but Gracie stands there with Lao around his waist. Lao gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Lao is looking to control Gracie's arms but Gracie gets an underhook and turns him. Now Lao has his back to the cage.
Gracie is looking to take this one to the mat.
Lao has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Gracie after a bit of a struggle.

That's four 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.
Gracie can't get the takedown.
Lao is trying to pull guard but Gracie has him pressed against the cage.
Gracie tries to work over Lao's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lao has had enough of the clinch but Gracie keeps him there for the moment.
Lao is working for takedown but Gracie is calmly controlling the position for now.
Lao is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gracie is keeping busy.
Gracie has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Lao after a bit of a struggle.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lao wants to stall.
Gracie changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lao fights it off and pushes away nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raeven Gracie 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!

Lao drives through with a takedown into Gracie's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Gracie controls Lao momentarily but Lao frees himself.
Lao looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Lao pushes down on Gracie's leg and manages to get into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lao seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lao is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Gracie trying to hold on to Lao's head to control him but Lao postures up.
Lao is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gracie can do to turn this around?
Lao takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Gracie taking some punishment here, with Lao in his half guard.
Lao trying to control from half guard but Gracie is working away.
Lao seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Lao wants to stand up but Gracie is controlling the position.
Gracie has a hand on Lao's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Lao takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lao stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Lao closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Lao seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Gracie is not content to let Lao control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lao stalling.

Lao 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.

Lao is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gracie has managed to free his arm - good work.

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.
Lao looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gracie with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Gracie moves into full guard.
Lao makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lao with a nice head shot there.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Lao from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Karnak Lao showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lao has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Karnak Lao!
In defeat, Raeven Gracie stepped up to the mic, saying 'I'll be back, thank you everyone, my opponent was a great fighter.'.