PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lac Duc Lao (ranked 6113 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leon Gorshkov (ranked 6112 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Duc Lao
vs
Gorshkov

174 cm
23
189 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
21
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lac Duc Lao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Leon Gorshkov!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Bart Greer and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gorshkov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Duc Lao.

Gorshkov sneaks out the side door and pushes Duc Lao away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Gorshkov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Duc Lao as he jumps to the side.
Gorshkov tries a head kick but it misses.
Gorshkov avoids the body shot from Duc Lao.
Gorshkov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Duc Lao counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Gorshkov should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gorshkov looks to clinch
and Duc Lao counters with an outside leg kick.
Duc Lao throws a series of punches but Gorshkov avoids them all with ease.
Gorshkov wants to counter the offense by Duc Lao and move into the clinch position.

Gorshkov drives through and clinches with Duc Lao against the cage.
Duc Lao has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Gorshkov after a bit of a struggle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duc Lao scores with a shot to the side of Gorshkov's head.
Duc Lao tries for a takedown. No joy.
Duc Lao is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lac Duc Lao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gorshkov is working for takedown but Duc Lao is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gorshkov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Duc Lao to keep the fight standing.
Gorshkov jumps guard but Duc Lao stands there with Gorshkov around his waist. Gorshkov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gorshkov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gorshkov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Duc Lao smiles and moves away.

Duc Lao looking to score a takedown here. Gorshkov is defending well but Duc Lao drives through and ends up in Gorshkov's guard.
Duc Lao passes Gorshkov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Duc Lao seems content to control.
Gorshkov wants to get back to full guard.
Duc Lao working over Gorshkov with some ground and pound. Gorshkov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Duc Lao slips a nice elbow through Gorshkov's hands, connecting with Gorshkov's forehead.

Duc Lao decides to stand up.
Gorshkov throws a head kick that misses.

Duc Lao takes the fight into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Duc Lao lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Gorshkov pushes Duc Lao off but Duc Lao dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gorshkov pushes Duc Lao away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Duc Lao gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Duc Lao landing a few strikes.
Gorshkov prevents Duc Lao from improving position.
Duc Lao controls the position.
Duc Lao tries to advance to mount but Gorshkov denies him.
Duc Lao staying calm.
Duc Lao working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gorshkov taking punishment in the form of punches.
Duc Lao controls the position.
Gorshkov struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lac Duc Lao dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gorshkov fails with a takedown attempt.

Duc Lao scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Gorshkov explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Duc Lao checks the leg kick.
Duc Lao fails with an attempt to clinch.

Duc Lao drives through and clinches with Gorshkov against the cage.

Duc Lao manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gorshkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Duc Lao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Duc Lao tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Gorshkov gets to his feet. Duc Lao looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Duc Lao tries to sprawl but Gorshkov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Duc Lao is looking to improve his position.
Duc Lao is looking to control Gorshkov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Duc Lao avoid being mounted?
Gorshkov is trying to control. Duc Lao wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Duc Lao actively working from the bottom here.
Gorshkov is looking to take a break and control but Duc Lao is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duc Lao pushes Gorshkov off looking to stand but Gorshkov dives back in and keeps control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Duc Lao tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gorshkov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gorshkov throws a front kick that sends Duc Lao stumbling back into the cage.
Some wild striking there from Duc Lao.
Gorshkov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Duc Lao defends it nicely.
Duc Lao throws a big counter combination but Gorshkov scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Duc Lao lands with a kick to the temple. Gorshkov shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Duc Lao shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Duc Lao connects with a nice short shot to Gorshkov's temple.

Duc Lao is looking for a kimura here.
Duc Lao perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Gorshkov wants to control but Duc Lao is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Duc Lao decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Duc Lao closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gorshkov to the mat! Gorshkov manages to get full guard.
Duc Lao has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gorshkov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gorshkov tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Duc Lao decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Duc Lao shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Gorshkov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Duc Lao can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lac Duc Lao will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Duc Lao tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gorshkov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Horrible takedown attempt by Gorshkov or perhaps it was just good defense by Duc Lao, which made it look bad.
Duc Lao wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Duc Lao tries to clinch but Gorshkov is having none of it.
Gorshkov shoots in but Duc Lao avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Duc Lao is looking to clinch.
A nice combination there by Gorshkov.

Duc Lao scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Duc Lao prevents Gorshkov from escaping the position.
Gorshkov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Duc Lao happy to just control the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Duc Lao tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Duc Lao has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Duc Lao controlling from side mount.

Duc Lao stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Duc Lao dives in for a single leg takedown but Gorshkov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gorshkov shoots in looking for a takedown but Duc Lao manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gorshkov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Lac Duc Lao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leon Gorshkov.
Gorshkov has a takedown stuffed.
Duc Lao is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gorshkov can do to turn this around?
Gorshkov leaves Duc Lao with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Gorshkov clinches.
Gorshkov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Duc Lao gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gorshkov goes for a takedown attempt but Duc Lao pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Gorshkov throws a body shot but no joy.
Gorshkov shoots for a double leg takedown but Duc Lao sprawls well. He's pushed Gorshkov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gorshkov takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Duc Lao drives through with a takedown into Gorshkov's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Gorshkov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Duc Lao forces his way into half guard.
Well, if Duc Lao is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Duc Lao trying to mount his opponent but Gorshkov defends it.
Duc Lao looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Duc Lao stands up out of the half guard.

Gorshkov moves into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Duc Lao breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gorshkov throws a body shot but no joy.
Leon Gorshkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lac Duc Lao is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Duc Lao gets in close and instigates a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lac Duc Lao showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Duc Lao 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lac Duc Lao!