PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Blake Justice (ranked 2618 p4p, 370 weight class) and Katsu Laoka (ranked 3114 p4p, 421 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Justice
vs
Laoka

190 cm
27
206 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

188 cm
41
205 lbs
30 - 18 - 5

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

IniTech Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Blake Justice!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 18 - 5, fighting out of Las Vegas, Katsu Laoka!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Elvis Blanc and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laoka tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Justice counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Laoka manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Laoka misses with a hook.
Laoka throws a leg kick but Justice checks it.
Laoka lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Laoka misses with an uppercut.
Justice looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Justice shoots in looking for a takedown but Laoka manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Justice's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Laoka tries to land a front kick but Justice steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Justice drives through and clinches with Laoka against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Laoka missing with knees to the body.
Laoka misses with the head strike.
Justice using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laoka effectively controlling the action here.
Laoka just leaning against Justice, taking a breather.
Laoka tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Laoka goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Laoka misses with a punch to the body.
Laoka is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Laoka lands a hook that snaps the head of Justice backwards.
Justice wants a takedown but no success here.
Justice misses with a knee to the head.
Laoka misses with a punch on the inside.
Laoka working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Laoka tries to work over Justice's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Justice blocking some punches.
Justice managing to block the knees to the body from Laoka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laoka lands a shoulder strike.
Laoka struggles to land a body shot inside as Justice controls his hands.
Laoka works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Laoka lands a right hand.
Justice is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Laoka lands a hook to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Laoka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Laoka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Laoka missing with knees to the body.
Justice blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Laoka scores with a shot to the side of Justice's head.
Laoka trying to land knees to the body.
Laoka lands a right hand that snaps the head of Justice backwards.
Laoka landing knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laoka working some nice short punches in the clinch.
I was talking to Justice's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Laoka tries to land a knee to the head but Justice blocks with his arms.
Laoka swings wildly with an uppercut but Justice uses good head movement to avoid it.
Laoka has a couple of punches blocked by Justice.
Laoka gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Justice.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blake Justice. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Justice gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Laoka has one foot on Justice's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Nice jab there from Laoka.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Laoka cracks Justice with a right hand to the side of the head.
Laoka throws a jab but it's blocked by Justice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laoka lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Laoka throws a low kick but Justice moves out of range easily.
Justice slips under a jab from Laoka.
Justice ducks under a wild hook from Laoka.
Laoka scores with a crisp jab that stopped Justice in his tracks.
Laoka finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Laoka walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Justice checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Justice misses with a looping left.
Katsu Laoka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Justice misses with a two punch combination.
Laoka looks to land a right hand but Justice moved out of range.
Justice drops down looking for a counter takedown but Laoka sprawls and moves away.
Laoka moves forwards but Justice connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Laoka lands with a hook. Justice tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katsu Laoka dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Justice slips under a jab from Laoka.
Laoka loads up on a big right hand but Justice slips the punch.
Justice attempts a counter takedown but Laoka avoids it well and moves away.
Justice on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Laoka throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Justice displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Laoka throws out the jab.
Justice misses with a takedown
and Laoka counters with a stiff right hand.
Justice dodges the punch combination from Laoka.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Justice steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Laoka.
Justice appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Laoka misses with a straight right.
Laoka throws a body kick, spinning off balance

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

Laoka pushes Justice off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laoka lands with a right hand.
Laoka swings for the body but Justice moves out of range.
Justice throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Laoka misses with a body shot.
Laoka jabbing away but nothing is landing.
An attempted straight right counter from Justice misses the target.
Laoka scores with a head kick. Justice tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Laoka throws a left and a right that both miss

and Justice counters with a takedown into side control.

Laoka throws Justice to one side and escapes!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Justice throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Laoka misses with an attempted mid kick.
Justice throws a looping overhand right but Laoka ducks down to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Laoka is predictable there

and Justice counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Laoka is not content to let Justice control the position.
Laoka is trying to stand.
Justice takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Laoka wants to get back to his feet.
Justice is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Justice missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Justice sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Laoka defending well though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Laoka is trying to stand up here but Justice is controlling him well.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Justice shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Laoka as he avoids it easily.
Laoka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Laoka lands with an uppercut that bounces Justice off the cage and back into range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Laoka. That's going to slow Justice down.
Laoka misses with a wild body shot.
Laoka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Justice shoots for a double leg takedown but Laoka sprawls well. He's pushed Justice's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blake Justice. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laoka lands with an overhand left.
Justice slips under a jab.
Laoka throws a looping overhand right but Justice ducks down to avoid it.
Laoka swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Justice takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Katsu Laoka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Laoka throws a hook but Justice blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laoka misses with a double jab.
Justice feinted with a counter takedown.
Justice throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Laoka sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Laoka pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Justice half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Justice forces Laoka back against the cage and clinches.
Laoka gets underhooks to prevent Justice's takedown attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Laoka effectively controlling the action here.
Justice has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Laoka after a bit of a struggle.
Laoka lands a shot to the body.
Laoka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Justice has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Laoka tries to work over Justice's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Justice blocks a body shot from Laoka.
Justice blocking some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katsu Laoka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Laoka feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Justices jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Laoka throws a body shot but no joy.
Justice feinted with a counter takedown.
Laoka misses with a looping right.
Laoka scores with a jab to the body.
Laoka cracks Justice with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Laoka connects with a leg kick. Justice looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A low kick from Laoka misses

and Justice counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Justice.
Justice trying to control the position from guard on top but Laoka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Justice pushes down on Laoka's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Justice seems to be looking for submissions.

Justice is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Laoka sees it coming and defends easily.

Laoka has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Justice is on him like a limpet, forcing Laoka back against the cage.
Laoka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Justice blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Laoka takes a knee right on the jaw!
Justice blocks an uppercut.
Laoka is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Justice prevents a body shot from Laoka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laoka avoiding damage.
Laoka goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Good body shot from Laoka.
Laoka scores with a shot to the side of Justice's head.
Justice prevents a body shot from Laoka.
Laoka lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Blake Justice has been cut.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Laoka swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Katsu Laoka seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Laoka throws a head punch that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Justice tightens his grip and picks Laoka up, before dumping him to the ground. Laoka manages to land in guard.
Justice prevents Laoka from getting back to his feet.
Justice wants to control from the top but Laoka keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Laoka has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Justice off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Laoka gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Justice.
Laoka missing with a left hand there. Justice was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Justice is looking to counter the offense by Laoka and move into the clinch.
Justice looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Laoka looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Laoka looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Laoka looks to score with a jab to the body but Justice is just out of range.
Justice steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Laoka. That one must have hurt.
Laoka misses with a low kick as Justice jumps back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Justice throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Laoka's waist but Laoka gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Justice off to one side.
It seemed like Laoka was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Justice misses with the combination.
A nice inside leg kick there by Laoka. That's going to slow Justice down.
Katsu Laoka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Laoka lands with a right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Laoka misses with an uppercut. Justice saw that one coming.
Laoka throws a body shot but no joy.
Laoka misses with a wild body shot.
Justice tries to counter with a takedown but Laoka is quick to defend against it.
Laoka misses with a looping left.
Blake Justice has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Laoka throws a jab but it's blocked by Justice.

And that's the end of the fight!
Katsu Laoka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Laoka has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Katsu Laoka!
In his post fight interview, Katsu Laoka started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.