PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Katsu Laoka (ranked 2404 p4p, 340 weight class) and Bismarck De Jager (ranked 2582 p4p, 363 weight class). De Jager is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Afrikanerhart. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Laoka
vs
De Jager

188 cm
41
205 lbs
31 - 19 - 5

189 cm
35
210 lbs
23 - 17 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

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 31 - 19 - 5, fighting out of Las Vegas, Katsu Laoka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 17 - 1, fighting out of New York, Bismarck De Jager!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, William Peck and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Jager is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
De Jager throws a leg kick that is checked
and Laoka connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
De Jager connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
De Jager lunges at Laoka with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Laoka's hand.
De Jager blocks a head kick by Laoka.
Laoka misses with a hook. De Jager ducked under it nicely.
De Jager is looking to chop away at Laoka's legs.
Laoka ducks right into an uppercut from De Jager.
De Jager waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Laoka.
Laoka takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Laoka uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from De Jager.

De Jager closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
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!
Laoka is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
De Jager throws a strike aimed at the side of Laoka's head but Laoka avoids it well.
De Jager wants to control for a moment but Laoka uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
De Jager trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Jager not landing any meaningful shots this time.
De Jager wants to free his trapped foot but Laoka is holding on for dear life with his legs.
De Jager content to control rather than advance.
De Jager tries to pass to full mount but Laoka defends it.
De Jager wants to control but Laoka is keeping him busy.

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.
De Jager is taking a breather. Laoka says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
De Jager missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
De Jager is trying to control. Laoka wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
De Jager scores with a nice strike.
De Jager throws a looping overhand right but Laoka ducks down to avoid it.
Laoka misses with a series of wild punches.
De Jager drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Laoka defends it well.
Nice straight punches there by Laoka. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Laoka.
De Jager takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Katsu Laoka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Laoka swinging wildly here.
Laoka misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - De Jager throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bismarck De Jager seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
De Jager clobbers Laoka with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
De Jager uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Laoka.
Laoka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from De Jager.
De Jager with the counter takedown but Laoka avoids it easily.
De Jager throws a combination that misses
and Laoka counters with an inside leg kick.
De Jager tries to score with a low kick but Laoka moves his leg out of the way.
Laoka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Laoka takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
De Jager throws an overhand right that lands on Laoka's shoulder, as Laoka tries to avoid the shot.
Laoka looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Laoka finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
De Jager just misses with a punch to the body.
And Laoka counters with a quick kick to the body but De Jager blocks it.
De Jager is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Laoka had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
De Jager throws a jab but it's blocked by Laoka.
De Jager closes this distance looking for a takedown but Laoka circles away.
Good exchange - Laoka coming out on top.
Nice takedown defense from Laoka. No joy for De Jager on that attempt.
Laoka keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Katsu Laoka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bismarck De Jager.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Jager misses the shot to the body.
Laoka throws a quick inside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Laoka gets caught flat footed, as De Jager shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Laoka keeping moving, preventing De Jager from controlling successfully.
De Jager wants to pass the guard but Laoka is keeping the position.
Laoka is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst De Jager is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
De Jager wants to control from the top but Laoka keeps moving.
De Jager postures up in Laoka's guard and throws a big left but Laoka blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bismarck De Jager will probably get the nod.
That's time! Laoka's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Laoka slips under a jab from De Jager.
De Jager throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Laoka is looking to counter punch.
De Jager throws an overhand right that lands on Laoka's shoulder, as Laoka tries to avoid the shot.
De Jager tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Laoka was well out of range. Poor timing from De Jager.
Laoka attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A swing and a miss from De Jager.
Laoka throws a leg kick but De Jager checks it.
Laoka misses with a low kick as De Jager jumps back.
De Jager throws an off balance right hand
and De Jager takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
De Jager is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Laoka.
Laoka stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from De Jager.
Laoka throws a half hearted mid kick.
Laoka chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before De Jager can pounce on him.
Laoka is looking to score with low kicks.
De Jager misses with a head kick.
Laoka throws a push kick but De Jager slaps the foot to one side.
De Jager tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Laoka throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Katsu Laoka is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Laoka looking to land some kicks to the body here.
De Jager tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
De Jager throws a sloppy head kick and Laoka moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laoka thows a leg kick but De Jager checks it

and De Jager counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
De Jager is stalling here. Laoka is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! De Jager seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Laoka has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
De Jager tries to improve position but can't.

Laoka stands up and beckons De Jager to his feet.
Laoka lands a head shot.
Laoka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Laoka throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
De Jager throws a leg kick that is checked
and Laoka counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
De Jager misses with a leg kick.
A bone on bone clash there as De Jager blocks the leg kick.
Laoka paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

De Jager shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. De Jager showed some decent athleticism there.
De Jager throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Laoka to regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Jager prevents Laoka from getting back to his feet.
De Jager advances position into side control!
Bismarck De Jager has got the better of the ground game so far.
De Jager tries to move to mount but Laoka blocks the move with his legs.
De Jager wants to lay and pray for a moment but Laoka keeps working.
De Jager postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Laoka is not content to let De Jager control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Jager in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
De Jager tries to advance to mount but can't.
De Jager is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Laoka is trying to get back to his feet.
De Jager working the head and body with strikes.
Laoka is not content to let De Jager control the position.
Laoka is trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Laoka takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Laoka pushes De Jager away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, De Jager gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
De Jager tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
De Jager taking a break here but Laoka is having none of it and regains half guard.
De Jager trying to control the action but Laoka is working from the bottom.
Laoka looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
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 Katsu Laoka will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Laoka's corner calls for a 1-2. Laoka obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
De Jager bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Laoka gets cracked with a nice right hand there by De Jager.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Laoka, as that shot connected.
De Jager misses the jab.
Nice shot by De Jager.
De Jager throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Laoka's head.
De Jager fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Laoka has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
De Jager connects with a leg kick. Laoka looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Laoka lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
De Jager looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A jab from De Jager misses.
Laoka fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches De Jager on the side of the head.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Laoka.
De Jager missing with a left hand there. Laoka was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Laoka throws a quick inside leg kick.
De Jager takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laoka looks to land a combination but De Jager avoids it well.
De Jager lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Laoka misses with an uppercut.
Laoka lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
De Jager throws a lazy head kick
enabling Laoka to counter with a crisp jab.
De Jager throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A slow jab from Laoka misses its intended target.
De Jager lands with a hook. Laoka tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
De Jager throws a low kick, looking for Laoka's leg but Laoka calmly moves out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Laoka.
De Jager dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Laoka. That did some damage!
De Jager tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
De Jager throws a right and a left that Laoka avoids nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
De Jager shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Laoka defends it nicely.
Decent striking displayed by Laoka there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laoka darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
De Jager lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Laoka takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Laoka walks into a jab.
De Jager drops his hands momentarily and Laoka takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Laoka throws a sloppy head kick and De Jager moves out of range easily.
A nice leg kick lands there from De Jager.
De Jager misses with an uppercut. Laoka saw that one coming.
De Jager throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
De Jager throws a jab but it's blocked by Laoka.
Laoka loads up on a big right hand but De Jager slips the punch.
De Jager attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
De Jager misses the body punch
and Laoka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A solid leg kick lands there for Laoka.
De Jager throws a jab but it's blocked by Laoka.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laoka moves out of range of the strikes.
De Jager moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Laoka bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Laoka lands an overhand right.
De Jager misses with a wild combination.
As De Jager looks to move away, Laoka throws a big counter combo but De Jager just gets out of the way.
A right-left combo lands from Laoka.

It looks like Bismarck De Jager has been cut.
Laoka moves out of range of the body kick from De Jager.
De Jager throws an off balance right hand
and Laoka counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Laoka checks a leg kick.
Laoka bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Good leg kick by Laoka there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
De Jager fails with a takedown attempt.
De Jager takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

De Jager closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Laoka's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
De Jager prevents Laoka from getting back to his feet.
De Jager throwing strikes from guard but Laoka blocks nicely.
De Jager must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
De Jager loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
De Jager tries to free his leg and advance position but Laoka is retaining full guard.
De Jager throws an elbow that misses. Laoka uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in De Jager's guard. Nice move by Laoka!

Laoka wants to get up but he can't break De Jager's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

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 Laoka 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Katsu Laoka!
Katsu Laoka 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.