PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mira Lax (ranked 4077 p4p, 411 weight class) and Yan Cropop (ranked 4413 p4p, 446 weight class). Yan Cropop has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lax
vs
Cropop

181 cm
25
173 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
25
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mira Lax!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Yan Cropop!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Micheangelo Fripello and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lax shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cropop is trying to control the position but Lax postures up.
Lax with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lax keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cropop's head.
Lax throwing strikes from guard but Cropop blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lax landing some decent shots from guard.

Cropop is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lax defends well.

Cropop is looking for a triangle but Lax pushes his legs off easily.
Lax scoring with punches to the head and body.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lax trying to control the position from guard on top but Cropop is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lax is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lax postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Cropop working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lax is looking to work some ground and pound but Cropop has wrist control.
Lax is in close to Cropop's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Lax wants to control from the top but Cropop keeps moving.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Lax's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Lax trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lax throws a big right hand that misses.
Lax postures up.
Cropop utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lax stands up over Cropop, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Lax missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lax postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lax scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Cropop has his foot on Lax's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lax works his way back into a safe position though.

Cropop is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lax defends well.
Lax cracks Cropop with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lax keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cropop's head.
Lax chips away with some ground and pound.
Cropop is trying to control the position but Lax postures up.
Lax has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Cropop has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lax can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Lax landing some decent shots from guard.
Lax chips away with some ground and pound.
Lax distracts Cropop with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cropop has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Lax slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lax distracts Cropop with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cropop throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lax lands a couple of elbows.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Lax's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Lax postures up and lands a big shot to Cropop's brow.
Lax trying to control but Cropop is working from the bottom.

Cropop throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lax landing with the ground and pound.

Cropop had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lax defends it easily.
Lax working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cropop's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cropop can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lax controls the pace.
Lax is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lax scoring with punches to the head and body.
Cropop has momentary wrist control but Lax slips an elbow through the middle.
Lax landing with the ground and pound.
Lax landing with the ground and pound.
Lax will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Lax with a nice head shot there.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Lax working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cropop's head.

Cropop looking for a guillotine here but Lax defends easily.
Lax with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mira Lax dominated that round.
That's time! Lax's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A looping hook to the body misses from Lax. Cropop does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lax misses with a wild body shot.
Cropop appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Lax fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cropop manages to avoid it.
Lax takes a swing at Cropop's ribcage but misses.
Lax throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cropop fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lax avoids it really well and circles away.
Lax throws a body punch but Cropop moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Lax as Cropop shoots in.
Cropop shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lax sprawls well. Lax wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cropop gets slowly back to his feet.
Mira Lax has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yan Cropop.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cropop fails with a takedown attempt.
Lax throws a body punch but Cropop moves out of range.
Cropop uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lax.
Lax takes a swing at Cropop's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lax throws a body punch but Cropop moves out of range.
Cropop drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Lax defends it well.
Cropop darts in looking for a takedown but Lax gets double underhooks and turns Cropop into the cage.
Lax just misses with a punch to the body.
Lax throws a body punch but Cropop moves out of range.
Cropop fails with a takedown attempt.

Lax scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Lax perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Lax lands a nice short elbow.
Lax working over Cropop with some ground and pound. Cropop looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Mira Lax overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lax working the head and body with strikes.
Cropop is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Lax scores with a couple of nice shots.
Cropop on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Lax working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lax seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Lax is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cropop tries to get to full guard but Lax has control of the leg.
Lax scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Lax lands with a punch from half guard.
Cropop has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lax is working away from the top position though.

Cropop actively working from the bottom here.

Cropop is defending against the submission attempts here by Lax.
Cropop is looking for a sweep. Lax is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lax slips a nice elbow through Cropop's hands, connecting with Cropop's forehead.

Lax is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cropop defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cropop looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cropop taking some punishment here, with Lax in his half guard.
Lax scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ground and pound from Lax.
Lax is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cropop can do to turn this around?
Cropop is trying to maintain the position but Lax is very close to passing his half guard.
Lax is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Cropop is looking to control Lax's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cropop avoid being mounted?
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. Lax connects with a nice short shot to Cropop's temple.
Lax trying to control from half guard but Cropop is working away.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Lax lands a nice short elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lax lands with a punch from half guard.
Lax lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Lax working the head and body with strikes.
Lax seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Cropop throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Well, if Lax 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.

Cropop looking for submissions off his back.
Cropop has hold of Lax's hands but Lax slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Lax working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mira Lax dominated that second round.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cropop fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Lax gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cropop to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Lax is trying to keep Cropop in close.

Lax had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cropop defends it easily.
Lax managing to control the position.

Lax looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lax keeping full guard, as Cropop tries to pass.

Lax working for a triangle but Cropop defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lax is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lax is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cropop trying to control but Lax is working from the bottom.
Lax trying to keep a closed guard but Cropop is proving a slippery customer.

Lax had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cropop defends it easily.

Lax throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cropop stands and throws Lax's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Mira Lax is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lax struggling a bit here.

Cropop thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Cropop wants to control but Lax is keeping him busy.
Lax wants to control but Cropop postures up.

Cropop looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Lax tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cropop wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cropop thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Lax wants to control but Cropop postures up.
An elbow from Cropop crashes against the mat.
Lax is looking to reverse the position.
What's Lax going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Cropop working away.
Lax tries to buck Cropop off but Cropop is having none of it.
Lax trying to control but Cropop flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Lax wants to control his opponent's hands but Cropop gets his hands free.

Cropop looking for the choke from the back.
Lax trying to control but not successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lax is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Lax looking very determined here, making life difficult for Cropop.
Lax trying to control the hands but Cropop breaks the grip.
I really don't envy Lax right now.
Lax trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Lax tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Cropop looking to control but Lax is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lax tries to hold on but Cropop pushes him away.
Yan Cropop has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lax is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yan Cropop comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lax 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:27
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mira Lax!
A victorious Mira Lax thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.