PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Laertes Royster (ranked 1604 p4p, 1904 weight class) and Napoleon Panda (ranked 90 p4p, 108 weight class). Laertes Royster has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Royster
vs
Panda

173 cm
23
136
4 - 2 - 0

150 cm
22
135
9 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Conquer

Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Laertes Royster!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Napoleon Panda!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Yves DeLean and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Panda will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Royster scores with a nice right hand.

Royster gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Royster keeping full guard, as Panda tries to pass.
Panda showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Royster pulls Panda in close to his closed guard and prevents Panda from doing any damage or advancing position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Panda trying to control the position from guard on top but Royster is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Panda looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Royster keeping moving, preventing Panda from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Royster is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A jab from Royster does it's job there.
Royster moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Royster swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Royster leaves Panda with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Royster looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Nice shot lands for Royster.
Panda takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Royster with a nice cross.
Nice takedown defense from Royster. No joy for Panda on that attempt.
Laertes Royster has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Napoleon Panda.
Panda is trying hard to land a takedown here. Royster sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A little feinted left hand from Royster on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Royster.
Panda slips under a jab from Royster.
Royster swats away the attempt to clinch by Panda.
Royster fires out a quick counter leg kick but Panda just manages to avoid it.

Panda has taken the fight to the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Royster.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Panda is trying to pull guard but Royster has him pressed against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Royster creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Panda gets control of Royster's arms and successfully pulls guard. Panda will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Royster is stalling in the full guard.
Royster tries to free his leg and advance position but Panda is retaining full guard.
Royster content to stall in guard here.

Panda looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Panda is looking for a triangle but Royster pushes his legs off easily.
Royster wants to pass the guard but Panda is keeping the position.
Royster sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Royster will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Royster wants to pass the guard but Panda is keeping the position.

Panda escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Royster gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Panda had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Royster defends it easily.

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.

Royster got a little sloppy there for a moment and Panda has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Royster has managed to get both his arms back between Panda's legs - danger averted.
Royster slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Royster trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Royster controlling from the top position.
Panda is trying to control the position but Royster postures up.
Royster advances position into side control!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Panda is looking to regain half guard here but Royster keeps moving and retains side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Laertes Royster dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Panda moves into the clinch.
Panda's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short left from Royster.
Royster lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Panda prevents a body shot from Royster.
Royster misses with a hook to the ribs.
Royster lands an uppercut.
Royster is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Panda is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Royster to keep the fight standing.
Panda tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Royster smiles and moves away.
Royster getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Royster swats away the attempt to clinch by Panda.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Panda throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Royster's waist but Royster gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Panda off to one side.
An attempted straight right counter from Royster misses the target.
Laertes Royster has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Napoleon Panda.
Panda keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Royster tries to work over Panda's front leg with a kick but Panda checks it.
Royster jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Royster throws a leg kick

and Panda counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Panda.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Panda slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Panda is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Royster defends it well.
Royster is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Panda can do to turn this around?
Panda is trying to control the action in half guard but Royster is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Panda trying to control from Royster's half guard. Royster has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Panda has gone for a leg lock! Royster slips out almost immediately though and dives into Panda's guard.

Panda working for a triangle but Royster defends it easily.
Royster sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Panda is looking for a triangle but Royster pushes his legs off easily.

Panda looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Royster avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Royster sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Panda had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Royster defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Royster slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Panda is looking for a triangle but Royster pushes his legs off easily.
Royster has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Royster is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Panda escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Royster gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Royster slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Panda throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Panda escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Royster gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Royster content to stall in guard here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A bone on bone clash there as Panda blocks the leg kick.
Panda with the counter takedown but Royster avoids it easily.
Royster fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Panda looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Horrible takedown attempt by Panda or perhaps it was just good defense by Royster, which made it look bad.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Royster swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Royster cracks Panda with a right hand to the side of the head.
Panda shoots in but no luck this time.
Laertes Royster is winning the standup battle so far.
Panda keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Royster.
Royster dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Panda. That did some damage!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Laertes Royster dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Royster looks to land a left hand but Panda moved out of range nicely.

Panda rushes Royster and presses him up against the cage.
Panda fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Royster lands a hook that snaps the head of Panda backwards.
Royster misses with a short punch on the inside.
Panda jumps guard but Royster stands there with Panda around his waist. Panda gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Royster lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Panda has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Royster seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Panda can turn it around.
Panda tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Laertes Royster has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Napoleon Panda.
Royster throws a head punch that misses.
A short uppercut from Royster.
A short right from Royster on the inside.
Royster lands a hook that snaps the head of Panda backwards.
Panda is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Royster to keep the fight standing.
Panda tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Royster smiles and moves away.
Royster connects with a looping right hand.
Panda shoots and misses
and Royster counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Royster throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Royster throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nice sprawl there from Royster as Panda shoots in.
Panda dives in and grabs Royster's left leg, looking for a takedown. Royster pushes down on Panda's head and hops out.
A decent looking cross lands there for Royster.
A jab from Royster finds it's way through Panda's defenses.
Panda with a lazy takedown attempt
and Royster counters with a stiff right hand.
Panda moves in looking to clinch but Royster pushes him off.
Panda uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Royster.
Good work by Panda as he checks the leg kick.
Panda shoots in looking for a takedown but Royster manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Panda's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Royster is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Panda wants to clinch but Royster slips to the side
and Royster counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Panda tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Panda looks to clinch
and Royster makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Panda really felt that one!
A good leg kick by Royster.
Royster chopping away at his opponent's legs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Royster connects with a body shot that sends Panda's belly button to the back.
Royster lands with a shot to the body.
Royster throws a quick inside leg kick.
Panda dives in for a single leg takedown but Royster sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Royster shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Panda shoots in looking for a takedown but Royster manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Panda's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Panda takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Royster feints and then cracks Panda's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Panda down.
Royster lands with a nice body kick.
Panda takes a jab right on the kisser.
Panda shoots in and drives through. Royster sprawls well.
Royster ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Laertes Royster is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Panda shoots in for a takedown but Royster shows good takedown defense.
Royster throws out a powerful jab.
Royster with a nice cross.

Panda gets a double leg takedown into Royster's guard.
Royster wants to get back to his feet but Panda passes into half guard.
Royster desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Panda seems to be working for a kimura but Royster defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Royster gets full guard.
Panda trying to control the position from guard on top but Royster is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Royster has Panda pulled in close to control his posture.
Panda trying to control but Royster is working from the bottom.

Panda has gone for a leg lock! Royster slips out almost immediately though and dives into Panda's guard.

Royster wants to pass the guard but Panda is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Royster not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Royster continues to stall.

Panda throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Royster escapes and throws Panda's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Panda is trying to control Royster's posture but Royster avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Laertes Royster showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Royster, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Laertes Royster!
An out of breath Laertes Royster thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.