PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Krzysztof Zakrzewski (ranked 24697 p4p, 25241 weight class) and Josiah Laughlin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Krzysztof Zakrzewski has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zakrzewski
vs
Laughlin

175 cm
19
155
3 - 8 - 0

174 cm
18
164
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Krzysztof Zakrzewski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Josiah Laughlin!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shirou Masuda and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zakrzewski misses with a two punch combination.
Zakrzewski fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Krzysztof Zakrzewski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Laughlin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Laughlin throws a right and a left that Zakrzewski avoids nicely.
Zakrzewski is looking to counter with head kicks.
Zakrzewski changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Laughlin tries to avoid it but Zakrzewski manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Laughlin to the ground. Laughlin escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Laughlin is looking for the big counter here.
Zakrzewski shoots in but no luck this time.
Laughlin steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Zakrzewski.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Krzysztof Zakrzewski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laughlin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zakrzewski moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zakrzewski forces Laughlin back against the cage and clinches.
Laughlin is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Zakrzewski manages to break the clinch.
Laughlin throws a left and a right that both miss

and Zakrzewski counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zakrzewski thows a huge punch but Laughlin dodges it nicely.
Zakrzewski is looking to advance position but Laughlin won't allow it.
Zakrzewski trying to control the pace.
Zakrzewski trying to pass the guard but Laughlin defending well.

That's two 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.
Zakrzewski is taking a breather. Laughlin 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.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Zakrzewski thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Laughlin's head.
Zakrzewski tries to pass the half guard into mount. Laughlin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Zakrzewski in particular looking to stall.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Zakrzewski shoots in for a takedown but Laughlin shows good takedown defense.
Zakrzewski tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Laughlin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Laughlin throws a counter combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Laughlin!

Zakrzewski has taken the fight to the clinch.
Laughlin has had enough of the clinch but Zakrzewski keeps him there for the moment.
Zakrzewski has Laughlin pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Laughlin manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Zakrzewski is breathing heavily.
Zakrzewski prevents Laughlin from breaking the clinch.
Laughlin is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Laughlin is trying to push Zakrzewski away but Zakrzewski has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Laughlin is trying to force a seperation but Zakrzewski has the dominant position.
Laughlin wants to get back to striking at distance but Zakrzewski won't allow it.
Zakrzewski tries for a takedown. No joy.
Laughlin can't break the clinch.
Zakrzewski is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Laughlin pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Laughlin has had enough of the clinch but Zakrzewski keeps him there for the moment.
Zakrzewski manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Laughlin managing to block the knees to the body from Zakrzewski.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laughlin wants to get back to striking at distance but Zakrzewski won't allow it.
Zakrzewski stalls.
Laughlin is trying to push Zakrzewski away but Zakrzewski has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Zakrzewski fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Laughlin tries to break the clinch but Zakrzewski is controlling the position.

Laughlin breaks the clinch.
Zakrzewski doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Laughlin counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Laughlin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zakrzewski pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Josiah Laughlin will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Krzysztof Zakrzewski's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Laughlin misses with a series of wild punches.
Zakrzewski is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Laughlin.
Zakrzewski shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zakrzewski tries for a takedown but Laughlin circles away easily
and Laughlin counters with a left and a right that stings Zakrzewski.
Some wild striking there from Laughlin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zakrzewski fails with a takedown attempt.
Laughlin steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Zakrzewski.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Krzysztof Zakrzewski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zakrzewski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zakrzewski dodges the punch combination from Laughlin.
Zakrzewski tries to counter by clinching up but Laughlin breaks away and moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Laughlin.
Laughlin throws a right and a left that Zakrzewski avoids nicely.
Zakrzewski fails with a takedown attempt.
Krzysztof Zakrzewski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Laughlin misses with a few strikes there.
Laughlin misses with a jab, cross combination.
A quick step to the side and Zakrzewski tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zakrzewski rushes Laughlin and presses him up against the cage.
Laughlin is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Laughlin tries to circle away but Zakrzewski has him pinned against the cage.

Zakrzewski successfully pulls guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zakrzewski looking for a sweep. Not yet Zakrzewski, not yet.

Zakrzewski had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Laughlin defends it easily.
Laughlin trying to control but Zakrzewski is working from the bottom.
Zakrzewski has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Laughlin has passed into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zakrzewski tries to improve position but can't.
Laughlin cracks Zakrzewski with a big elbow.
Zakrzewski tries to buck Laughlin off but Laughlin is having none of it.
Laughlin wants to control but Zakrzewski is keeping him busy.
Zakrzewski is trying to improve his position.

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.
Laughlin working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Zakrzewski is trying to work for a sweep but Laughlin has mounted him!
Zakrzewski tries to reverse the position but Laughlin maintains control.
Zakrzewski is squirming around, avoiding Laughlin's attempts to control the action.

Laughlin is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Zakrzewski to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Zakrzewski shrugs it off.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Laughlin with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Josiah Laughlin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Krzysztof Zakrzewski's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Zakrzewski tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zakrzewski takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Laughlin lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Laughlin throws a left and a right that both miss

and Zakrzewski moves into the clinch.
Laughlin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Laughlin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Laughlin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Zakrzewski.

Zakrzewski manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zakrzewski throws his legs up looking for a submission but Laughlin uses it to pass to side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zakrzewski is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
What's Zakrzewski going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Laughlin wants to control but Zakrzewski is keeping him busy.

Laughlin is trying to get an arm triangle but Zakrzewski is defending well.
Josiah Laughlin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zakrzewski is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Laughlin off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zakrzewski misses with a punch to the head.
Zakrzewski has good solid back control here.
Laughlin looking very determined here, making life difficult for Zakrzewski.
Laughlin is trying to get back to his feet but Zakrzewski has full control of the position and if anything, Laughlin has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Zakrzewski keeps control of the position easily here as Laughlin tries to buck him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zakrzewski struggling to keep hold of the position.
Laughlin is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Laughlin trying to get back to his feet but Zakrzewski is in full control for now.
Zakrzewski wants to control but Laughlin manages to buck him off and is now in Zakrzewski's guard! Nice work there by Laughlin!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zakrzewski not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zakrzewski is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Laughlin throws a big elbow that misses.
Zakrzewski is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Laughlin won't allow Zakrzewski to get back to his feet.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Josiah Laughlin.
I've got Laughlin winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josiah Laughlin!
An intense looking Josiah Laughlin took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'Give me the next man, I'll fight anybody.'.