PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jacob King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dylan Laidlaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dylan Laidlaw told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

King
vs
Laidlaw

188 cm
19
275 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

191 cm
23
250 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jacob King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dylan Laidlaw!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Emerson Jorge and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laidlaw tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A slow jab from King misses its intended target.

King shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
King is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Laidlaw on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are battling for position here. Laidlaw manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
King stopping the sweep attempt from Laidlaw.
Laidlaw is pulling down on King's head to control his posture.

Laidlaw working for a triangle but King defends it easily.
King has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King looking to pass the guard.
King trying to control but Laidlaw is working from the bottom.
King preventing the sweep.
Laidlaw is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Laidlaw not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
King on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if King tries to get out of the position.
King is trying to maintain the position but Laidlaw is very close to passing his half guard.

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.
King tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Laidlaw has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Laidlaw prevents King from getting the reversal.

Laidlaw working for a submission but King is keeping him at bay.
Laidlaw punishing his opponent with strikes.

King defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Laidlaw.
King is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
King swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
King is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
King tries to get back to half guard but can't.
King tries to hold on but Laidlaw pushes him away.
A nice elbow there by Laidlaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Laidlaw controlling the pace for now.
King is looking to get to half guard.
King is trying to stand up.
Laidlaw trying to control but King is having none of it.
Laidlaw controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dylan Laidlaw will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

King is looking to clinch.
King avoids a punch combination nicely.
Laidlaw gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so King counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

King gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Laidlaw with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Laidlaw shoots and misses

and King counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Laidlaw's guard now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Laidlaw looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but King puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
King is looking to advance position but Laidlaw won't allow it.
Laidlaw is trying to maintain the position but King is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Laidlaw trying to control but King postures up.
King wants to control but Laidlaw is keeping him busy.

King is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Laidlaw is looking to improve his position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Laidlaw tries to clinch up but King circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Laidlaw tries for a takedown but King circles away easily

and King counters with a single leg into guard. Laidlaw didn't expect that.
Jacob King has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dylan Laidlaw.
King stopping the sweep attempt from Laidlaw.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
King loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
King looking to sit in guard and control but Laidlaw gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
King can't keep his opponent in guard - Laidlaw advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Laidlaw content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Laidlaw is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so King is just riding it out for now. Laidlaw eventually gives up the hold.
King is looking for a sweep. Laidlaw is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
King slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Laidlaw throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
King wants to sweep here but Laidlaw controlling him for the moment.
Laidlaw postures up.
King keeping moving, preventing Laidlaw from controlling successfully.
Laidlaw landing with the ground and pound.

King is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Laidlaw is aware though and is defending well.
King keeping full guard, as Laidlaw tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob King dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Laidlaw closes the distance looking to clinch

and King counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
King tries to free his leg and advance position but Laidlaw is retaining full guard.
Laidlaw working a defensive guard here.
Laidlaw looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
King trying to control the position from guard on top but Laidlaw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Laidlaw has his hands on King's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King wants to control from the top but Laidlaw keeps moving.
King pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Laidlaw is keeping the position for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Laidlaw throws out a loose jab but King uses good head movement to avoid it.
King wants to clinch

and Laidlaw counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Jacob King overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
King tries to kick Laidlaw off but Laidlaw keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Laidlaw stands up out of the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Laidlaw closes the distance and pushes King back into the cage.

Laidlaw breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jacob King is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Laidlaw clinches but King breaks the clinch

and King counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
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!
King trying to pass the guard but Laidlaw defending well.
Laidlaw is looking to control King's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Laidlaw avoid being mounted?

King stands up and beckons Laidlaw to join him on the feet.
King misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Laidlaw clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Laidlaw just stands there and leans against the cage.

Laidlaw breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Laidlaw bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
King is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Laidlaw's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Laidlaw takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Laidlaw lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
King works his way to full guard. Good work.
Laidlaw sitting in guard here, content to control.
King seems keen to control Laidlaw's posture.

King throws his legs up looking for a submission but Laidlaw uses it to pass to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Laidlaw trying to control the position but King is working away.
King sneaks back into half guard.
Laidlaw thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed King's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Laidlaw stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
King throws a right hand that Laidlaw ducks under and follows up with a left that Laidlaw also avoids with ease.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dylan Laidlaw.
I think Laidlaw has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!