PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hernando Ramos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Laursen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ramos
vs
Laursen

172 cm
20
192 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
23
193 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hernando Ramos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Laursen!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ramos doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Laursen counters with a takedown into side control.
Laursen should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Laursen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ramos knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Laursen staying calm.
Ramos prevents Laursen from improving position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laursen misses with the ground and pound.
Laursen postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Laursen fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Ramos gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Laursen has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Ramos works to full guard.
Laursenis looking to pass into half guard but Ramos pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Ramos is in guard.

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.
Laursen has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Ramos postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ramos looking to pass the guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Laursen is pulling down on Ramos's head to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by James Laursen.
Laursen misses with a jab to the body
and Ramos counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Ramos has his takedown stuffed
and Laursen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Laursen shoots in and gets a takedown into Ramos's guard.
Laursen trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Ramos manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Ramos passes Laursen's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Ramos seems content to control.
Laursen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ramos. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ramos works his way into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James Laursen will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Laursen tries for a takedown but Ramos circles away easily

so Ramos counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ramos 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.
Ramos won't allow Laursen to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Laursen is working an open guard so Ramos takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Ramos doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Laursen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ramos is trying to control but can't.
Ramos manages to get to full guard.
Laursen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ramos is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ramos is trying to control the action in half guard but Laursen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

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.
Ramos tries to pass to full mount but Laursen defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ramos is thwarting Laursen's attempts to control the position.
Ramos is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laursen tries to roll over but Ramos keeps him under control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Hernando Ramos wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Laursen throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Ramos tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Laursen is in Ramos's guard.
Ramos is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Laursen wants to control from the top but Ramos keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Laursen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ramos sprawls well initially but Laursen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
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 Hernando Ramos will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Laursen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ramos moves away.
Laursen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ramos slips a straight right by Laursen.
Laursen fails with the takedown.
Ramos with a lazy takedown attempt
and Laursen counters with a two punch combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ramos jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ramos with a lazy takedown attempt

and Laursen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Laursen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ramos bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Laursen's guard.
Ramos trying to control the position from guard on top but Laursen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ramos stopping the sweep attempt from Laursen.
Ramos trying to control the position from guard on top but Laursen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Laursen looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Hernando Ramos.
Laursen throws a jab but it's blocked by Ramos.
Laursen shoots for a takedown but Ramos saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Laursen swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramos shoots and misses

and Laursen counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ramos!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hernando Ramos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laursen thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Laursen avoids the attempt from Ramos to control.
Laursen controlling from mount.
Ramos is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laursen misses with a head shot.
Ramos taking shots to the head.
Ramos regains half guard.
Ramos wants to control but Laursen is keeping busy.

Ramos is defending against the submission attempts here by Laursen.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Laursen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Laursen 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hernando Ramos!