PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Josh Laston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Decker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laston comes to the cage accompanied by The Nortorious Big feature Bone Thug N Harmony-Notorious Thugs. Josh Laston has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Laston
vs
Decker

185 cm
22
198 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

189 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Last 4 Clothes

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Laston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Robert Decker!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Cecil Peabody and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Decker shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Laston defends it nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Decker.

Decker manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Laston on his heels. He'll look to pass Laston's guard now, I'm sure.
Laston utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Decker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Laston is keeping the position for now.
Decker trying to control the position from guard on top but Laston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Decker has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Decker won't allow Laston to get back to his feet.
Decker throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Laston works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Decker with a flurry of punches that miss.
Decker postures up in Laston's guard and throws a big left but Laston blocks it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Decker's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laston is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Decker distracts Laston with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Decker throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Laston works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Decker won't allow Laston to get back to his feet.
Decker landing some decent shots from guard.
Decker throws an elbow that misses. Laston uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Decker's guard. Nice move by Laston!
Decker tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Decker is looking to sweep but instead, Laston has passed into half guard.
Decker wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are battling for position here. Decker manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Laston trying to stand up but can't free himself from Decker's guard.
Decker trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Decker looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Laston slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Laston is looking to stand up but Decker won't let him.

Decker escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Laston gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Decker keeping full guard, as Laston tries to pass.

Decker working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Laston has passed into half guard!
Decker looks winded!
Decker is trying to maintain the position but Laston is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laston is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Decker tries to lock up and control but Laston gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Decker might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Laston haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Decker can do anything to dispel that myth.
Laston looking to control but Decker is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Decker working to try and regain half guard.

Laston with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Decker is squirming around, avoiding Laston's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laston with the ground and pound from mount.

Laston is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Decker has managed to escape the submission attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Laston wants to control the pace but Decker is squirming around nicely.
Decker tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Laston working for a submission but Decker is keeping him at bay.
Laston looking to control but Decker is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Laston swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Decker is now in Laston's guard. A big mistake from Laston there, giving up the dominant position!
Decker throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Robert Decker will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Decker shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Decker showed some decent athleticism there.
Decker is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Decker trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Decker trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Laston working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Decker.
Decker makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Decker working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Decker loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Decker throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Laston wants to stand and escape but Decker is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Decker trying to control the position from guard on top but Laston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Decker is looking to work some ground and pound but Laston has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Decker throwing strikes but missing.
Laston wants to stand but Decker is controlling the position.
Laston utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Laston preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Decker throwing strikes but missing.
Decker throwing strikes but missing.
Decker prevents Laston from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Decker missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Decker working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Decker throwing strikes but missing.
Laston wants to stand but Decker is controlling the position.
Decker with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Decker landing with the ground and pound.
Laston wants to get back to his feet but Decker is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Decker throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Laston manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Laston shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Decker throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Robert Decker has got the better of the ground game so far.
Laston is thwarting Decker's attempts to control the position.
Decker is looking for a sweep. Laston is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Decker looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Laston is trying to work for a kimura but Decker is defending well.

Decker is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Laston pulls his head out easily.
Decker is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laston wants to take a breather but Decker is having none of it.

Laston seems to be working for a kimura but Decker defends the submission attempt.
Decker won't allow Laston to pass to mount.
Laston is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Decker is wriggling around trying to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Laston tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Laston scoring with strikes but Decker is staying in there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Robert Decker will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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.

Decker fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Laston avoids it really well and circles away.
Decker shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Laston defends it nicely.

Laston gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Decker to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Decker lying in Laston's guard like a wet fish here, stalling away. Laston decides he's had enough of all that nonsense - he escapes his hips and locks up an armbar! Wow, that was slick! Decker taps! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Josh Laston!
Josh Laston bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.