T.J. Laramie

T.J. Laramie vs. Pat Sabatini

Round 1
Many UFC fighters come up through Dana White’s Contender Series these days, with the farm system churning year after year to pump prospects into the ranks. Sabatini (16-3, 3-0 UFC), who has won three fights since his 2021 debut on the roster, is not one of those fighters, as he came up the old-fashioned way by claiming belts on the regional scene – Cage Fury FC, to be precise. He will meet Laramie (12-4, 0-1 UFC), who was picked up from the 2020 season of DWCS, and is looking for his first UFC victory. The featherweights touch gloves in front of referee Herb Dean, and they both circle one another in the early going trying to find a striking range. They kick one another low, one after the next, and they do the same again. Sabatini shoots in low for a takedown, only to get stuffed with ease on the way in. Laramie is well-prepared for the second attempt, which follows soon after. Laramie turns him around in the fence, and when he does, Sabatini sets up a guillotine choke standing up. Sabatini goes for a trip takedown, and Laramie manages to scramble mid-air to put Sabatini on his back. Sabatini keeps an active guard, and he uses his right leg to wrap around the shoulder in a possible triangle or even omoplata setup. Laramie shucks it off, but he cannot keep Sabatini on his back, as the Pennsylvanian fights his way back up. Laramie kicks the body, and Sabatini kicks the inside leg. As soon as Sabatini sets his own leg down, he snatches up the Canadian’s leg and hits a single to take him down. “The Truth” springs back up, and he scores a trio of punches when Sabatini rumbles towards him. They both land strikes simultaneously, as they have been doing for much of the fight, and they clinch up with Sabatini pushed up the wall. Sabatini unloads with a brutal kick to the liver, and the toes stab into it in such a way that Laramie leans over in trouble. Sabatini chases after him and wings a high kick that slams into the side of the Canadian’s head. Instead of trying to finish the job on the feet, Sabatini jumps guard for a guillotine, and Laramie somehow manages to yank his head free. Briefly taking mount, Laramie settles for half guard to ride out the rest of the round and recover.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sabatini
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Sabatini
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sabatini

Round 2
Sabatini practically runs out of his corner to start off the second round, and he wings a pair of looping punches before shooting in low for a single. Laramie defends the takedown with a guillotine choke of his own, with it threatening just enough to make Sabatini think about it. The two stand back up, and Laramie presses him up against the wall. Sabatini gets turned around, and he changes levels for another takedown, only for Laramie to rebuff him as they both drop to their knees. Sabatini goes after a double, and Sabatini pummels, turns the corner in search of a single, and lifts Laramie’s leg up in the air high enough to scoop Laramie off the ground. Laramie hits the ground on his backside, and Sabatini is already circled around to the back in pursuit of a choke. Looping his legs beneath Laramie’s, Sabatini holds Laramie down and works him on the side of the head with punches. The punches keep coming from the Pennsylvanian until Laramie wrenches his leg out, but Sabatini does not let him free completely and still bullies him with punches. Laramie rolls to his back, but Sabatini keeps him in his preferred position with a partial hook in. A few more punches fluster Laramie enough to turn, which lets Sabatini pursue a choke. Sabatini winds up on power punches from on top, pounding into the side of the Canadian’s head. Laramie is surviving but slowly fading as the punishment begins to add up. Sabatini has his foe on one knee, having taken his back with one hook in, and he makes Laramie’s life miserable with effective ground-and-pound. Laramie attempts to turn out, but Sabatini is riding him like a horse, while busting him up on both sides. No choke presents itself, so Sabatini elects to sit on his back and land irritating punches right to the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Sabatini
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 Sabatini
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Sabatini

Round 3
The featherweights touch gloves to start off the last round, and Laramie is fired up and hellbent for leather. Sabatini wings a right hand at him, and it bounces off the dome as he distracts his man and shoots for a takedown. Laramie defends it and pushes him back to the wall, but Sabatini is able to break free and swing a high kick. When the kick misses, Sabatini spins with a back fist, and that too misses the mark. The momentum from the Pennsylvania native allows him to press forward to a takedown that simply bowls Laramie over. Laramie defends off his back with a leglock, and he keeps Sabatini at bay when that does not succeed with a pushing upkick. Sabatini jumps down on top, and he pushes the Canadian over to take half guard. Staying busy on top with punches and an arm-triangle choke setup, Sabatini is not in danger of Dean standing them up. Instead, Laramie takes it upon himself to get up, as he explodes up to his feet so that he is not losing control time. Getting up by wall-walking, Sabatini trips him back out shortly after he stands, and he gets back to that partial back-take position where he rode out much of the second round. Sabatini winds up with several knees to the thigh when he pulls his hook free, as Laramie tries to stand. A trip from Sabatini drops “The Truth” back down on his hands and knees, and Sabatini snakes a hook in so that he can get back to his smothering top control with surprisingly effective punches. Laramie looks to push through to get up, only for Sabatini to take his back and cinch up Laramie’s arm with his legs. Laramie twists with all his might to put Sabatini on his back, and Sabatini defends with a shoulder lock before going after a leg. The submission attempts from his back keep coming right until the bitter end, when the final bell rings and the fight comes to a close.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sabatini (30-26 Sabatini)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Sabatini (30-26 Sabatini)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sabatini (30-26 Sabatini)

The Official Result
Pat Sabatini def. T.J. Laramie via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)