PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Archie Laird (ranked 920 p4p, 1526 weight class) and Murtaz Vatsadze (ranked 143 p4p, 218 weight class). Murtaz Vatsadze will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Laird
vs
Vatsadze

180 cm
26
211
5 - 0 - 0

186 cm
26
205
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Archie Laird!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Murtaz Vatsadze!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Peter Branson and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vatsadze throws a shot to the body.

Vatsadze clinches up with Laird and pushes him back against the cage.
Laird blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Vatsadze misses with a hook from the clinch.
Vatsadze lands a left hand that snaps the head of Laird backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vatsadze.
Laird misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Vatsadze.
Vatsadze looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Vatsadze lands a body shot.
Vatsadze is looking to take this one to the mat.
Vatsadze lands an uppercut.
Laird tries a body shot but Vatsadze blocks it.
Vatsadze lands a body shot.
Vatsadze lands a hook to the side of the head.
Vatsadze lands a nice uppercut.
Laird blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good body shot from Vatsadze.
Laird is breathing heavily.
Laird has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Vatsadze after a bit of a struggle.
Vatsadze softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Vatsadze lands with a right to the head.
Vatsadze cracks Laird with a nice body shot.
Vatsadze lands a right hand that snaps the head of Laird backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vatsadze lands with a short shot to the head.
Vatsadze lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Vatsadze scores with a nice hook to the head.
Vatsadze lands a body punch.
A short right from Vatsadze.
Vatsadze working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Vatsadze lands a body punch in the clinch.
Vatsadze lands a hook that snaps the head of Laird backwards.
Vatsadze taking a breather.
Vatsadze lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Laird or not.
Laird definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Vatsadze scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Vatsadze has Laird pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Laird manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Vatsadze lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vatsadze works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Vatsadze makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Vatsadze lands with a right to the head.
Vatsadze lands a hook that snaps the head of Laird backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Vatsadze creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Vatsadze wants a takedown but no success here.
Archie Laird has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Murtaz Vatsadze.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vatsadze digs a right hand underneath Laird's ribcage. Laird let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Vatsadze lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Laird backwards.
Still in the clinch, Vatsadze scores with a nice short uppercut.
A short body shot lands from Vatsadze as the two fighters clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Vatsadze.
Vatsadze lands a right hand that snaps the head of Laird backwards.
Vatsadze pushes Laird back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Vatsadze.

Laird is rocked!
Vatsadze lands a shoulder strike.
Oh Laird is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Vatsadze lands a nice uppercut.
Vatsadze creates some distance for himself and unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Laird's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Laird drops to his knees and Vatsadze pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Murtaz Vatsadze!
During a confident post fight interview, Murtaz Vatsadze thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.