PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pena Humalainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tera Laaksonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laaksonen comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Heikki Kuula & Voli - Viimeinen Tango kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Humalainen
vs
Laaksonen

188 cm
22
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
250 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pena Humalainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tera Laaksonen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laaksonen is looking to clinch.
Laaksonen moves in looking to clinch but Humalainen pushes him off.

Humalainen closes the distance and clinches.
Laaksonen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Laaksonen stalling in the clinch.
Humalainen is trying to drag Laaksonen to the mat but Laaksonen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Laaksonen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Humalainen smiles and moves away.
Laaksonen moves in looking to clinch but Humalainen pushes him off.
Humalainen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Humalainen shoots for a double leg takedown but Laaksonen sprawls well. He's pushed Humalainen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Laaksonen moves into range and clinches up with Humalainen.
Humalainen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Humalainen stops a takedown attempt from Laaksonen.
Pena Humalainen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tera Laaksonen.
Humalainen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Laaksonen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Humalainen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Humalainen knocks Laaksonen to the floor with a head kick! Can he finish him!?

It looks like Tera Laaksonen has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Humalainen avoids the strikes from the bottom by Laaksonen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An elbow from Humalainen crashes against the mat.
Humalainen controlling the position from side mount.
Laaksonen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Laaksonen is looking to advance position but Humalainen won't allow it.
Laaksonen is controlling the pace.
Humalainen tries to kick Laaksonen off but Laaksonen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

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.
Humalainen is looking for a sweep. Laaksonen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Laaksonen trying to mount his opponent but Humalainen defends it.
Laaksonen is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Humalainen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Laaksonen is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Humalainen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Humalainen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Humalainen wants to stand but Laaksonen is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Humalainen is breathing heavily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Laaksonen lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Humalainen - just one landing.
Laaksonen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Both fighters circling a little - Laaksonen finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Laaksonen moves into the clinch.
Laaksonen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Humalainen smiles and moves away.

Laaksonen moves into the clinch.
Laaksonen tries to pull guard but Humalainen holds him up against the cage and eventually Laaksonen drops back down to his feet.
Humalainen gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Laaksonen.
Laaksonen tries to pull guard but Humalainen holds him up against the cage and eventually Laaksonen drops back down to his feet.
Humalainen stops a takedown attempt from Laaksonen.
Laaksonen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Humalainen smiles and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laaksonen is looking to clinch.
Humalainen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Laaksonen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Humalainen as he jumps to the side.
Laaksonen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Humalainen swivels and escapes.
Laaksonen throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Laaksonen keeps Humalainen at a distance using the push kick.
Laaksonen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Humalainen.
Humalainen circles away from the clinch attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Laaksonen shoots for a double leg takedown but Humalainen sprawls well. He's pushed Laaksonen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Laaksonen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Laaksonen tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Laaksonen has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Pena Humalainen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tera Laaksonen's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Humalainen fails with a takedown attempt.
Humalainen throws a lazy body kick

and Laaksonen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Humalainen keeping moving, preventing Laaksonen from controlling successfully.
Humalainen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Laaksonen's guard.
Humalainen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Laaksonen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Laaksonen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Laaksonen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laaksonen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Laaksonen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Humalainen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Laaksonen passes to full mount!
Laaksonen has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Humalainen's face.
The referee warns Humalainen that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Laaksonen scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Humalainen?
Humalainen in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laaksonen tries to control but Humalainen wriggling away.
Humalainen tries to hold on but Laaksonen postures up.
Laaksonen trying to control but Humalainen is having none of it.
Laaksonen thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Laaksonen lands a big shot there that rocks Humalainen but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Laaksonen is going olschool here, as he tries to force Humalainen to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Humalainen shrugs it off.
Humalainen tries to hold on but Laaksonen pushes him away.
Humalainen takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Humalainen wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
A nice elbow there by Laaksonen.
Laaksonen landing strikes, looking to finish!
Humalainen is trying desperately to improve position.

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.
Humalainen avoids a series of strikes thrown by Laaksonen.
Laaksonen wants to control the pace but Humalainen is squirming around nicely.
Laaksonen controlling from the full mount.
Laaksonen trying to control but Humalainen is having none of it.
Laaksonen is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tera Laaksonen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tera Laaksonen's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Laaksonen shoots for a takedown but Humalainen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Humalainen.
Humalainen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Danga de danga de dang - Humalainen scores with a four punch combination!

Humalainen moves into range and clinches up with Laaksonen.

Humalainen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Humalainen throws a head kick but Laaksonen moves out of range.
Laaksonen blocks a head kick by Humalainen.
Laaksonen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Humalainen throws a head kick that misses
and Laaksonen counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Laaksonen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Laaksonen bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

Laaksonen clinches up with Humalainen and pushes him back against the cage.
Laaksonen jumps guard but Humalainen stands there with Laaksonen around his waist. Laaksonen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Laaksonen jumps guard but Humalainen stands there with Laaksonen around his waist. Laaksonen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Pena Humalainen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tera Laaksonen.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laaksonen tries for a takedown. No joy.
Laaksonen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Humalainen pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Laaksonen fails to pull guard.
Laaksonen looking to slow down the pace here.

Humalainen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Humalainen throws a head kick that misses

and Laaksonen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Laaksonen connects with a nice short shot to Humalainen's temple.
Laaksonen is trying to control. Humalainen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Humalainen tries to kick Laaksonen off but Laaksonen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Laaksonen perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Humalainen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Laaksonen gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Laaksonen looks for the body kick but Humalainen saw that one coming.
Laaksonen wants to clinch up but Humalainen keeps it at a distance.
Humalainen scores with a jab to the body.
Humalainen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Laaksonen. Laaksonen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Laaksonen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Laaksonen is looking to clinch.
Laaksonen tries to clinch but Humalainen is having none of it.
Pena Humalainen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Laaksonen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Humalainen tries to avoid it but Laaksonen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Humalainen to the ground. Humalainen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Laaksonen misses with a double jab
and Humalainen counters with a stiff right hand.
Humalainen shoots in looking for a takedown. Laaksonen tries to sprawl out of it but Humalainen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Laaksonen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Humalainen throws a sloppy head kick
and Laaksonen counters with a nice kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laaksonen scores with a nice body kick.
Laaksonen throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Nice takedown defense from Humalainen. No joy for Laaksonen on that attempt.
Laaksonen shoots in for a takedown but Humalainen shows good takedown defense.
Laaksonen wants to clinch.
Laaksonen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Pena Humalainen is winning the standup battle so far.

Laaksonen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Humalainen, pushing him back against the cage.

Laaksonen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A cross from Humalainen lands.
Humalainen throws a lazy head kick
and Laaksonen counters with a good, hard body kick but Humalainen shrugs it off.
Humalainen avoids the head kick by Laaksonen.
Laaksonen needs to keep his hands up - Humalainen had a free shot at his head there.
Laaksonen fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Humalainen throws a lazy head kick
and Laaksonen counters with a leg kick.
Humalainen throws the left hand but Laaksonen avoids the punch easily.
Humalainen tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Humalainen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Laaksonen counters with a body kick that stops Humalainen in his tracks momentarily.
Humalainen misses with a body kick.
Laaksonen tries to close the distance and clinch but Humalainen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Humalainen will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Laaksonen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A head kick misses from Humalainen.
Humalainen is looking to clinch.
Laaksonen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Laaksonen scores with a nice body kick.
Laaksonen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Laaksonen rushes Humalainen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tera Laaksonen.
I think Laaksonen 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tera Laaksonen!