PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Viljo Laine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Crocopski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Crocopski has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Viljo Laine's chin.

Laine
vs
Crocopski

195 cm
19
240 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

187 cm
21
240 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Viljo Laine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Crocopski!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Edson Gomes and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crocopski drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Laine with a nice cross.
Laine scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Viljo Laine seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Laine takes a swing at Crocopski's ribcage but misses.
Crocopski takes one to the side of the head.

It looks like Michael Crocopski has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Laine lands a slapping body shot.
Laine misses with a wild body shot.
Laine swings for the body but Crocopski moves out of range.

Laine feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Crocopski tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Laine controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Crocopski not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Laine wants to pass the guard but Crocopski is keeping the position.
Laine controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laine passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Crocopski is trying to escape the position but Laine is controlling the position.
You can see the frustration on Crocopski's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Crocopski can do anything to dispel that myth.
Laine has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
What's Crocopski going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Crocopski is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Crocopski manages to work his way to half guard, despite Laine's best efforts.
Laine looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Crocopski pushes Laine off but Laine dives into side control.
Laine is staying tight to Crocopski's torso, preventing him from escaping.
You can see the frustration on Crocopski's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laine controlling the position from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Laine trying to control the position but Crocopski is working away.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Viljo Laine just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Laine connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Crocopski swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Crocopski takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Laine connects with the punch.
Laine throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Crocopski throws a series of punches but Laine moves out of range.
Laine rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Crocopski moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Laine fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Laine shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Crocopski defends it nicely.
Crocopski is looking to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viljo Laine dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michael Crocopski's cut.
That's time! Laine's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Crocopski has Laine up against the cage in a clinch.
Crocopski pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Laine has had enough of the clinch but Crocopski keeps him there for the moment.
Laine is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Crocopski lands a damaging elbow.
Crocopski tries to land a knee to the head but Laine blocks with his arms.
Crocopski using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Laine has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Crocopski throws a knee to the head but misses.
Crocopski prevents the takedown attempt.
Crocopski misses with a knee strike.
Laine wants to break the clinch but can't.
Crocopski tries to land knees in the clinch but Laine avoids the damage to the body.
Crocopski looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Crocopski utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Crocopski misses with an elbow strike.
Laine goes for a takedown attempt but Crocopski pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Laine dives in and grabs Crocopski's left leg, looking for a takedown. Crocopski pushes down on Laine's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Viljo Laine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Crocopski on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Crocopski darts in and clinches Laine up against the cage.
Crocopski throws an elbow but it misses.
Crocopski landing knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice elbow from Crocopski.
Crocopski connects with a nasty looking knee right to Laine's face.
Crocopski lands an elbow inside that Laine shrugs off.
Crocopski comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Laine stalling in the clinch but Crocopski improves position.
Crocopski with a knee to the head.
Crocopski misses with a knee to the head.
Crocopski misses with an elbow strike.
Laine working aggressively here.
Crocopski unloads a knee to the mid-section. Laine lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Crocopski comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Crocopski throws a knee to the head but misses.
Laine fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Laine has a couple of punches blocked by Crocopski.
Laine blocks an elbow strike from Crocopski.
Crocopski tries to land a knee to the head but Laine blocks with his arms.
Crocopski throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crocopski lands a nice knee to the body.
Crocopski tries to land a knee to the head but Laine blocks with his arms.

Laine pulls guard.
Crocopski being controlled here momentarily.

Laine kicks Crocopski off and gets to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Crocopski takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Laine on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Crocopski. Crocopski obviously looking to wear him down.
Laine on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Crocopski. Crocopski obviously looking to wear him down.
Laine scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Laine fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Crocopski manages to avoid it.
Laine tries to score a power double leg takedown but Crocopski sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Laine somewhat.
Crocopski closes the distance looking to clinch
and Laine counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Laine is predictable there

and Crocopski counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Crocopski.
Laine wants to get back to striking at distance but Crocopski won't allow it.
Crocopski gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Viljo Laine has been cut.
Crocopski connects with a knee to the head.
Crocopski landing knees to the body.
Crocopski lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Laine takes an elbow to the temple.
Crocopski lands a nice knee to the body.
Crocopski lands a nice knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Crocopski.
Crocopski gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Crocopski with a knee to the head.
Crocopski lands an elbow just above Laine 's eye.
Crocopski unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Crocopski comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Crocopski prevents the takedown attempt.
Crocopski lands a nice elbow.
Crocopski scores a nice knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crocopski throws a knee to the head but misses.
Crocopski with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Crocopski misses with a knee strike.

Laine pulls guard successfully.
Laine wants to sweep but no luck.

Crocopski stands up from Laine's guard - Crocopski perhaps looking for a knockout.
Laine dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Laine scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Laine lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Laine.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Laine shoots in but Crocopski avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Crocopski tries to bum rush Laine with a series of wild strikes but Laine uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Crocopski tries to close the distance and clinch but Laine swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Crocopski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Laine throws a one two combo.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Laine is defended easily by Crocopski.
Laine throws a hook to the side of Crocopski's head but Crocopski sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Laine scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Crocopski doesn't seem bothered though.
Crocopski swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Laine counters with a one-two to the body.
Laine throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Crocopski's waist but Crocopski gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Laine off to one side.
Crocopski scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Laine misses the shot to the body.
Crocopski feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Laine's calf.
Laine lands a jab.
Crocopski throws a wild body kick that Laine sees coming a mile off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Crocopski feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Laine's calf.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Crocopski lands a damaging elbow.
A knee to the head by Crocopski.
Laine jumps guard but Crocopski stands there with Laine around his waist. Laine gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Viljo Laine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Crocopski stops a takedown attempt from Laine.
Michael Crocopski seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Laine takes a knee to the side of the body.
Crocopski lands an elbow that stopped Laine in his tracks for a moment.
Laine takes a knee to the side of the body.
Crocopski crunches a lovely knee into Laine's ribcage.
Crocopski working Laine over with knees to the body.
Crocopski lands an elbow that stopped Laine in his tracks for a moment.
Crocopski lands a good knee to the midsection. Laine won't want to take too many of those.
Knees in the clinch landing for Crocopski.
Crocopski misses with a knee strike.
Laine jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Crocopski walks away with a smile on his face. Laine gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Crocopski throws out a powerful jab.
Crocopski keeps Laine at a distance using the push kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laine tries to score a power double leg takedown but Crocopski sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Laine somewhat.
Crocopski tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Laine paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Crocopski, as that shot connected.
Laine lands a nice shot that snaps Crocopski's head back.
Crocopski tries to clinch up but Laine circles away and keeps his distance.
Laine swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Laine scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Laine throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Crocopski stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Laine stalks Crocopski and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Crocopski's face. Crocopski staggers backwards, shaken.
Crocopski scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Laine closes this distance looking for a takedown but Crocopski circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laine keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Crocopski clinches up against the cage.
Crocopski gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Crocopski lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Crocopski using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Crocopski lands a nice knee to the body.
Crocopski connects with a nasty looking knee right to Laine's face.
Crocopski scores with a knee to the head.
Laine takes an elbow to the forehead.
Laine jumps guard but Crocopski stands there with Laine around his waist. Laine gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Laine takes an elbow to the temple.
Crocopski lands an elbow that stopped Laine in his tracks for a moment.
Crocopski creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Laine blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Crocopski looking to throw knees to the head but Laine is blocking nicely.
Laine tries for a takedown but Crocopski manages to get underhooks.
Crocopski connects with a knee to the head.
Crocopski throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laine tries to break the clinch but Crocopski is controlling the position.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Crocopski.
Crocopski missing with knees to the body.
Laine blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Laine wants to break the clinch but can't.
Crocopski creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Laine avoiding damage as Crocopski throws knees to the body.
Laine is trying to force a seperation but Crocopski has the dominant position.
Laine avoids the elbow strike from Crocopski, against the cage.
Crocopski throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Laine avoiding damage as Crocopski throws knees to the body.
Crocopski tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Laine jumps guard and drags Crocopski to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Laine is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Laine manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Crocopski manages to get himself to full guard.
Laine controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Crocopski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Crocopski 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!