PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Sobchak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pauli Laiskiainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Sobchak
vs
Laiskiainen

182 cm
20
265 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

210 cm
24
280 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Nutrition 101
Nutrition 101

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 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jeff Sobchak !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pauli Laiskiainen!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sobchak is looking to clinch but Laiskiainen is avoiding it.
Laiskiainen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sobchak was well out of range. Poor timing from Laiskiainen.
A big left from Laiskiainen misses.

Sobchak gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sobchak misses with a knee strike.
Laiskiainen takes a shot to the head.
Sobchak putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Laiskiainen in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Laiskiainen tries to break the clinch but Sobchak is controlling the position.
Sobchak lands a shot to the body.
Laiskiainen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sobchak has him pressed against the cage.
Sobchak using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Laiskiainen looks gassed!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Laiskiainen tries to break the clinch but Sobchak is controlling the position.
Sobchak connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Pauli Laiskiainen has been cut.
Sobchak with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Sobchak scores with a knee to the head.
Sobchak lands a knee to the body.
Sobchak lands an elbow inside.
Sobchak connects with a knee to the head.
Laiskiainen takes an elbow to the temple.
Laiskiainen's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sobchak .
Sobchak with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Laiskiainen is rocked!
Sobchak with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Laiskiainen is still on wobbly legs! Can Sobchak finish him?
Sobchak working Laiskiainen over with knees to the body.
Sobchak is trying to drag Laiskiainen to the mat but Laiskiainen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Laiskiainen seems to have recovered his senses.
Laiskiainen takes a knee to the side of the body.
Sobchak stalling.
Laiskiainen wants to get back to striking at distance but Sobchak won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobchak stalling against the cage.
Sobchak lands a damaging elbow.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sobchak .
Laiskiainen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Sobchak unloads a knee to the mid-section. Laiskiainen lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sobchak misses with a knee strike.
Sobchak comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Sobchak lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Sobchak takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Sobchak lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Sobchak keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Laiskiainen's efforts to push away.
Laiskiainen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sobchak using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Laiskiainen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sobchak lands an elbow that stopped Laiskiainen in his tracks for a moment.
Sobchak unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Sobchak putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Laiskiainen in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Laiskiainen is trying to force a seperation but Sobchak has the dominant position.
Sobchak misses with a knee to the head.
Sobchak lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sobchak using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Sobchak landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Sobchak putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Laiskiainen in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Sobchak has Laiskiainen pressed against the cage, preventing Laiskiainen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Knees to the body from Sobchak .
Laiskiainen takes an elbow to the temple.
Sobchak lands a good knee to the midsection. Laiskiainen won't want to take too many of those.
Sobchak using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Laiskiainen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Laiskiainen breaks from the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Laiskiainen.

Sobchak gets a clinch.
Sobchak creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Laiskiainen's defenses.
Laiskiainen working hard to break the clinch.
Laiskiainen is looking to break free of the clinch but Sobchak has double underhooks.

Sobchak has Laiskiainen pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Sobchak pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Laiskiainen tumbling to the mat - Sobchak dives into Laiskiainen's guard.
Sobchak trying to control but Laiskiainen is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laiskiainen is looking to stand up but Sobchak isn't so interested in that idea.
Sobchak pushing down on Laiskiainen's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Laiskiainen tries to roll over but Sobchak keeps him under control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sobchak trying to control the action but Laiskiainen is working from the bottom.
Sobchak wants to free his trapped foot but Laiskiainen is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four 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.
Laiskiainen pushes Sobchak off looking to stand but Sobchak dives back in and keeps control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Laiskiainen keeps the fight on the outside.

Sobchak rushes Laiskiainen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Laiskiainen is looking to break free of the clinch but Sobchak has double underhooks.
Laiskiainen tries to break free but Sobchak pushes him back against the cage.
Sobchak is trying to drag Laiskiainen to the mat but Laiskiainen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A knee to the head by Sobchak .

That has opened up Pauli Laiskiainen's cut even more.
A nice left hand lands by Sobchak .
Sobchak lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sobchak lands a damaging elbow.
Sobchak lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sobchak connects with a knee to the head.

The cut above Pauli Laiskiainen's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
A knee to the head by Sobchak .
Laiskiainen is trying to break the clinch but Sobchak is controlling him.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Sobchak obliges.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Sobchak dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pauli Laiskiainen's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A punch combination from Sobchak misses.
Sobchak misses with a hook to the body
and Laiskiainen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sobchak steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Laiskiainen.
Sobchak tries to clinch up but Laiskiainen circles away and keeps his distance.

Sobchak fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Laiskiainen, pushing him back against the cage.
Laiskiainen can't break the clinch.
Sobchak is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Laiskiainen can do to turn this around?
Laiskiainen tries to break the clinch but Sobchak is controlling the position.
Laiskiainen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A short uppercut from Sobchak .
Sobchak lands a nice knee to the body.
Sobchak working Laiskiainen over with knees to the body.
Sobchak landing knees to the head.
Sobchak lands a left hand that snaps the head of Laiskiainen backwards.
Sobchak just leaning against Laiskiainen, taking a breather.
Laiskiainen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sobchak working Laiskiainen over with knees to the body.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Sobchak lands a damaging elbow.
Sobchak connects with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Laiskiainen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Laiskiainen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Sobchak on the inside.
Sobchak goes for a takedown in the clinch but Laiskiainen prevents it.
Laiskiainen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sobchak utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Sobchak has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Laiskiainen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Laiskiainen tries to break free but Sobchak pushes him back against the cage.
Laiskiainen is trying to break the clinch but Sobchak is controlling him.
Nice body punch from Sobchak - that landed with a thud.
Sobchak utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Sobchak just leaning against Laiskiainen, taking a breather.

Laiskiainen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Laiskiainen misses with a wild combination.
Pauli Laiskiainen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Sobchak closes the distance and clinches.
Laiskiainen takes a knee right on the jaw!
Sobchak is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Laiskiainen blocks a body shot from Sobchak .
Laiskiainen can't break the clinch.
Laiskiainen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laiskiainen working hard to break the clinch.
Laiskiainen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sobchak lands a knee to the head.
Sobchak effectively controlling the action here.
Laiskiainen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Laiskiainen is trying to break the clinch but Sobchak is controlling him.
Laiskiainen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sobchak has him pressed against the cage.
Sobchak taking a breather.
Sobchak is looking to control Laiskiainen's arms but Laiskiainen gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sobchak has his back to the cage.
Sobchak tries a knee to the head but Laiskiainen blocks it.
Laiskiainen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Laiskiainen tries to circle away but Sobchak has him pinned against the cage.
Sobchak gets through Laiskiainen's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sobchak misses with a knee to the head.
Sobchak prevents Laiskiainen from breaking the clinch.
Laiskiainen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Laiskiainen working hard to break the clinch.
Sobchak throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sobchak .
Knees in the clinch landing for Sobchak .
Laiskiainen working hard to break the clinch.
Laiskiainen is trying to break the clinch but Sobchak has him pressed against the cage.
The is referee keeping an eye on Sobchak - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobchak lands a good knee to the midsection. Laiskiainen won't want to take too many of those.
Laiskiainen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sobchak has him pressed against the cage.
Sobchak lands an elbow inside that Laiskiainen shrugs off.
Sobchak pushes Laiskiainen back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Laiskiainen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Laiskiainen wants to get back to striking at distance but Sobchak won't allow it.
Sobchak is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Sobchak lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Laiskiainen is trying to force a seperation but Sobchak has the dominant position.
Sobchak creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Laiskiainen's defenses.
Sobchak throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Laiskiainen blocks it with crossed arms.
Laiskiainen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Laiskiainen wants to get back to striking at distance but Sobchak won't allow it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sobchak .
Laiskiainen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sobchak misses with a knee to the head.
Laiskiainen working hard to break the clinch.
Sobchak with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sobchak tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Laiskiainen has had enough of the clinch but Sobchak keeps him there for the moment.
Sobchak is stalling here.
Laiskiainen managing to block the knees to the body from Sobchak .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Laiskiainen tries to break the clinch but Sobchak is controlling the position.
Sobchak softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sobchak lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Sobchak missing with knees to the body.
Laiskiainen is trying to force a seperation but Sobchak has the dominant position.
Sobchak 's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Laiskiainen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sobchak has him pressed against the cage.
Laiskiainen wants to break free but Sobchak has control.
Laiskiainen is trying to break the clinch but Sobchak has him pressed against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Sobchak .
Laiskiainen is trying to break free.
Laiskiainen gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sobchak .
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeff Sobchak . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sobchak crunches a lovely knee into Laiskiainen's ribcage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Sobchak tries to land a knee to the head but Laiskiainen blocks with his arms.
Laiskiainen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sobchak misses with an elbow over the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Sobchak dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Pauli Laiskiainen's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. 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.

Sobchak takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Laiskiainen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sobchak slips a jab and a cross from Laiskiainen.
Laiskiainen throws a nice looking combination but Sobchak bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Sobchak moves into the clinch.
Knees to the body from Sobchak .
Sobchak with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Sobchak lands an elbow inside that Laiskiainen shrugs off.
Laiskiainen takes a knee right on the jaw!
Sobchak has Laiskiainen pressed against the cage, preventing Laiskiainen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sobchak lands a nice shot to the body.
Sobchak lands a nice elbow.
A frustrated look appears on Laiskiainen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Sobchak unloads a knee to the mid-section. Laiskiainen lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sobchak landing knees to the body.
Sobchak lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sobchak crunches a lovely knee into Laiskiainen's ribcage.
Knees to the body from Sobchak .
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Laiskiainen tries to break free but Sobchak pushes him back against the cage.
Sobchak lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Laiskiainen can't break the clinch.
A knee to the head by Sobchak .
Knees in the clinch landing for Sobchak .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobchak is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Laiskiainen wants to get back to striking at distance but Sobchak won't allow it.

Laiskiainen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sobchak throws a jab when Laiskiainen was well out of range.
Sobchak takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Sobchak clinches with his opponent.
Sobchak throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Laiskiainen blocks it with crossed arms.
Laiskiainen wants to break free but Sobchak has control.
Sobchak throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Laiskiainen blocks it with crossed arms.
Jeff Sobchak has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sobchak lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Sobchak tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Laiskiainen tries to circle away but Sobchak has him pinned against the cage.
Sobchak misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sobchak tries to land a knee to the head but Laiskiainen blocks with his arms.
Sobchak has Laiskiainen pressed against the cage, preventing Laiskiainen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sobchak throws a knee to the head but misses.
Laiskiainen wants to get back to striking at distance but Sobchak won't allow it.
Laiskiainen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sobchak keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Laiskiainen's efforts to push away.

Sobchak has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Laiskiainen regains guard immediately.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laiskiainen wants to stand and escape but Sobchak is having none of it.
Laiskiainen keeping moving, preventing Sobchak from controlling successfully.
Laiskiainen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Laiskiainen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sobchak advances to half guard.
Sobchak lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sobchak works his way into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobchak tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Laiskiainen on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Jeff Sobchak is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Laiskiainen tries to escape but Sobchak is in control.
Sobchak tries to move to mount but Laiskiainen blocks the move with his legs.
Sobchak controls the position.

That's four 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.
Sobchak works to advance to full mount. Laiskiainen defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Laiskiainen takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Sobchak takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Laiskiainen is squirming around, avoiding Sobchak 's attempts to control the action.
Pauli Laiskiainen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sobchak content just to control the position here.
Laiskiainen takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeff Sobchak showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sobchak , winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:26
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeff Sobchak !