PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eddie Mercury (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kuai Lai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mercury kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Queen - Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy. Lai has chosen CKY - Chinese Rap as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Mercury
vs
Lai

188 cm
24
215 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

195 cm
20
215 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eddie Mercury!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kuai Lai!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mercury throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Kuai Lai has been cut.

Lai rushes Mercury and presses him up against the cage.
Mercury trying to stall but Lai improves his position.
Mercury tries to circle away but Lai has him pinned against the cage.
Lai using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mercury has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lai crunches a lovely knee into Mercury's ribcage.
Lai creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Mercury scores with a shoulder strike.

Mercury's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lai scores with a spinning back kick!
Lai lets loose with a powerful body kick. Mercury will feel that in the morning.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mercury misses with a looping right.
Lai throws a head kick that misses.

Lai clinches.
Lai blocks a body shot from Mercury.
A shot in the inside from Mercury.
Lai misses with a knee strike.
Lai lands a knee to the head.
Lai throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mercury blocks it with crossed arms.
Lai works on Mercury's body with a couple of short punches.
Lai lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Eddie Mercury has been cut.
Lai is leaning against Mercury and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Mercury is breathing heavily.
Lai landing knees to the head.
Knees to the body from Lai.
Lai working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Lai lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Lai crunches a lovely knee into Mercury's ribcage.
Good body shot from Lai.
Mercury takes an elbow to the forehead.
Lai lands an elbow inside that Mercury shrugs off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lai lands an elbow that stopped Mercury in his tracks for a moment.
Mercury takes a knee right on the jaw!
Lai lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Lai tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lai connects with a knee to the head.
Lai lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Lai lands with a left to the head.
Mercury tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lai's elbow.
Lai lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Mercury misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lai lands an elbow inside that Mercury shrugs off.
Mercury is looking to control Lai's arms but Lai gets an underhook and turns him. Now Mercury has his back to the cage.
Lai lands an elbow just above Mercury 's eye.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lai.
Lai lands a nice knee to the body.
Mercury takes a knee to the side of the body.
A short left from Lai.
Lai works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Lai with a knee to the head.
Lai lands an elbow inside that Mercury shrugs off.
Lai lands a knee to the body.
Mercury takes an elbow to the temple.
Lai gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Mercury takes an elbow to the temple.
Mercury working aggressively here.
Lai tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lai misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mercury.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lai missing with knees to the body.
Mercury looking to slow down the pace here.
Mercury blocks an elbow strike.
Lai landing knees to the head.
Lai with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mercury throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Mercury escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mercury throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lai scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Lai.
Mercury ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lai moves away.
Mercury scores with a hook to the body. Lai takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Lai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A punch combination from Mercury misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Lai lands a front kick.
Lai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lai throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Mercury stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Crunch! Lai slams his shin into Mercury's torso.
Mercury has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Lai.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mercury is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lai.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lai closes the distance and pushes Mercury back into the cage.
Lai with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lai tries a knee to the head but Mercury blocks it.
Lai tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mercury's elbow.
Lai lands an elbow just above Mercury 's eye.
Lai with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A short right from Mercury on the inside.
Lai has a couple of punches blocked by Mercury.
Lai tries a knee to the head but Mercury blocks it.
Lai with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Mercury escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mercury swings away with a body shot that misses

and Lai counters by moving into the clinch.
Lai tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mercury taking a breather.
Lai misses with an elbow strike.
Mercury lands a body shot.
A right hook to the body lands for Mercury.

Mercury breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lai slips under a jab.
Lai throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Mercury's head.
Mercury scores with a jab to the head.
Mercury takes a swing at Lai's ribcage but misses.
A big left from Mercury misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lai uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mercury.
Lai with a jab.
Mercury throws a nice looking combination but Lai bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lai looks to land a body kick but Mercury moved away.
Mercury takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Mercury closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Mercury slaps away a takedown attempt from Lai, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Lai moves into the clinch successfully.
Lai using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mercury has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lai using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mercury has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Lai just misses with a elbow thrown towards Mercury's brow.
Lai misses with an elbow strike.
Mercury doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mercury blocks the elbow strike.
Lai with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mercury tries for a takedown. No joy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mercury stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Mercury.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lai misses with a hook from the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Mercury.
Mercury stalling in the clinch but Lai improves position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lai blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mercury avoiding damage as Lai throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kuai Lai dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lai throws a body kick that misses.
Nice body punch from Mercury.
Lai moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Lai takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Lai has managed to clinch.
Kuai Lai seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Lai using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mercury has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Come on Mercury - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Lai has a couple of punches blocked by Mercury.
Mercury lands with a light punch inside.
Good body shot from Mercury.

Mercury's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lai defending well as Mercury loads up on a big left hand.
Mercury misses the jab.
Mercury connects with a jab.
Mercury thuds his right hand into Lai's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Eddie Mercury is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lai misses with a kick to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Lai.
Lai is breathing heavily.
Lai tries to close the distance and clinch but Mercury swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mercury waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Lai.
Lai fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lai throws a body kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercury avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Mercury throws a hook but Lai avoids it easily.
Mercury lands a nice looking body shot.
Mercury ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lai moves away.
Mercury thows a body shot but no joy.
Mercury throws the left hand but Lai avoids the punch easily.
A punch combination from Mercury misses.
Mercury blocks the body kick.
Lai uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mercury.
Mercury stalks Lai and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Lai's face. Lai staggers backwards, shaken.
Lai tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mercury misses with a wild combination.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lai.

Mercury is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Lai's half guard.
Lai on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Mercury thows a huge punch but Lai dodges it nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lai is looking for a sweep. Mercury is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lai won't allow Mercury to pass to mount.
Lai has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mercury is working away from the top position though.
Lai is looking to improve his position.
Mercury trying to mount his opponent but Lai defends it.
Lai manages to get to full guard.
Mercury stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lai swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice body kick from Lai.
Lai throws a left and a right that both miss
and Mercury counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Lai closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercury working aggressively here.
Lai missing with knees to the body.

Mercury breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A combination from Mercury does no damage.
No luck for Mercury with that takedown attempt.
Lai throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Mercury.
Lai lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Lai fakes the leg kick and cracks Mercury in the body.
Lai lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mercury's sensitive parts.
Mercury will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Lai scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Lai lets loose with a powerful body kick. Mercury will feel that in the morning.
Nice body kick there by Lai.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Mercury crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Lai - the referee stops the clock and Mercury gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Lai. Mercury manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Lai scores with a leg kick.

Lai gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Lai landing knees to the head.
Lai throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mercury blocks it with crossed arms.
Mercury takes a knee right on the jaw!
Lai connects with a knee to the head.
Mercury working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lai using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Lai misses with a knee to the head.
Mercury managing to block the knees to the body from Lai.
Lai misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mercury.
Lai connects with a knee to the head.
Mercury misses with a punch on the inside.
Lai connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mercury's face.
Mercury throws a punch but it's blocked by Lai.
Lai misses with a knee strike.
Mercury stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Lai lands a knee to the head.
Lai blocking some punches.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Lai lands a knee to the head.
Lai throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mercury blocks it with crossed arms.
Mercury works on Lai's body with a couple of short punches.
Mercury tries to break free but Lai pushes him back against the cage.

Mercury pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Lai.
Lai delivers a nice body kick.
Mercury throws a predictable looking body shot
and Lai makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Mercury really felt that one!
The fight stays on the outside here - Lai looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddie Mercury dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Lai closes the distance and pushes Mercury back into the cage.
Lai lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Lai lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Lai lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Mercury.
Lai tries to land a knee to the head but Mercury blocks with his arms.
Lai softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Lai lands an elbow inside that Mercury shrugs off.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Lai.
Mercury stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Lai lands a left hand that snaps the head of Mercury backwards.
Lai misses with a knee to the head.
Mercury wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lai has him pressed against the cage.
Lai tries to land a knee to the head but Mercury blocks with his arms.
Mercury pushes Lai back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Mercury lands a shoulder strike.
Lai tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Lai using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mercury has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lai tries to land a knee to the head but Mercury blocks with his arms.
Mercury lands a hook that snaps the head of Lai backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Mercury.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lai.
Mercury lands an uppercut.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lai tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A head punch on the inside from Mercury fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Lai as Mercury tries to tie him up.
Lai tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Lai as Mercury tries to tie him up.
Lai pushes off an throws an elbow but Mercury leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Mercury misses with the head strike.
Lai looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Lai crunches a lovely knee into Mercury's ribcage.
Lai lands a body punch.
Mercury has had enough of the clinch but Lai keeps him there for the moment.
Mercury lands a left hand that snaps the head of Lai backwards.
Mercury lands a hook that snaps the head of Lai backwards.
Lai tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lai's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Mercury has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mercury.
Lai throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mercury blocks it with crossed arms.
Mercury lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Lai throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Mercury is trying to break the clinch but Lai is controlling him.
Lai throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mercury lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Lai.
Mercury working aggressively here.
Lai looking to throw knees to the head but Mercury is blocking nicely.
A short uppercut from Mercury.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Mercury.
Lai looking to throw knees to the head but Mercury is blocking nicely.
Mercury lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lai backwards.
Mercury trying to control the position but instead, Lai has worked for underhooks and has pushed Mercury into the cage.
Mercury makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Lai looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A head punch on the inside from Lai fails to land.
Lai lands a damaging elbow.
Lai blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mercury is trying to break the clinch but Lai has him pressed against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Mercury is looking to break free of the clinch but Lai has double underhooks.
Lai tries to land knees in the clinch but Mercury avoids the damage to the body.
Mercury dodges an elbow strike from Lai.
Stalling in the clinch from Mercury.
Lai misses with the head strike.
Mercury taking a breather.
Lai looking to throw knees to the head but Mercury is blocking nicely.
Mercury lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Mercury.
Mercury wants to break the clinch but can't.
Mercury wants to stall.
Lai looking to throw knees to the head but Mercury is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercury lands with a short shot to the head.
Lai blocks a body shot from Mercury.
Mercury just leaning against Lai, taking a breather.
Lai lands an elbow that stopped Mercury in his tracks for a moment.
Lai lands with a right to the head.
Mercury lands with a left to the head.
Lai has a couple of punches blocked by Mercury.
Lai throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mercury blocks it with crossed arms.
Mercury lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lai backwards.

Mercury breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lai lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Mercury checks a leg kick nicely.
Mercury takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Lai takes a swing at Mercury's ribcage but misses.
Mercury swings for the body but Lai moves out of range.
Mercury avoids the head kick by Lai.
Mercury chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Lai can pounce on him.
Mercury stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mercury wants it to stay on the feet.
Mercury slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A shot to de liver by Mercury. Beautiful body shot.
Left hook, right uppercut from Mercury.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mercury swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lai misses with a leg kick.
Lai will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Lai on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Eddie Mercury is winning the standup battle so far.
Mercury lands a jab to the head.
Lai connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Mercury misses with a straight left.
Lai scores with a spinning back kick!
Lai is looking to clinch but Mercury is avoiding it.

Lai clinches with his opponent.
Lai with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Lai landing knees to the head.
Lai swings wildly with an uppercut but Mercury uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mercury pushes Lai back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Mercury lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lai with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mercury has Lai pressed against the cage.
Mercury lands on the inside with an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mercury is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Mercury is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Mercury wants to get back to striking at distance but Lai won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eddie Mercury showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mercury has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eddie Mercury!
Eddie Mercury is the new light heavyweight champion!