PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ismo Laitela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cocka Suarus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Suarus has chosen Not Afraid - Eminem as his entrance music. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Laitela
vs
Suarus

180 cm
26
145 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

172 cm
27
150 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ismo Laitela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cocka Suarus!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good exchange - Suarus coming out on top.
Suarus swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Suarus thows a left - swing and a miss!
Suarus misses with a body shot.

Laitela looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Laitela really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Laitela is looking to advance position but Suarus won't allow it.
Laitela is keen to just control but Suarus is a slippery customer.

Laitela is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Laitela prevents Suarus from improving his position.
Laitela controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laitela missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Laitela seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Suarus is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Suarus trying to control from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Laitela tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Suarus was well out of range. Poor timing from Laitela.
Suarus tries to clinch but Laitela moves out of range.

That's two 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.
Suarus looks to throw the jab but Laitela is out of range.
A big left from Suarus misses.

Suarus tries to sprawl but Laitela drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Laitela passes to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Suarus is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Laitela taking a breather here.
Suarus is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Laitela tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Laitela wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Suarus, who protects the arm well.
Suarus struggling a bit here.
Suarus tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Laitela wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Laitela tries to move to mount but Suarus blocks the move with his legs.
Suarus tries to get back to half guard but can't.

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.
Laitela wants to control but Suarus is keeping him busy.
Suarus is looking to regain half guard here but Laitela keeps moving and retains side control.
Laitela wants to control but Suarus is keeping him busy.
Laitela tries to move into full mount but can't pass Suarus's legs.
Suarus sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ismo Laitela dominated that round.
That's time! Laitela's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Suarus misses with a looping left.
Suarus keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Suarus throws a predictable looking body shot

and Laitela counters with a single leg into guard. Suarus didn't expect that.
Suarus working a defensive guard here.
Laitela passes Suarus's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Suarus tries to roll over but Laitela keeps him under control.
Suarus trying to hold on to Laitela's head to control him but Laitela postures up.
Suarus is staying active underneath Laitela, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Laitela slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laitela trying to control the action but Suarus is working from the bottom.
Laitela tries to pass the half guard into mount. Suarus knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Laitela is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Suarus defends it well.
Laitela sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Suarus defending well though.
Laitela is keen to just control but Suarus is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Suarus wants to get back to his feet.
Suarus has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Laitela is working away from the top position though.
Laitela wants to free his trapped foot but Suarus is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Laitela prevents Suarus from improving his position.
Laitela thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laitela seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Suarus does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Suarus throws a hook but Laitela blocks it.
Suarus defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Laitela.

Laitela shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Laitela was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Suarus really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Laitela. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Laitela controlling his opponent.
Suarus tries to lock up and control but Laitela gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Laitela can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Suarus is looking to escape.

Laitela has control of Suarus's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Suarus regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Laitela is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Suarus has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Suarus wants to control but Laitela is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Suarus is squirming around, avoiding Laitela's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ismo Laitela dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Suarus misses with a series of wild punches.
Suarus on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A big right from Laitela misses.
Suarus takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Laitela staying out of range there.
Laitela slips a jab and a cross from Suarus.
Suarus throws a low kick but Laitela moves out of range easily.
Laitela bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Laitela displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Suarus throws out the jab.
Laitela closes this distance looking for a takedown but Suarus circles away.

Suarus tries to sprawl but Laitela drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Laitela is keen to just control but Suarus is a slippery customer.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Laitela in particular looking to stall.
Laitela wants to control but Suarus is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laitela is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Ismo Laitela overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Suarus wants to get back to full guard.
Laitela is trying to control. Suarus wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Laitela moves nicely into side control.
Laitela tries to advance to mount but can't.
Suarus being controlled for a moment.
Cocka Suarus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.

Laitela goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Suarus has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Laitela but great work by Suarus.

Suarus swings around for an armbar but Laitela sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Suarus's guard.
Laitela slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Laitela looking to pass the guard.
Laitela trying to control the position from guard on top but Suarus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suarus being controlled here, momentarily.

We're going to have a standup here because Ismo Laitela wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Suarus enables Laitela to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Suarus manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Laitela is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ismo Laitela is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Laitela is pushing down on Suarus's leg trying to pass to half guard. Suarus is fighting to maintain full guard but Laitela has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laitela is taking a breather. Suarus says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Laitela is pressing down on Suarus's thigh, looking to free his foot. Suarus is holding on for now.
Suarus is trying to escape back to his feet but Laitela uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Suarus looking for a sweep but Laitela has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Laitela tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ismo Laitela showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Laitela, 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 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ismo Laitela!