PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eric Laak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Butter Bean (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Laak
vs
Bean

180 cm
21
199 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
190 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eric Laak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Butter Bean!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Jorge Garcia and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bean gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bean takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Laak throws a push kick but Bean slaps the foot to one side.
Laak throws a leg kick but Bean sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Bean 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.
Bean is in close to Laak's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bean makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Laak knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bean on the ground.
Laak pulls Bean in close to prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Laak's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Bean postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bean chips away with some ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Bean with a nice head shot there.
Bean scoring with punches to the head and body.
Bean wants to control from the top but Laak keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bean throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Laak works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Laak is trying to control the position but Bean postures up.
Laak manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Bean really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Laak content just to control the position here.
Laak tries to take his opponent's back but Bean turns with him and manages to move into guard on the top. Nice work.
Bean stopping the sweep attempt from Laak.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bean accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bean wants to control from the top but Laak keeps moving.
Bean wants to pass the guard but Laak is keeping the position.
Laak is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bean postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bean working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Laak is on top in guard.
Laak stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bean swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bean not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Laak not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Laak wants to control from the top but Bean keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Bean can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Laak controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Eric Laak wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Bean misses with a takedown
and Laak finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Bean throws a head kick but Laak moves out of range.
Bean shoots and misses

and Laak moves into the clinch.
Eric Laak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Butter Bean.
Laak stalling the fight.
Bean is working for takedown but Laak is calmly controlling the position for now.
Bean is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Laak gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bean drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Laak gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Laak lands a body punch.
Laak leaning his opponent against the cage.
Laak scores with a hook to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Laak.
Laak lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Laak lands a body punch.
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 Eric Laak will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bean swings away with a body shot that misses
and Laak counters with a nice kick to the body.
Bean with a lazy takedown attempt
and Laak counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Bean with a lazy takedown attempt
and Laak counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Bean shoots and misses

and Laak holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Eric Laak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Butter Bean.
Laak lands a shot to the body.
Laak slowing the pace effectively.
Bean drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Laak gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Laak lands a shot to the body.
A hook to the body from Laak.
Laak is working Bean over against the cage.
Laak will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Bean up against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Laak.
Bean is breathing heavily.
Laak is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Still in the clinch, Laak scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laak prevents the takedown attempt.
Laak gets through Bean's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Laak scores with a hook to the body.
Laak landing knees to the body.
Laak lands a body punch in the clinch.
Bean is working for takedown but Laak is calmly controlling the position for now.
Laak has Bean pressed against the cage.
Laak putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Bean in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Laak lands an uppercut.
Bean goes for a takedown in the clinch but Laak prevents it.
A short uppercut from Laak.
Laak throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Laak lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Laak working Bean over with knees to the body.
Laak works on Bean's body with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Laak obliges.

Laak breaks from the clinch.
Laak throws a nice head kick!
Laak throws a nice inside leg kick.
Bean doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Laak makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A chopping leg kick lands by Laak.
Bean tries for a takedown but Laak circles away easily
and Laak counters with an outside leg kick.
Laak lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Bean at a distance.
Laak getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Laak connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Bean walks into a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bean avoids a kick to the body.
Bean misses with a combination
and Laak counters with a low kick, right behind Bean 's knee.
Bean shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Laak counters with a leg kick.
Laak scores with a jab to the head.
Laak lands a high kick!
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Bean crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Laak - the referee stops the clock and Bean gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Laak. Bean manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Laak lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Laak drives through and clinches with Bean against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Laak.
Laak throws a head punch that misses.
Good body shot from Laak.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Laak creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laak throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Laak lands a body punch in the clinch.
Laak lands a body punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Laak.
Laak displaying some good clinch control by pressing Bean up against the cage.
Laak is working Bean over against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Laak.

Laak breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bean misses with a takedown attempt
and Laak counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Laak lands a leg kick that knocks Bean off balance momentarily.
Laak fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Bean.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Laak misses with a low kick as Bean jumps back.
Laak swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Bean avoids the head kick by Laak.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Laak dominated that second round.
That's time! Laak's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Laak lands a right hook to the body.
Laak wants to slow Bean down by chopping away at his legs.
Bean misses with a takedown attempt
and Laak counters with a nice low kick that buckles Bean's knee momentarily.
Laak misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bean misses with a takedown
and Laak counters with a low kick, right behind Bean 's knee.
Bean fails with the takedown
and Laak counters with a body kick that stops Bean in his tracks momentarily.
Eric Laak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Butter Bean.
Laak lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Laak throws a nice outside leg kick.
Laak is looking to chop away at Bean's legs.
Bean takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Laak attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Bean on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laak lands with a right hand.
Bean takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
That kick from Laak tenderised Bean's leg. Bean is trying to keep his angry face on.
Bean tries for a takedown but Laak circles away easily
and Laak cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A left and a right from Laak both land. Nice combination.
Laak throws a head kick but Bean moves out of range.
Bean with a poor takedown
and Laak counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Laak dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bean. That did some damage!
Bean walks into a left hand.
Laak misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bean with a poor takedown
and Laak counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laak scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Laak has closed the distance and engaged Bean in a clinch.
Bean takes a shot to the head.
Laak is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Bean has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Laak avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Laak lands with a right to the head.
Laak lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Laak lands a right hand.
Bean letting Laak take a breather here.
Laak lands a hook to the side of the head.
Laak is working Bean over against the cage.
Laak digs a right hand into Bean's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Bean's gas tank.

Laak breaks the clinch.
Laak dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bean. That did some damage!
Laak connects with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bean gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Laak counters with a good, hard body kick but Bean shrugs it off.
Laak throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Bean takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Laak tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Laak throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Bean.
Eric Laak is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bean has his takedown stuffed
and Laak makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Bean really felt that one!
Laak connects with a high kick.
Laak lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Bean on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Laak connects with an inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bean misses with a takedown
and Laak counters with an outside leg kick.
Bean's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The fighters circle momentarily. Laak darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Laak lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Eric Laak is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bean doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Laak counters with a nice leg kick.
Laak misses with a head kick.

Laak rushes Bean and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Laak breaks the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bean gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Laak makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Butter Bean has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bean stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Laak.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Laak showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Laak, 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:26
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:25
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Laak!