PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nick Laan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and richard head (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laan comes to the cage accompanied by Holiday. richard head will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Laan
vs
head

190 cm
20
201 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Laan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, richard head!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
head fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Laan forces head back against the cage and clinches.

head escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
head throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Laan's waist but Laan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing head off to one side.
Laan misses with a head kick.
Laan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Laan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
head fails with the takedown.
Nick Laan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of richard head.
head misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
head takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
head shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Laan as he jumps to the side.
head shoots in but Laan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nick Laan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
head looks gassed!
Laan lands a nice looking kick to the body. head takes a step back to recover.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laan throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
head shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Laan but Laan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
head sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

Laan fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with head, pushing him back against the cage.

Laan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
head avoids the head kick by Laan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Laan keeps control of head as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Laan breaks the clinch.
Laan throws a head kick but head moves out of range.
head throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Laan stuffs the takedown attempt from head. head gets slowly back to his feet.
Laan stuffs the takedown attempt from head. head gets slowly back to his feet.

Laan clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Laan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
head closes this distance looking for a takedown but Laan circles away.

Laan has taken the fight to the clinch.

Laan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
head takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Laan keeps head at a distance using the push kick.

Laan instigates a clinch.
head wants to get back to striking at distance but Laan won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Laan dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! head crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Laan - the referee stops the clock and head gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Laan. head manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
head fails with the takedown.
head misses with a right hand
and Laan counters with a slapping leg kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Laan finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
head with a poor takedown
and Laan counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Laan scores with a jab to the jaw.
head falls off balance throwing a combination

and Laan counters by clinching up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
head jumps guard but Laan stands there with head around his waist. head gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nick Laan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of richard head.

head breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
richard head seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
head shoots and misses
and Laan counters with a head kick.
head swats away the attempt to clinch by Laan.

Laan clinches.
Laan gets underhooks to prevent head's takedown attempt.
head wants to break free but Laan has control.
head using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Laan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A left hand lands to the body for head.

head breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nick Laan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
head misses with a takedown
and Laan counters with a head kick. That will keep head thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
head is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
head stalling the fight.
head wants to break the clinch but can't.
head wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Laan has him pressed against the cage.

Laan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Laan throws a head kick but head moves out of range.
head tries to clinch but Laan moves away
and Laan counters with a flying knee. Nice.
head has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Laan.
head with a poor takedown
and Laan counters with a low kick, right behind head 's knee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
head swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Laan counters with a nice uppercut.

Laan has head up against the cage in a clinch.

Laan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Laan throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
A head kick misses from Laan.

Laan instigates a clinch.
head is trying to break free.
head misses with a shot to the kidneys.
head can't find room to land a body shot as Laan controls the action.
head has Laan pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Laan manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
head is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Laan gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Laan breaks the clinch.
Laan throws a head kick that misses.
Laan throws a head kick that misses.
head tries for a takedown but Laan circles away easily
and Laan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Laan connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between head's hands.
Laan lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
head with a poor takedown

and Laan moves into the clinch.
head throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Laan blocks it with crossed arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Laan dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

head throws a leg kick
and Laan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
head tries to clinch

and Laan counters by moving into the clinch.
head jumps guard but Laan stands there with head around his waist. head gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Laan breaks from the clinch.
Laan lands with a slapping head kick.
head misses with a takedown
and Laan counters with a flying knee. Nice.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
head misses with a takedown attempt

and Laan counters by clinching up.
Nick Laan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of richard head.
head takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
head tries for a takedown but Laan manages to get underhooks.
head jumps guard but Laan stands there with head around his waist. head gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
head wants to break the clinch but can't.
head wants to get back to striking at distance but Laan won't allow it.

Laan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
head tries for a takedown but Laan circles away easily
and Laan counters with a big head kick but head shrugs it off.
head takes a head kick and keeps coming.
head misses with a takedown attempt
and Laan counters with a head kick. That will keep head thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Laan gets caught flat footed, as head shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

head stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
head doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Laan finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

head fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Laan sprawls well initially but head persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
head tries to pass the half guard into mount. Laan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Laan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Laan is defending against the submission attempts here by head.
head trying to pass the guard but Laan defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
head missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

head is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Laan doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time head.
head throws a strike but Laan avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
richard head has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.

head is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
head wants to stand and escape but instead Laan has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

head is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
head throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to richard head.
I think Laan 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Laan!