PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Daniel One (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel LaRusso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

One
vs
LaRusso

186 cm
26
202 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

185 cm
24
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Prefers standup

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Daniel One!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Daniel LaRusso!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
One shoots in but LaRusso avoids the takedown attempt easily.
One fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
One shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has LaRusso pinned against the cage. LaRusso gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel One. That's going to take a lot out of him.

One scores a takedown into full mount!
One controlling from mount.
LaRusso is trying to stand.

One is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But LaRusso has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from LaRusso!

That's one minute gone in the round.
One has a closed guard, preventing LaRusso from standing up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as One holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
LaRusso wants to stand but One has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

One closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming LaRusso to the mat! LaRusso manages to get full guard.

One drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and One jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
One looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

One thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
One 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.
One trying to move into half guard but instead LaRusso has managed to sweep!
One is pulling down on LaRusso's head. It's preventing any offense from LaRusso, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
LaRusso would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
One wants to sweep here but LaRusso controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel One dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

One dives in and grabs LaRusso's left leg, looking for a takedown. LaRusso pushes down on One's head and hops out.
One blocks a head kick by LaRusso.
One has his takedown stuffed
and LaRusso counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. One is lucky that one didn't land flush.
One fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel One. That's going to take a lot out of him.
One tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but LaRusso swivels and escapes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
LaRusso tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

One is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in LaRusso's half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
One is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and LaRusso reverses the position - he's now on top in One's guard.
One wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
LaRusso would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two 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.
One is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Daniel One has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
One dives in and grabs LaRusso's left leg, looking for a takedown. LaRusso pushes down on One's head and hops out.
LaRusso defends well against a solid takedown attempt from One.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
One fails to land the takedown.
One fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but LaRusso avoids it really well and circles away.
One shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. LaRusso defends it nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
No luck for One with that takedown attempt.
LaRusso throws a quick head kick that skims the top of One's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from LaRusso as One shoots in.
One shoots for a double leg takedown but LaRusso sprawls well. He's pushed One's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
One throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around LaRusso's waist but LaRusso gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing One off to one side.
One shoots in looking for a takedown but LaRusso manages to keep the fight standing, pushing One's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Daniel One seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
LaRusso throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sloppy strikes from LaRusso. Those never looked like landing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
LaRusso scores with a leg kick.
One fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel LaRusso showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

LaRusso throws a head kick that One semi-blocks.
One will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
One closes this distance looking for a takedown but LaRusso circles away.
One shoots in for a double leg but LaRusso sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel One. That's going to take a lot out of him.
LaRusso fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt One.
LaRusso scores with a head kick. One tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Both fighters circling a little - LaRusso finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
One shoots in looking for a takedown but LaRusso manages to keep the fight standing, pushing One's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
LaRusso fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt One.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
One shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with LaRusso but LaRusso pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
One looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? LaRusso is fending him off so far but One persists. Nope, LaRusso circles away and we're back to standing.
LaRusso plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
LaRusso throws a nice inside leg kick.
Nice sprawl there from LaRusso as One shoots in.
LaRusso throws a nice inside leg kick.
LaRusso throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by One.
LaRusso looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A head kick misses from LaRusso.
One shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and LaRusso makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Daniel One is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
LaRusso lands a nice leg kick that just misses One's sensitive parts.
LaRusso slaps away a takedown attempt from One, before circling back to the center of the mat.
LaRusso feints and then cracks One's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow One down.
One takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
One chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before LaRusso can pounce on him.
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!
One has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
LaRusso lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
One tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
One has his takedown stuffed
and LaRusso counters with a low kick, right behind One 's knee.
LaRusso throws a quick head kick that skims the top of One's head.
One fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but LaRusso avoids it really well and circles away.
LaRusso jabs at One's body.
LaRusso throws a head kick that One semi-blocks.
LaRusso cracks the inside of One's front leg.
LaRusso throws a leg kick which misses One's front leg but catches the back leg as One tries to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
One fails with a takedown attempt.
LaRusso leaves One with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
LaRusso misses with a wild combination.
One shoots in but LaRusso avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from One is defended easily by LaRusso.
One takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel LaRusso comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think LaRusso has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel LaRusso!