PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eric Laak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sonny Corleone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laak's entrance music is Pain - Shut your mouth. A fine choice. Corleone has chosen The Godfather Waltz as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Laak
vs
Corleone

180 cm
23
187 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

185 cm
28
195 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

Decent wrestler
Decent elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good elbows
Heavy handed

PR1ME Designs

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 8 - 2 - 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 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sonny Corleone!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Jorge Garcia and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Corleone avoids the head kick by Laak.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Corleone checks a leg kick.
A good leg kick by Laak.
Laak ducks under a wild hook from Corleone.
Laak fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Corleone manages to avoid it.

Corleone tries to keep at a distance but Laak has taken the fight into the clinch.
Laak tries to land knees in the clinch but Corleone avoids the damage to the body.
Corleone lands a nice uppercut.
Laak tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Corleone jumps guard but Laak stands there with Corleone around his waist. Corleone gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Corleone is trying to drag Laak to the mat but Laak just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Corleone fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Eric Laak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sonny Corleone.
Laak misses with some punches.
Laak working aggressively here.
Corleone swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Corleone stalling the fight.
Corleone keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Laak's efforts to push away.
Still in the clinch, Corleone scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laak misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Laak misses with a hook to the ribs.

Laak escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Laak throws a poor cross that misses
and Corleone counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Corleone wants to clinch.
Corleone slips under a jab from Laak.
Eric Laak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Corleone avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

Corleone shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Laak manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Corleone wanted to stand there but Laak had control of the position.

Corleone thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Corleone drops back, looking for a kneebar! Laak looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Laak looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Laak!
Laak taking a break here but Corleone is having none of it and regains half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Corleone regains full guard. Nicely done.
Corleone manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Corleone can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Laak is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sonny Corleone will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Corleone shoots for a double leg takedown but Laak sprawls well. He's pushed Corleone's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Laak tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A chopping leg kick lands by Laak.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Corleone.
Corleone fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Eric Laak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sonny Corleone.
Laak throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Corleone sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Corleone tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Laak paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Laak takes the fight into the clinch.
Corleone tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Laak just stands there and leans against the cage.
Laak cracks Corleone with a nice body shot.
Laak can't break the clinch.
Laak lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Laak stops a takedown attempt from Corleone.
Corleone is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Laak gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Laak tries to work over Corleone's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Corleone is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laak prevents the takedown attempt.
Laak lands a left hand that snaps the head of Corleone backwards.
Laak displaying some good clinch control by pressing Corleone up against the cage.
Laak tries to throw a body punch but Corleone avoids it by throwing Laak back against the cage.
Laak misses with a hook to the ribs.
Laak lands a shoulder strike.
Laak is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Corleone is keeping busy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Corleone is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Laak breaks the clinch.
Laak chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Corleone shoots in and drives through. Laak sprawls well.
Laak lands a jab to the head.
Corleone on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Laak. Laak obviously looking to wear him down.
Laak looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Laak throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Corleone sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Corleone connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Laak, as that shot connected.
Corleone tries to score a power double leg takedown but Laak sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Corleone somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laak connects with a solid leg kick.
Laak throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Laak lands with a nice body kick.
Laak throws a leg kick
and Laak takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Corleone looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Laak is fending him off so far but Corleone persists. Nope, Laak circles away and we're back to standing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Laak throws a leg kick but Corleone sees it coming and moves out of range.

Laak has managed to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Laak dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Laak leaves Corleone with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Laak throws the kick towards the body but Corleone avoids it.
Corleone doesn't manage to clinch there - Laak circles away.
Some bone on bone action there as Corleone checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Laak misses with a right hand

and Corleone counters with a nice double leg into side control. Laak won't be happy with that.
Corleone wants to control but Laak is keeping him busy.

Corleone looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Laak is not content to let Corleone control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laak tries to bench press Corleone off him but Corleone keeps the position.

Corleone tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Corleone has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Corleone tries for a kimura but Laak is defending well.
Laak manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laak slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Corleone trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Laak pulls Corleone in close to his closed guard and prevents Corleone from doing any damage or advancing position.
Corleone trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Corleone throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Corleone has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Laak is proving hard to escape from.
Corleone in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laak trying to keep a closed guard but Corleone is proving a slippery customer.
Sonny Corleone has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Corleone has gone for a leg lock! Laak slips out almost immediately though and dives into Corleone's guard.
Corleone lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Laak!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Corleone cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Corleone thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Laak working to try and regain half guard.
Corleone throws some wild stikes that Laak manages to avoid easily.
Corleone thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Corleone looking to control but Laak is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Laak tries to hold on but Corleone pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sonny Corleone comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Corleone 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sonny Corleone!