PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ilmari Laine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ike Manuel Pascoal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ilmari Laine could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ike Manuel Pascoal's chin.

Laine
vs
Manuel Pascoal

179 cm
18
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

173 cm
18
181 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ilmari Laine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ike Manuel Pascoal!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Skip Squint and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manuel Pascoal throws a leg kick but Laine sees it coming and moves out of range.

Manuel Pascoal rushes Laine and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Laine fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Laine is fighting off a takedown attempt but Manuel Pascoal is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Laine to the mat. Laine regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
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 referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Laine throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Manuel Pascoal pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Laine is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Laine tries to land a sweep but no joy.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Manuel Pascoal accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Manuel Pascoal trying to control the position from guard on top but Laine is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Laine looking to hit a scissor sweep but Manuel Pascoal is one step ahead there.
Manuel Pascoal trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laine working for a triangle but Manuel Pascoal defends it easily.
Manuel Pascoal working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Manuel Pascoal stopping the sweep attempt from Laine.
Manuel Pascoal passes into half guard.
Laine gets back to full guard.
Manuel Pascoal distracts Laine with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manuel Pascoal trying to control the position from guard on top but Laine is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Manuel Pascoal tries to free his leg and advance position but Laine is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manuel Pascoal landing some decent shots from guard.
Laine on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Laine tries to get out of the position.
Laine lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Manuel Pascoal!
Laine lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Manuel Pascoal hang on?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Laine is landing with some decent strikes but Manuel Pascoal is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Laine working away from the top, dropping strikes.
A nice elbow there by Laine.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel Pascoal is wriggling around trying to escape.

Laine jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Manuel Pascoal manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Manuel Pascoal takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Laine working the head and body with strikes.
Manuel Pascoal takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Laine is working Manuel Pascoal over with some ground and pound from side control.
Laine prevents Manuel Pascoal from escaping the position.
Laine wants to control but Manuel Pascoal is keeping him busy.

Laine tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laine working the ground and pound but Manuel Pascoal is defending the strikes.
Manuel Pascoal is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Manuel Pascoal takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Manuel Pascoal manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Still in half guard, Manuel Pascoal seems content to control.
Laine wants to control but Manuel Pascoal is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Laine tries to get to full guard but Manuel Pascoal has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Laine misses with a looping right.
Manuel Pascoal connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Laine momentarily.
Laine tries for a takedown but Manuel Pascoal circles away easily
and Manuel Pascoal counters with a thumping low kick.
Manuel Pascoal clobbers Laine with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

It looks like Ilmari Laine has been cut.
Ike Manuel Pascoal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Manuel Pascoal has a takedown stuffed.
Laine moves forwards but Manuel Pascoal connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Laine.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laine shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Manuel Pascoal pinned against the cage. Manuel Pascoal gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ilmari Laine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manuel Pascoal fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Laine avoids the body shot from Manuel Pascoal.
Manuel Pascoal misses with a body kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Laine is defended easily by Manuel Pascoal.
Laine fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Manuel Pascoal darts in and clinches Laine up against the cage.
Laine fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Manuel Pascoal gets through Laine's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Manuel Pascoal scores with a nice hook to the head.

Manuel Pascoal tightens his grip and picks Laine up, before dumping him to the ground. Laine manages to land in guard.
Laine trying to keep a closed guard but Manuel Pascoal is proving a slippery customer.
Ilmari Laine overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Manuel Pascoal trying to control the position from guard on top but Laine is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Manuel Pascoal not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laine keeping moving, preventing Manuel Pascoal from controlling successfully.
Laine has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Laine looking to control.
Manuel Pascoal really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Laine. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Manuel Pascoal trying to control the position from guard on top but Laine is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ike Manuel Pascoal.
Manuel Pascoal throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Laine fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Manuel Pascoal fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Manuel Pascoal keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laine uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Manuel Pascoal.
Manuel Pascoal has a takedown stuffed.
Manuel Pascoal wants to clinch up but Laine keeps it at a distance.
Manuel Pascoal connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Laine bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Laine closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Manuel Pascoal did well to prevent Laine getting side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ike Manuel Pascoal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ilmari Laine's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Manuel Pascoal wants to slow Laine down by chopping away at his legs.
Laine misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Manuel Pascoal will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Manuel Pascoal looks to throw the jab but Laine is out of range.
Manuel Pascoal misses with a two punch combination.
Manuel Pascoal throws a low kick but Laine avoids it.
Laine keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Laine fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Manuel Pascoal avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laine looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Laine trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Manuel Pascoal wants to sweep but no luck.
Laine is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Manuel Pascoal should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Manuel Pascoal trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manuel Pascoal wants to sweep here but Laine controlling him for the moment.
Manuel Pascoal is trying to control the position but Laine postures up.
Laine stands up over Manuel Pascoal, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Manuel Pascoal is on top in guard.
Laine wants to sweep here but Manuel Pascoal controlling him for the moment.
Laine is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Laine is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel Pascoal stays in close to Laine's body and controls the position.
Laine is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Manuel Pascoal with a flurry of punches that miss.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Laine is on top in guard.
Laine works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Manuel Pascoal keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Laine prevents Manuel Pascoal from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laine is trying to control the action in half guard but Manuel Pascoal is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Manuel Pascoal regains full guard. Nicely done.
Manuel Pascoal keeping moving, preventing Laine from controlling successfully.
Laine stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Manuel Pascoal swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Manuel Pascoal managing to control the position.
Laine stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Manuel Pascoal swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ilmari Laine.
I think Laine 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 Damien Edna scores the fight for Ike Manuel Pascoal!
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight for Ike Manuel Pascoal!
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight for Ilmari Laine!

Ike Manuel Pascoal wins by split decision!
A very excited looking Ike Manuel Pascoal made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.