PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sasha Lakovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neil NaLeans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sasha Lakovic has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Lakovic
vs
NaLeans

189 cm
33
181 lbs
24 - 17 - 0

177 cm
33
185 lbs
19 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Non-Stop Nutrition
Black Hand Fight Gear & Laundry

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 24 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sasha Lakovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Neil NaLeans!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Alan Glass and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lakovic misses with a wild combination.
Lakovic misses with a low kick.
An inside leg kick lands from NaLeans.
NaLeans lands a lovely overhand right.
Nice sprawl there from NaLeans as Lakovic shoots in.
Lakovic shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts NaLeans as he jumps to the side.
Lakovic lands the left hand.
Lakovic's jab looks to have found its range, popping NaLeans under the eye.
NaLeans displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lakovic throws out the jab.
A low kick from Lakovic is predictable there
and NaLeans counters with a left to the body.
NaLeans throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lakovic with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Lakovic looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
NaLeans wants to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lakovic scores with the left hand. NaLeans knows he should have avoided that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lakovic lands a nice leg kick that just misses NaLeans's sensitive parts.
Lakovic lands a straight punch to the body, keeping NaLeans at a distance.
NaLeans defending well as Lakovic loads up on a big left hand.

NaLeans closes the distance and clinches.
NaLeans tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
NaLeans throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lakovic tried to land a shot to the body but connects with NaLeans's elbow.
NaLeans throws a punch but it's blocked by Lakovic.
Lakovic has had enough of the clinch but NaLeans keeps him there for the moment.
Lakovic blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
NaLeans throws a knee to the head but misses.
NaLeans tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lakovic's elbow.
NaLeans misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lakovic misses with a hook to the ribs.
NaLeans trying to land knees to the body.
NaLeans doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for NaLeans.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
NaLeans blocking some punches.
NaLeans throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lakovic blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lakovic lands a nice uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lakovic.
NaLeans swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lakovic on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lakovic lands with a short head shot on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
NaLeans misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lakovic.
NaLeans throws a knee to the head but misses.
NaLeans lands a body shot.
Lakovic has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. NaLeans avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sasha Lakovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
NaLeans makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
NaLeans fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lakovic is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but NaLeans is defending well.
NaLeans fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lakovic misses with some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for NaLeans.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
NaLeans lands a knee to the head.
Lakovic misses with the head strike.
NaLeans lands with a short punch from the clinch.
NaLeans is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lakovic is defending well for now.
NaLeans scores with a shoulder strike.
Lakovic misses with a punch to the body.
Lakovic prevents a takedown attempt there.
Lakovic wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but NaLeans has him pressed against the cage.
NaLeans throws a knee to the head but misses.
NaLeans gets underhooks to prevent Lakovic's takedown attempt.
NaLeans tries to land a knee to the head but Lakovic blocks with his arms.
Lakovic on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
NaLeans tries a body shot but Lakovic blocks it.
NaLeans misses with some punches.
NaLeans swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lakovic works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
NaLeans misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Lakovic.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
NaLeans managing to block the knees to the body from Lakovic.
NaLeans swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lakovic wants to break the clinch but can't.
NaLeans lands with a short shot to the head.
NaLeans with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lakovic doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lakovic tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Lakovic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lakovic misses with a wild body shot.

Lakovic scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The strikes coming from Lakovic are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lakovic throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Lakovic wants to lay and pray for a moment but NaLeans keeps working.
Lakovic throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Neil NaLeans will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A nice leg kick lands there from NaLeans.
NaLeans rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lakovic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

NaLeans shoots in and bounces Lakovic off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Lakovic has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but NaLeans can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
NaLeans lands a couple of digs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
NaLeans throws a big elbow that misses.
Lakovic is trying to control the position but NaLeans postures up.
Lakovic wants to sweep here but NaLeans controlling him for the moment.
NaLeans with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Lakovic controls NaLeans momentarily but NaLeans frees himself.
NaLeans preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lakovic lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for NaLeans!
NaLeans regains half guard.
NaLeans manages to get to full guard.
Lakovic throwing strikes from guard but NaLeans blocks nicely.
NaLeans avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lakovic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. NaLeans is keeping the position for now.
NaLeans avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lakovic missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Lakovic's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Lakovic trying to control but NaLeans is working from the bottom.
Lakovic being controlled here momentarily.
Lakovic with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lakovic looking to sit in guard and control but NaLeans gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Lakovic is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lakovic will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
NaLeans keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lakovic's head.
NaLeans landing some decent shots from guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells NaLeans's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Lakovic trying to keep a closed guard but NaLeans is proving a slippery customer.
NaLeans throws a big elbow that misses.

NaLeans got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lakovic has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, NaLeans has managed to get both his arms back between Lakovic's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
NaLeans keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lakovic's head.
NaLeans chips away with some ground and pound.
Lakovic wants to sweep here but NaLeans controlling him for the moment.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
NaLeans postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Lakovic 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.
NaLeans throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lakovic works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
NaLeans postures up in Lakovic's guard and throws a big left but Lakovic blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
NaLeans throwing strikes from guard but Lakovic blocks nicely.
NaLeans is looking to work some ground and pound but Lakovic has wrist control.
NaLeans looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neil NaLeans showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Lakovic throws a sloppy head kick and NaLeans moves out of range easily.
Good shot there by Lakovic.
A lazy left from NaLeans finds it's target.
NaLeans on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Lakovic throws a push kick but NaLeans slaps the foot to one side.
NaLeans misses with a series of wild punches.
Lakovic is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
NaLeans cracks a nice hook into Lakovic's ribs.
Nice uppercut there from NaLeans.
NaLeans steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lakovic.
NaLeans fails with the takedown.
Lakovic shoots and misses
and NaLeans makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

NaLeans is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Lakovic's half guard.
NaLeans has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
NaLeans not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lakovic is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of NaLeans's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take NaLeans's back!

NaLeans defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Lakovic somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Lakovic is trying to stick to NaLeans's back but NaLeans is turning into Lakovic. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Lakovic's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by NaLeans.

Lakovic working for a triangle but NaLeans defends it easily.
NaLeans with a flurry of punches that miss.
Neil NaLeans is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lakovic wants to sweep but no luck.
NaLeans content to stall in guard here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
NaLeans preventing the sweep.
Lakovic is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Neil NaLeans hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
NaLeans swings widly with a right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Lakovic throws a lazy body kick

and NaLeans counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by NaLeans.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lakovic is trying to break the clinch but NaLeans has him pressed against the cage.
NaLeans blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lakovic wants to get back to striking at distance but NaLeans won't allow it.
NaLeans lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Sasha Lakovic has been cut.
NaLeans blocks an uppercut.
NaLeans makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Lakovic is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Lakovic swings wildly with an uppercut but NaLeans uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lakovic takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
NaLeans lands a right hand.
A short right from NaLeans on the inside.
Lakovic wants to get back to striking at distance but NaLeans won't allow it.
Lakovic throws a head punch that misses.
A body shot lands from NaLeans.
Sasha Lakovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
NaLeans stops a takedown attempt from Lakovic.
NaLeans using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lakovic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neil NaLeans comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got NaLeans winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Neil NaLeans!