PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Bosh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Laak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laak is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Pain - Shut your mouth. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Bosh
vs
Laak

194 cm
27
214 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

180 cm
29
208 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Untouchable Fight Nutrition

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 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chris Bosh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eric Laak!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Chad Campbell and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laak circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bosh shoots for a double leg takedown but Laak sprawls well. He's pushed Bosh's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bosh looks to throw the jab but Laak is out of range.
A big left from Bosh misses.
Bosh looks to score with a jab to the body but Laak is just out of range.
Bosh throws a lazy right hand but Laak sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bosh on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Bosh misses with a wild body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Bosh misses the target.
Laak with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Bosh misses with a takedown attempt
and Laak counters with a good low kick that Bosh was not able to check.
Laak drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Laak throws a head kick but Bosh moves out of range.
Chris Bosh seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bosh misses with a takedown
and Laak counters with a head kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Bosh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bosh misses with a lunging right hand
and Laak counters with a good, hard body kick but Bosh shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bosh with a lazy takedown attempt
and Laak counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Laak displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bosh throws out the jab.
Bosh misses with a body shot
enabling Laak to counter with a crisp jab.
Bosh misses with a looping right.
Bosh loads up on a big right hand but Laak slips the punch.
Bosh tries to clinch but Laak moves out of range.
Bosh dips to his left and cracks Laak with an uppercut!
Laak feints and then cracks Bosh's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bosh down.
Laak throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Laak wants to land a leg kick but Bosh is out of range.
Bosh changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Laak throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bosh listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laak avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Laak scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bosh misses with a straight right.
Laak goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Laak just misses with a punch to the body.
Bosh throws an overhand right that lands on Laak's shoulder, as Laak tries to avoid the shot.
Bosh lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Bosh ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Bosh is trying hard to land a takedown here. Laak sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bosh tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Laak swivels and escapes.
Bosh misses with a straight right.
Bosh looks to throw the jab but Laak is out of range.
Bosh tries to close the distance and clinch up but Laak swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Bosh closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Laak to the mat! Laak manages to get full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laak looking for a sweep. Not yet Laak, not yet.
Bosh throwing strikes but missing.
Bosh won't allow Laak to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bosh won't allow Laak to sweep him here.
Bosh throwing strikes from guard but Laak blocks nicely.
Bosh wants to control from the top but Laak keeps moving.
Bosh trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Laak controls Bosh momentarily but Bosh frees himself.

Laak pushes Bosh off and scrambles back to his feet.
Laak fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Bosh is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bosh lands a nice looking body shot.
Bosh fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bosh dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Laak defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bosh.
Bosh misses with an uppercut.
Bosh shoots in and drives through. Laak sprawls well.
Bosh avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Laak has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Bosh finds it's way round the side to connect with Laak's head.
Bosh scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bosh scores with a jab to the head.
Laak walks into a straight right hand from Bosh.
Jab from Laak.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Chris Bosh will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A jab from Bosh misses.
Bosh on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Laak. Laak obviously looking to wear him down.
A jab from Laak misses.
Laak throws a sloppy head kick and Bosh moves out of range easily.
Bosh catches Laak with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Laak.
Laak staying out of range there.
Bosh is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Laak defending well as Bosh loads up on a big left hand.
Bosh works the jab nicely.
Laak displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bosh.
Bosh looks to land a right hand but Laak moved out of range.
Bosh misses with a right hand
and Laak counters with a nice body shot.
Bosh moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bosh stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Laak.
Bosh misses with a hook. Laak ducked under it nicely.
A nice inside leg kick there by Laak. That's going to slow Bosh down.
Laak takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Laak rushes Bosh and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Bosh has clasped his hands together around Laak's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Laak is looking to regain half guard here but Bosh keeps moving and retains side control.
The ground and pound from Bosh seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Bosh working the ground and pound.

Bosh is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Laak is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Laak is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bosh postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Bosh 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.
Laak pushes Bosh away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Bosh gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Bosh with the ground and pound but Laak regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Bosh wants to control but Laak is keeping him busy.
Laak is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bosh's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bosh's back!
Bosh is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Bosh manages to reverse the position and now he's in Laak's guard. Nice work there by Bosh.
Laak is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laak looking for a sweep. Not yet Laak, not yet.
Laak is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bosh stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Laak swivels though and keeps the full guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Bosh is working hard here to advance position.
Laak preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Laak looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Laak working a defensive guard here.
Bosh throwing strikes from guard but Laak blocks nicely.
Bosh slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Bosh will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bosh looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Bosh working the ground and pound.
Sloppy strikes there by Bosh.
Bosh scores with a couple of short elbows.
Bosh trying to control the position but Laak is working away.
Laak prevents Bosh from moving into mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Laak can't do much from the bottom here.
Laak is looking to regain half guard here but Bosh keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Bosh dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Laak as Bosh shoots in.
Laak lands with a nice body kick.
Bosh looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bosh lands with an uppercut that bounces Laak off the cage and back into range.
Laak throws a leg kick which misses Bosh's front leg but catches the back leg as Bosh tries to avoid it.
Laak ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bosh moves away.
Bosh tries to score a power double leg takedown but Laak sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bosh somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Bosh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laak takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Bosh waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Laak.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laak gets tackled into the cage by Bosh. Bosh maintains the clinch.
Bosh has Laak pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Laak manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Laak leaning his opponent against the cage.
Laak lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A short uppercut from Laak.
Bosh has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Laak avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Laak is leaning against Bosh and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bosh is trying to maintain a safe position but Laak gets an underhook and turns Bosh into the cage.

Bosh turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Bosh scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Laak to see if he's OK.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bosh working the head and body with strikes.
Bosh throwing strikes but Laak manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Bosh is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laak trying to control the action but Bosh is working from the bottom.
Bosh is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Laak content to control rather than advance.
Eric Laak has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Laak trying to control the action but Bosh is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Laak wants to pass the guard but Bosh is defending well.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Eric Laak.
Bosh checks a leg kick nicely.
Chris Bosh is winning the standup battle so far.
Laak connects with a solid leg kick.
Laak takes one on the button.
Bosh is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Laak slips under a jab from Bosh.
Laak takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Bosh misses with a hook.
Laak gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Laak cracks Bosh with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bosh misses with a hook.
Laak has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Laak there as he acknowledges the shot.
Bosh keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Bosh decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
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!
Laak keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bosh landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Bosh seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Laak does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Bosh is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bosh thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bosh is looking to take a break and control but Laak is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Chris Bosh is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bosh thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Bosh showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bosh, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Bosh!
During a confident post fight interview, Chris Bosh thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.