PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eric Laak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dynamite Nixon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laak comes to the cage accompanied by Pain - Shut your mouth. Nixon is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Fear is Our Tradition by Ignite. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Laak
vs
Nixon

180 cm
32
193 lbs
19 - 10 - 0

182 cm
33
202 lbs
22 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

TWGC Champion
World class MT
Good gas tank

KAISER

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 19 - 10 - 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 22 - 16 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dynamite Nixon!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Chad Campbell and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laak keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nixon tries to clinch but Laak is having none of it.
Nixon tests Laak's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nixon throws a body punch but Laak moves out of range.
A big left from Laak misses.
Laak cracks Nixon with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Laak throws a body punch but Nixon moves out of range.
Nixon misses with a wild combination.
Laak throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Both fighters circling a little - Laak finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Nixon moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Laak lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Dynamite Nixon has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Laak scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Nixon throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Laak.
Nixon connects with a jab.
Nixon lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Laak circles away quickly and effectively.
Laak misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Laak.
Nixon moves in looking to clinch but Laak pushes him off.
A right-left combo lands from Nixon.
Eric Laak is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Laak throws a solid leg kick but Nixon takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Laak.
Laak lands a jab to Nixon's midsection.

Laak tries to keep at a distance but Nixon has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nixon looking to stall.
Laak trying to control the position but instead, Nixon has worked for underhooks and has pushed Laak into the cage.

Nixon works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Laak has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Laak working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nixon.
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!
Nixon trying to control the position from guard on top but Laak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nixon throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laak seems keen to control Nixon's posture.
Laak wants to sweep but no luck.
Nixon wanted to stand there but Laak had control of the position.
Laak is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Laak manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Nixon is working to get back to half guard.
Nixon regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nixon looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nixon is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Nixon looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Laak is keen to just control but Nixon is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Laak tries to pass the half guard into mount. Nixon knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Laak works his foot free and advances to mount.
Nixon wants to control but Laak is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nixon is desperately trying to improve his position but Laak has a good base and remains in mount.
Nixon keeps trying to improve his position.
Laak trying to control but Nixon is having none of it.
Nixon keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
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 Eric Laak will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dynamite Nixon's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Laak looks to land a left hand but Nixon moved out of range nicely.
Laak cracks Nixon with an open hand slap.
Laak throws the kick towards the body but Nixon avoids it.
Nixon tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Laak paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nixon shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Laak sprawls well. Laak wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nixon gets slowly back to his feet.
Laak throws a combination that misses
and Nixon counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Laak throws a looping overhand right but Nixon ducks down to avoid it.
Good leg kick by Laak there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Nixon takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Nixon walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nixon lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Laak circles away quickly and effectively.
Laak slips a jab and a cross from Nixon.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Laak.
Nixon tries to clinch but Laak is having none of it.
Dynamite Nixon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nixon misses with a wild body shot.
Nixon throws a jab when Laak was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nixon closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Nixon working the head and body with strikes.
Laak is looking to reverse the position.
Nixon in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Laak is trying to control Nixon's posture but Nixon avoids it.

Nixon goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Laak has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Nixon but great work by Laak.
Nixon is trying to get back to his feet.
Nixon tries to improve position but can't.
Nixon manages to get back to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Nixon looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Laak pushes past his half guard into mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nixon is looking to improve his position but Laak isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nixon tries to lock up and control but Laak gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Nixon sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Laak wants to free his trapped foot but Nixon is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Laak is controlling the pace.

Nixon actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Laak moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Nixon.
Laak is staying tight to Nixon's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Nixon tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Laak wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Laak trying to control the position but Nixon is working away.
Nixon tries to bench press Laak off him but Laak keeps the position.
Laak trying to control the action but Nixon is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Nixon is trying to improve his position.
Nixon is still trying to improve position.

Laak decides to stand back up. Laak steps back and let's Nixon get back to his feet.
Laak throws a leg kick but Nixon sees it coming and checks it nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A jab from Nixon misses.
Laak throws a shot to the body.

Nixon shoots in and bounces Laak off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Laak manages to escape and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dynamite Nixon will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Dynamite Nixon's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Laak swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Laak moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Laak pivots, looking for a leg kick but Nixon is out of range and Laak settles back down.
Nixon lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Eric Laak is winning the standup battle so far.
Nixon scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Nixon tries to close the distance and clinch up but Laak swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A slapping leg kick lands for Laak.
Nixon wants to clinch.
Laak bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Nixon takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Laak takes a body punch but keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nixon swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nixon tries to close the distance and clinch up but Laak swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Laak throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nixon takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nixon throws out a powerful jab.
Laak connects with a jab.
Nixon on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Laak. Laak obviously looking to wear him down.
Laak moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Laak throws a wild body kick that Nixon sees coming a mile off.
Dynamite Nixon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nixon clinches.
Nixon wants to stall.
A short left from Laak.
Laak is trying to maintain a safe position but Nixon gets an underhook and turns Laak into the cage.
Laak throws a punch but it's blocked by Nixon.
Laak trying to control the position but instead, Nixon has worked for underhooks and has pushed Laak into the cage.
Laak tries a knee to the head but Nixon blocks it.
Nixon is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Nixon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nixon lands a head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Nixon tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nixon throws a left and a right that both miss
and Laak counters with an outside leg kick.
Nixon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nixon wants to clinch.
Nixon throws a lazy right hand but Laak sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Nixon forces Laak back against the cage and clinches.

Nixon has hold of one of Laak's legs. Laak is fighting the takedown attempt but Nixon gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Laak wants to sweep but no luck.
Dynamite Nixon has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nixon throws a big elbow that misses.
Laak keeping moving, preventing Nixon from controlling successfully.

Laak pushes Nixon off and scrambles back to his feet.
Nixon catches Laak with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Laak 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Laak avoids the body shot from Nixon.
Laak lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Laak uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nixon.
Nixon wants to clinch.
Laak pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Nixon displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Laak throws out the jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nixon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Laak uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nixon.
Nixon shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Laak defends it nicely.
A slapping leg kick lands for Laak.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nixon staying out of range there.
Nixon feints a jab promting Laak to slip. Nixon then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Laak slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Laak fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nixon manages to avoid it.
Nixon with a nice cross.
Nixon throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A head kick misses from Laak.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Nixon instigates a clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Laak takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Laak gets through Nixon's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Nixon's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Laak tries a knee to the head but Nixon blocks it.
Laak avoiding damage as Nixon throws knees to the body.

Nixon's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nixon swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Laak.

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 Eric Laak.
I think Laak 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Eric Laak!
Eric Laak bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.