PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eric Laak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Twelf Thermandin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laak comes to the cage accompanied by Pain - Shut your mouth. Thermandin is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Prelude 12 by Styx. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Laak
vs
Thermandin

180 cm
33
193 lbs
21 - 12 - 0

180 cm
29
194 lbs
22 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

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 21 - 12 - 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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Twelf Thermandin!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Steve Montenegro and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laak throws an off balance right hand

and Thermandin counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean 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.
Thermandin working the strikes but Laak uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Thermandin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Laak pushes Thermandin off looking to stand but Thermandin dives back in and keeps control.
Thermandin throws a strike but Laak avoids it easily and moves to full 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.
Laak utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thermandin wants to control from the top but Laak keeps moving.
Thermandin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thermandin postures up in Laak's guard and throws a big left but Laak blocks it.
Laak keeping moving, preventing Thermandin from controlling successfully.
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!
Thermandin stopping the sweep attempt from Laak.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thermandin wants to control from the top but Laak keeps moving.
Thermandin might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Laak haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Thermandin throws an elbow that misses. Laak uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Thermandin's guard. Nice move by Laak!

Thermandin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Laak gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thermandin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Laak is controlling him.

Eric Laak has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Thermandin changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Thermandin throws an off balance right hand
and Laak cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Laak pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Thermandin takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thermandin tries to clinch there but Laak circles away.
Thermandin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Laak paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Laak attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Thermandin throws a half hearted mid kick.
Thermandin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Laak manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Thermandin takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Laak goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Thermandin clinches up with Laak and pushes him back against the cage.
Thermandin landing knees to the head.

It looks like Eric Laak has been cut.

Laak pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Laak fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thermandin manages to avoid it.
Thermandin on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Laak. Laak obviously looking to wear him down.
Laak blocks a head kick by Thermandin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laak misses with an attempted mid kick.
Thermandin misses with a body kick.
Thermandin throws a nice inside leg kick.
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 misses the shot to the body.

Thermandin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Laak, pushing him back against the cage.
Thermandin throws a knee to the head but misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Laak.
Thermandin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Laak.
Laak with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thermandin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thermandin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Laak.
Thermandin tries to work over Laak's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Laak lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Thermandin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Laak avoids it.
Laak on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Twelf Thermandin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Eric Laak's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Laak has Thermandin up against the cage in a clinch.
Laak working aggressively here.
Laak tries a body shot but Thermandin blocks it.
Laak on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Laak lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Thermandin or not.
Laak stalling in the clinch but Thermandin improves position.
Laak on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Thermandin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Laak managing to block the knees to the body from Thermandin.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Laak creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Laak effectively controlling the action here.

Thermandin has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Laak regains guard immediately.
Thermandin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
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!
Thermandin trying to control but Laak is working from the bottom.
Thermandin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thermandin throwing strikes but missing.
Thermandin trying to control the position from guard on top but Laak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Laak tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Thermandin is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Laak is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Laak has escaped and now he's on top!
Thermandin wants to get back to his feet but Laak passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laak is taking a breather. Thermandin says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Twelf Thermandin was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Thermandin connects with a body shot.
Thermandin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Laak moves away.
Laak dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laak doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Thermandin explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Thermandin looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A low kick from Laak is predictable there

and Thermandin counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thermandin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thermandin throws an elbow that misses. Laak uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Thermandin's guard. Nice move by Laak!
Laak is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Laak trying to control but Thermandin is working from the bottom.

That's four 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!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Eric Laak has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Thermandin lands with a slapping head kick.
Thermandin lands with a nice combination. Laak backs away looking to recover.
Thermandin swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Laak counters with a stiff right hand.
Thermandin needs to keep his hands up - Laak had a free shot at his head there.
Thermandin tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Laak counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice body kick there by Thermandin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Twelf Thermandin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Eric Laak's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Laak stuffs the takedown attempt from Thermandin. Thermandin gets slowly back to his feet.
Thermandin takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Thermandin avoids the head kick by Laak.

Laak gets caught napping as Thermandin dives in and scores a takedown. Laak manages to retain guard.
Laak keeping moving, preventing Thermandin from controlling successfully.
Thermandin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thermandin throws a strike but Laak rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Laak wants to control from the top but Thermandin keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Eric Laak wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Thermandin is looking to land body kicks.
Eric Laak is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thermandin lands a jab to Laak's midsection.
Thermandin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Laak as he jumps to the side.
Laak pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Laak moves out of range as Thermandin throws a body kick.
Thermandin avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Twelf Thermandin 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.
Thermandin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thermandin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Laak circles away.
Eric Laak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Twelf Thermandin.
Thermandin misses with a body kick.
Twelf Thermandin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Laak cracks Thermandin with a right hand to the side of the head.
Laak takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Thermandin.
Laak is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Eric Laak has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thermandin wants to control but Laak is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laak is trying to control Thermandin's posture but Thermandin avoids it.
Laak parries the strikes from Thermandin easily there. Thermandin is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Laak to escape.
Laak avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Thermandin.
You can see the frustration on Laak's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Laak manages to work his way to half guard, despite Thermandin's best efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thermandin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Thermandin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Laak throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Thermandin 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.
Twelf Thermandin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Thermandin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Thermandin is keen to just control but Laak is a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thermandin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Thermandin is working for a kimura but Laak is defending it quite comfortably.

And that's the end of the fight!
Twelf Thermandin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Thermandin 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Twelf Thermandin!
Post fight, an emotional Twelf Thermandin said 'Lunar is a real legend, but his acquired immune deficiency syndrome clearly showed today. To all witnesses,stay away from trannies and get tested'.