PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Flavio Lazzarini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Linkin Portier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lazzarini comes to the cage accompanied by Goffredo Mameli - 'Il Canto degli Italiani'. On his way into the cage it seems that Flavio Lazzarini has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Flavio Lazzarini seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Lazzarini
vs
Portier

185 cm
27
201 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

185 cm
28
190 lbs
12 - 7 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Milwaukee's Best 160

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Flavio Lazzarini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Linkin Portier!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Vladimir Khabensky and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Portier misses.
Linkin Portier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lazzarini throws a jab but it's blocked by Portier.
Portier connects with a single shot there.
Lazzarini throws a head kick that Portier semi-blocks.

Portier forces Lazzarini back against the cage and clinches.
Portier blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Portier fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Portier working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Portier.
Lazzarini using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Portier has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Portier misses with a hook to the ribs.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Portier as Lazzarini tries to tie him up.
Lazzarini misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Portier.
Portier misses with a short punch on the inside.
Portier lands with a light punch inside.

Portier breaks the clinch.
Portier scores with a leg kick.

Portier has closed the distance and engaged Lazzarini in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Portier tries a body shot but Lazzarini blocks it.
Portier can't break the clinch.

Portier breaks from the clinch.
Portier throws a low kick but it's checked well by Lazzarini.
Lazzarini swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Portier throws a head kick that misses.
Portier lands a leg kick that knocks Lazzarini off balance momentarily.
Lazzarini fails with an attempt to clinch.
Portier misses with a looping right.
Portier looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Portier tries to clinch but Lazzarini is having none of it.
Portier throws a leg kick which misses Lazzarini's front leg but catches the back leg as Lazzarini tries to avoid it.
Lazzarini throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lazzarini uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Portier has time to react.
A cross from Portier lands.
Portier fails in his attempt to clinch.
Portier misses with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Portier darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A solid body kick from Portier.
Portier jabs at Lazzarini's body.
A leg kick checked by Portier.
Lazzarini avoids the head kick by Portier.
Portier throws a nice looking combination but Lazzarini bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Portier doesn't manage to clinch there - Lazzarini circles away.
Lazzarini tries to clinch up but Portier circles away and keeps his distance.
Lazzarini takes a swing at Portier's ribcage but misses.
Lazzarini throws a nice looking combination but Portier bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Portier scores with a body shot.
Jab from Lazzarini.
Portier displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lazzarini throws out the jab.
Portier tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Portier misses with a body shot.
Lazzarini tries to land a leg kick but Portier saw it coming and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Portier scores with a punch to the head.
Good exchange - Portier coming out on top.
Portier swings for the body but Lazzarini moves out of range.
Lazzarini throws the left hand but Portier avoids the punch easily.
Portier connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

It looks like Flavio Lazzarini has been cut.
Portier lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Portier looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Portier attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Lazzarini lands with a thumping leg kick.
Portier connects with a solid leg kick.
Lazzarini shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
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!
Portier attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Portier swinging wildly here.
Lazzarini tries a head kick but it misses.
Lazzarini is looking to chop away at Portier's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Portier throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Portier takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Lazzarini lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Lazzarini lands with a nice body kick.
Portier misses with a head kick.
Lazzarini has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Portier.
Portier tries to clinch but Lazzarini is having none of it.
Lazzarini jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Portier fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Portier on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Lazzarini fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Portier.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Portier cracks the inside of Lazzarini's front leg.
Portier moves in looking to clinch but Lazzarini pushes him off.
Lazzarini checks the leg kick.
Portier defending well as Lazzarini loads up on a big left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Linkin Portier dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Flavio Lazzarini's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lazzarini misses the jab.
Lazzarini steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Portier.
Portier connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Lazzarini momentarily.
Lazzarini tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Portier with a hook.
Portier looks to land a body kick but Lazzarini moved away.
Linkin Portier seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Portier misses the shot to the body.
Portier works the jab nicely.
Portier tries a head kick but it misses.
A big right from Portier misses.
Nice body punch from Portier.
Portier takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Portier throws a right hand that Lazzarini ducks under and follows up with a left that Lazzarini also avoids with ease.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A low kick from Lazzarini is predictable there
and Portier connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
It looks like Lazzarini has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Portier tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Portier is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Portier. That snapped Lazzarini's head back.
A punch combination from Portier misses.
Portier misses with a low kick.
Lazzarini misses with a straight left.
Linkin Portier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Portier avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A slow jab from Portier misses its intended target.
Lazzarini dodges the punch combination from Portier.
Lazzarini lands a nice shot that snaps Portier's head back.
Lazzarini cracks Portier with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Portier goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Portier walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Portier scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lazzarini tries to clinch but Portier moves out of range.
Portier misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A left and a right from Portier both land. Nice combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Lazzarini. That's going to slow Portier down.
Portier misses with a body shot.
Lazzarini moves out of range of the strikes.
Lazzarini on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Portier throws a low kick but Lazzarini avoids it.
Lazzarini throws a jab when Portier was well out of range.
Portier tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Portier connects with a body shot.
Portier throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Lazzarini on the side of the head.
Portier walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Lazzarini checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Portier throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A head kick misses from Lazzarini.
Portier throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Portier swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Portier lands with an uppercut that bounces Lazzarini off the cage and back into range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lazzarini missing with a left hand there. Portier was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Portier swats away the attempt to clinch by Lazzarini.
Lazzarini misses with a head kick.

Lazzarini clinches up against the cage.
Portier swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Portier looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Portier is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Lazzarini takes a shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Portier gets through Lazzarini's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Portier is trying to break the clinch but Lazzarini has him pressed against the cage.
Portier trying to control the position but instead, Lazzarini has worked for underhooks and has pushed Portier into the cage.
Portier lands a left hand that snaps the head of Lazzarini backwards.
Lazzarini misses with a punch to the body.
Lazzarini using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Portier has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lazzarini is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Lazzarini has Portier pressed against the cage, preventing Portier from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Portier misses with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lazzarini is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Lazzarini is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Portier misses with some punches.
Portier stalling in the clinch but Lazzarini improves position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Linkin Portier showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Flavio Lazzarini's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Lazzarini avoids the body shot from Portier.

Portier gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Portier pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Portier cracks Lazzarini with a right hand to the side of the head.
Lazzarini walks into a left hand.
Lazzarini throws a leg kick that is checked
and Portier cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lazzarini dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Portier. That did some damage!
Lazzarini tries to close the distance and clinch but Portier swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A telegraphed right hand from Lazzarini misses the target.
Lazzarini wants to clinch but Portier slips to the side
and Portier counters with a good low kick that Lazzarini was not able to check.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lazzarini wants to land a leg kick but Portier is out of range.
Portier circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jab by Portier.
Lazzarini scoring well with a low kick there.
Lazzarini throws an overhand right that lands on Portier's shoulder, as Portier tries to avoid the shot.
Lazzarini takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Portier throws a shot to the body.
Lazzarini throws a nice outside leg kick.
A nice combination there by Portier.
Lazzarini chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Portier can pounce on him.
Portier cracks the inside of Lazzarini's front leg.
Portier tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Portier lands a head shot.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Lazzarini checks a leg kick.
Lazzarini tries to clinch up but Portier circles away and keeps his distance.
Portier gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Lazzarini.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lazzarini on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lazzarini. Portier does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lazzarini is looking to clinch.

Portier pushes Lazzarini up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Lazzarini.
Lazzarini is looking to control Portier's arms but Portier gets an underhook and turns him. Now Lazzarini has his back to the cage.
Lazzarini looking to throw knees to the head but Portier is blocking nicely.
Portier being controlled against the cage.

Portier's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lazzarini throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Lazzarini misses with an uppercut.
Lazzarini throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Portier misses with a hook.
Portier is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lazzarini.
Lazzarini keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Portier scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Lazzarini fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Portier has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lazzarini misses the shot to the body.
Portier blocks a head kick by Lazzarini.
Lazzarini moves out of range as Portier strikes.
An inside leg kick from Portier misses.
Portier misses with a two punch combination.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Portier.
Lazzarini keeps the fight on the outside.
Portier connects with a right hand. Lazzarini shakes it off.
Lazzarini has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Lazzarini there as he acknowledges the shot.
Jab, jab by Portier - just one landing.
Lazzarini takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Portier dodges the punch combination from Lazzarini.
Portier throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lazzarini slips a jab from Portier.
Portier dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lazzarini. That did some damage!
Flavio Lazzarini has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Portier misses with a straight left.
Lazzarini lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Lazzarini lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Lazzarini throws a hook but Portier avoids it easily.
Lazzarini looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Lazzarini getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Portier throws a leg kick which misses Lazzarini's front leg but catches the back leg as Lazzarini tries to avoid it.
Lazzarini circles away from the clinch attempt.
Portier moves away from the strike by Lazzarini.
Portier throws a leg kick that misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Portier chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Lazzarini can pounce on him.
Lazzarini tries to clinch up.
Lazzarini throws a hook but Portier blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Linkin Portier.
Well Portier has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Linkin Portier!
A victorious Linkin Portier thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.