PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nyyrikki Takaraivo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edward McLauglin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Takaraivo
vs
McLauglin

179 cm
28
220 lbs
13 - 9 - 1

190 cm
25
210 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

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 13 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Nyyrikki Takaraivo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Edward McLauglin!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takaraivo moves to clinch but McLauglin breaks away
and McLauglin counters with a lovely shot to the body.
McLauglin blocks a head kick by Takaraivo.
Nyyrikki Takaraivo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McLauglin blocks the body kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from McLauglin, right into the meat.
McLauglin dips to his left and cracks Takaraivo with an uppercut!
McLauglin misses with a two punch combination.

McLauglin rushes Takaraivo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
McLauglin misses with a body punch.
McLauglin stalls.
McLauglin misses with a knee strike.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
McLauglin lands a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takaraivo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
McLauglin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
McLauglin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
McLauglin tries a knee to the head but Takaraivo blocks it.
Takaraivo is looking to break free of the clinch but McLauglin has double underhooks.
Takaraivo is looking to break free of the clinch but McLauglin has double underhooks.
Takaraivo wants to break free but McLauglin has control.
McLauglin swings wildly with an uppercut but Takaraivo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Takaraivo can't break the clinch.
McLauglin stalling.
McLauglin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
McLauglin is trying to maintain a safe position but Takaraivo gets an underhook and turns McLauglin into the cage.
McLauglin tries to work over Takaraivo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLauglin lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Knees to the body from McLauglin.
Takaraivo is trying to force a seperation but McLauglin has the dominant position.
McLauglin misses with a knee to the head.
McLauglin throws a knee to the head but misses.
McLauglin with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Nyyrikki Takaraivo has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McLauglin misses with some punches.
McLauglin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Takaraivo blocks it with crossed arms.

Takaraivo breaks the clinch.
Takaraivo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McLauglin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A nice leg kick lands there from McLauglin.
Good leg kick by McLauglin there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Takaraivo throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and McLauglin counters with an outside leg kick.
McLauglin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLauglin looks to throw a body kick
and Takaraivo counters with a nice leg kick.
Takaraivo throws a head kick that misses.
A good leg kick by McLauglin.
Takaraivo misses with a looping right.
McLauglin misses with a body shot.
Takaraivo slips a straight right by McLauglin.
Takaraivo shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Takaraivo throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Takaraivo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
McLauglin tries to clinch up but Takaraivo circles away and keeps his distance.
McLauglin lands a nice looking body shot.

McLauglin has closed the distance and engaged Takaraivo in a clinch.
Takaraivo is trying to force a seperation but McLauglin has the dominant position.
Takaraivo looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLauglin effectively controlling the action here.
McLauglin connects with a knee to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McLauglin utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
McLauglin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Takaraivo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
McLauglin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
McLauglin has a couple of punches blocked by Takaraivo.
McLauglin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Takaraivo.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A frustrated look appears on Takaraivo's face as he tries to break the clinch.
McLauglin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Takaraivo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
McLauglin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edward McLauglin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nyyrikki Takaraivo's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Left hook, right uppercut from McLauglin.

McLauglin tries to keep at a distance but Takaraivo has taken the fight into the clinch.
McLauglin has Takaraivo pressed against the cage.
McLauglin connects with a nasty looking knee right to Takaraivo's face.
McLauglin leaning his opponent against the cage.
McLauglin tries to land knees in the clinch but Takaraivo avoids the damage to the body.
McLauglin is looking to control Takaraivo's arms but Takaraivo gets an underhook and turns him. Now McLauglin has his back to the cage.
McLauglin misses with a punch to the body.
McLauglin looking to stall.
McLauglin taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Edward McLauglin.
McLauglin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Takaraivo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Takaraivo lands a head kick!

It looks like Edward McLauglin has been cut.
Takaraivo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Takaraivo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nyyrikki Takaraivo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McLauglin misses with an uppercut. Takaraivo saw that one coming.
We've been told by Takaraivo's head coaches at IMMA Gym of ASS that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
McLauglin misses with a right hand
and Takaraivo counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. McLauglin is lucky that one didn't land flush.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Takaraivo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McLauglin.
McLauglin scores with a kick to the body.
McLauglin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLauglin paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Takaraivo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Takaraivo tries a head kick but it misses.
McLauglin just misses with a punch to the body.
Takaraivo throws a sloppy head kick and McLauglin moves out of range easily.
McLauglin shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A big left from McLauglin misses.

McLauglin clinches with his opponent.
McLauglin is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Takaraivo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McLauglin throws a right and a left that Takaraivo avoids nicely.
Takaraivo walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Takaraivo lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Takaraivo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takaraivo throws a shot from downtown. McLauglin moves away and avoids it.
McLauglin doesn't manage to clinch there - Takaraivo circles away.
McLauglin listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

McLauglin clinches up with Takaraivo and pushes him back against the cage.
The referee calls for McLauglin to work.
McLauglin tries to work over Takaraivo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
McLauglin holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Edward McLauglin.

Takaraivo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with McLauglin, pushing him back against the cage.
Takaraivo is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but McLauglin is keeping busy.
McLauglin tries to land knees in the clinch but Takaraivo avoids the damage to the body.
McLauglin is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Edward McLauglin seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
McLauglin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Takaraivo wants to break free but McLauglin has control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McLauglin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Takaraivo is defending well for now.
A short right hand to the side of the head by McLauglin.
McLauglin is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Edward McLauglin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Takaraivo throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A chopping leg kick lands by McLauglin.
A slow jab from McLauglin misses its intended target.
McLauglin lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
McLauglin is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
McLauglin looking to land some kicks to the body here.
McLauglin tries to close the distance and clinch but Takaraivo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Edward McLauglin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McLauglin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McLauglin throws a big shot that misses.
McLauglin avoids the head kick by Takaraivo.
McLauglin blocks a head kick by Takaraivo.
McLauglin lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Takaraivo throws a body kick that misses
and McLauglin counters with a nice body kick.
Takaraivo with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling McLauglin to score with a decent uppercut.
McLauglin has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Takaraivo thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLauglin lands a nice looking body kick.
Takaraivo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McLauglin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Takaraivo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Some wild striking there from McLauglin.
McLauglin blocks a head kick by Takaraivo.
Takaraivo avoids the head kick by McLauglin.
Takaraivo gets off balance looking for a body kick
and McLauglin makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Takaraivo.
McLauglin jabs at Takaraivo's body.
McLauglin throws a hook to the side of Takaraivo's head but Takaraivo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Takaraivo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McLauglin wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Takaraivo. McLauglin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Takaraivo takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
McLauglin lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Takaraivo misses with the body kick
and McLauglin counters with a left to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McLauglin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Takaraivo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Takaraivo throws a nice head kick!
Takaraivo tries a head kick but it misses.
McLauglin tries to clinch but Takaraivo is having none of it.
Takaraivo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Edward McLauglin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
McLauglin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Takaraivo manages to avoid it.
Takaraivo is on the wrong end of a nice combination from McLauglin.
Takaraivo is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Takaraivo throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takaraivo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McLauglin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Takaraivo staying out of range there.
Takaraivo throws a hook to the side of McLauglin's head but McLauglin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McLauglin scores with a jab to the body.
McLauglin staying out of range there.
Takaraivo avoids the body shot from McLauglin.
McLauglin blocks a head kick by Takaraivo.
McLauglin feints a jab promting Takaraivo to slip. McLauglin then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Takaraivo slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Takaraivo throws a lazy head kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Takaraivo drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Takaraivo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McLauglin manages to avoid it.
Takaraivo throws a sloppy head kick and McLauglin moves out of range easily.
McLauglin throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Takaraivo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLauglin connects with a body shot.
McLauglin connects with a good right hand that stumbles Takaraivo. Takaraivo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
McLauglin changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice cross by McLauglin.
A head kick by Takaraivo misses
and McLauglin makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A right-left combo lands from McLauglin.
McLauglin lands a nice shot that snaps Takaraivo's head back.
Takaraivo throws a half hearted mid kick.
McLauglin stalks Takaraivo and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Takaraivo's face. Takaraivo staggers backwards, shaken.
McLauglin fails with an attempt to clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McLauglin fails with an attempt to clinch.
McLauglin throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Takaraivo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nyyrikki Takaraivo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McLauglin lands a jab to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Edward McLauglin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McLauglin 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edward McLauglin!