PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jaakko Laaksonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alberto Rossi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Laaksonen
vs
Rossi

180 cm
25
178 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
182 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jaakko Laaksonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alberto Rossi!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rossi throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Laaksonen stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Laaksonen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rossi listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Rossi scores with a body shot.
Rossi tries to clinch but Laaksonen is having none of it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Laaksonen is defended easily by Rossi.
Rossi scores with a shot to the body.
Laaksonen swats away the attempt to clinch by Rossi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laaksonen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rossi swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jaakko Laaksonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Laaksonen is defended easily by Rossi.
Rossi fails to land with a series of punches.
Rossi cracks Laaksonen with an open hand slap.
Laaksonen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rossi tries to avoid it but Laaksonen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rossi to the ground. Rossi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Laaksonen throws a chopping leg kick but Rossi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossi wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Laaksonen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rossi's half guard.
Rossi taking some punishment here, with Laaksonen in his half guard.
Rossi is trying to stand up here but Laaksonen is controlling him well.
Laaksonen working over Rossi with some ground and pound. Rossi looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Laaksonen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Laaksonen is taking a breather. Rossi 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.
Laaksonen thows a huge punch but Rossi dodges it nicely.
Rossi won't allow Laaksonen to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laaksonen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Rossi won't allow Laaksonen to pass to mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rossi can do anything to dispel that myth.
Laaksonen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Laaksonen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rossi's head.
Laaksonen is controlling the pace.
Rossi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Laaksonen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laaksonen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Laaksonen controlling the action here.
Laaksonen wants to pass the guard but Rossi is defending well.
Laaksonen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Laaksonen is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Laaksonen seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rossi for as long as he can get away with.

We're going to have a standup here because Jaakko Laaksonen wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Laaksonen throws out a leg kick but Rossi moves out of range and Laaksonen only half commits.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaakko Laaksonen dominated that round.
That's time! Laaksonen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Laaksonen misses with a low kick.
Rossi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Laaksonen.
Laaksonen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rossi moves away.

Rossi instigates a clinch.
Rossi taking a breather.
Rossi scores with a nice hook to the head.
Rossi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Laaksonen stalling in the clinch but Rossi improves position.
Rossi lands an uppercut.
Rossi avoiding damage.
Laaksonen looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Rossi.
Rossi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Laaksonen's efforts to push away.
Laaksonen looking to stall.
Rossi avoiding damage.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
A short uppercut from Rossi.
Laaksonen has Rossi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rossi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Laaksonen stalling in the clinch but Rossi improves position.
Laaksonen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Laaksonen is trying to maintain a safe position but Rossi gets an underhook and turns Laaksonen into the cage.
Good body shot from Rossi.
Rossi works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Laaksonen's elbow.
Laaksonen stalling in the clinch but Rossi improves position.
Rossi taking a breather.
Rossi lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rossi.
Nice body punch from Rossi - that landed with a thud.
Rossi lands a shoulder strike.
Rossi gets through Laaksonen's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Laaksonen is trying to break the clinch but Rossi is controlling him.
Rossi's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Rossi lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rossi struggles to land a body shot inside as Laaksonen controls his hands.
Rossi wants to stall.
Rossi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rossi lands a left hand.
Rossi lands a shot to the body.
Laaksonen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rossi walks away with a smile on his face. Laaksonen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jaakko Laaksonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laaksonen throws a leg kick but Rossi sees it coming and moves out of range.
Rossi jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Alberto Rossi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Laaksonen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Laaksonen showed some decent athleticism there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laaksonen performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Laaksonen wants to pass to mount but Rossi is defending the position.
Rossi is trying to stand up here but Laaksonen is controlling him well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Laaksonen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rossi's head.
Laaksonen trying to pass the guard but Rossi defending well.
Jaakko Laaksonen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Laaksonen stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alberto Rossi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Rossi lands with a good body shot.
Laaksonen shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Rossi swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Laaksonen.
Laaksonen throws a lazy uppercut
and Rossi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Laaksonen thinking.
Laaksonen looks to throw the jab but Rossi is out of range.
Laaksonen looks to score with a jab to the body but Rossi is just out of range.
Rossi scores with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laaksonen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Laaksonen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rossi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Laaksonen.
Laaksonen throws a leg kick that misses.
Rossi is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Laaksonen rather than just go for the knockout.
Rossi throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Laaksonen stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Laaksonen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rossi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Laaksonen somewhat.
Rossi throws a right and a left that Laaksonen avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossi misses with a wild body shot.
Laaksonen is looking to score with low kicks.
Rossi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice body punch from Rossi.
Rossi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Laaksonen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rossi's jab looks to have found its range, popping Laaksonen under the eye.
Rossi connects with a looping right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laaksonen tries a low kick but Rossi avoids it.
Rossi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Laaksonen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rossi connects with a nice looking jab.
Laaksonen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rossi ducks under a wild hook from Laaksonen.
Laaksonen misses with a low kick.
Laaksonen throws a leg kick but Rossi checks it.
Laaksonen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rossi defends well and Laaksonen ends up having to push Rossi into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jaakko Laaksonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laaksonen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rossi walks away with a smile on his face. Laaksonen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laaksonen tries to move into range but Rossi moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Rossi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Rossi comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rossi throws a one two combo.
Rossi swings for the body but Laaksonen moves out of range.
Laaksonen motions for Rossi to come forward. Laaksonen throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rossi scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Rossi misses the jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alberto Rossi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rossi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for Alberto Rossi!
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Alberto Rossi!
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Alberto Rossi!

Alberto Rossi wins by unanimous decision!
After winning the bout, Alberto Rossi thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.