PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Laatta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and ap asp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Frank Laatta has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Laatta
vs
asp

190 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

183 cm
21
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Frank Laatta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, ap asp!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

asp drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
asp landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Laatta manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
asp stops Laatta from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Laatta is not content to let asp control the position.
asp has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Laatta is trying to stand up here but asp is controlling him well.
Laatta tries to roll over but asp keeps him under control.
asp is looking to advance position but Laatta won't allow it.
Laatta pushes asp off but asp dives into side control.
Laatta prevents asp from improving position.
asp prevents Laatta from escaping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
asp fails to land the takedown.
Laatta scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like ap asp has been cut.

Laatta scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Laatta is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
asp is trying to get back to full guard.
Laatta sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. asp defending well though.

Laatta decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Laatta looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
asp is looking to control Laatta's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can asp avoid being mounted?
Laatta trying to control from half guard but asp is working away.

asp kicks off Laatta and gets to his feet.
Laatta fails with the takedown

and asp counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Laatta's guard now.
Laatta wants to stand and escape but asp is having none of it.
asp works a leg free and moves into half guard.
asp prevents Laatta from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
asp passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Laatta!
Laatta tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Laatta is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

asp working for a guillotine from mount but Laatta is in no mood to give up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
asp sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Laatta sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
asp trying to control the action but Laatta is working from the bottom.
Laatta tries to kick asp off in order to stand up. asp Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
asp wants to lay and pray for a moment but Laatta keeps working.
Laatta tries to improve position but can't.
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 Frank Laatta will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on ap asp's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

asp misses with a takedown attempt

and Laatta counters with a takedown into side control.
Frank Laatta overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
asp is working to avoid the ground and pound but Laatta connects with a decent elbow.

Laatta decides to take the fight back to the feet.
asp will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Laatta misses with a jab, cross combination.
Laatta stuffs the takedown attempt from asp. asp gets slowly back to his feet.
Frank Laatta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of ap asp.
Laatta lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

asp scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laatta tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
asp controlling his opponent.
Laatta is desperately trying to improve his position but asp has a good base and remains in mount.
A nice elbow there by asp.
asp is landing with some decent strikes but Laatta is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Laatta is in all sorts of trouble here.
asp tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
asp is stalling here but it's allowed Laatta to get half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
asp seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Laatta does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
asp is just content to waste time from the top position. Laatta takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
asp stops Laatta from standing up.
asp preventing the sweep.
Laatta trying to strike off his back.
Laatta wants to stand but asp is controlling the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
asp doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Laatta counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laatta tries to stand but asp is controlling from the bottom.

asp is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Laatta escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A bone on bone clash there as asp blocks the leg kick.

asp clinches with his opponent.
Laatta avoiding damage as asp throws knees to the body.

Laatta has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics asp uses from the top position.
Laatta wants to stand and escape but asp is having none of it.
asp wants to control from the top but Laatta keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laatta wants to stand up but asp is controlling him.
asp trying to control but Laatta is working from the bottom.
asp tries to free his leg and advance position but Laatta is retaining full guard.
Laatta thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
asp won't allow Laatta to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
asp tries to clinch up but Laatta circles away and keeps his distance.
asp with a lazy takedown attempt
and Laatta counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Laatta throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around asp's waist but asp gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Laatta off to one side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Laatta dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on ap asp's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

asp has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
asp with a lazy takedown attempt
and Laatta counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

asp gets the takedown into side control.
Laatta can't do much from the bottom here.
Laatta is looking to reverse the position.
Laatta is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Laatta is looking for a sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laatta is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Laatta is trying to stand back up but asp is controlling him

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
asp uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Laatta.
asp closes this distance looking for a takedown but Laatta circles away.
asp shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Laatta counters with a leg kick.
Frank Laatta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of ap asp.
asp sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
asp has his takedown stuffed
and Laatta counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from asp.
Laatta tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but asp paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Laatta closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
asp holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Laatta wants to break the clinch but can't.
A right handed body shot lands from Laatta.

Laatta manages to break the clinch.

asp looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Laatta is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laatta is looking to escape.
Laatta scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but asp manages to mount him!
Laatta is working to get back to half guard.
Laatta is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

asp is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Laatta has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Laatta is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
asp lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Laatta in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

asp jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Laatta is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Laatta and asp has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Laatta wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Laatta bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Laatta instigates a clinch.

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 Frank Laatta.
Well Laatta has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Laatta!