PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stan Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ramin Laulu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Smith
vs
Laulu

188 cm
26
220 lbs
11 - 2 - 1

185 cm
24
215 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

GREEN!160
Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 11 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Stan Smith !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ramin Laulu!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Kenichi Hosakawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've been told by Smith 's head coaches at LOD: Xtreme MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
A lazy left from Laulu finds it's target.
Laulu swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Smith slips a jab from Laulu.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Laulu has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Laulu tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Laulu misses the jab.
Smith moves away from the strike by Laulu.
Nice defenses there by Smith .
Smith half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Laulu swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Laulu throws a hook to the side of Smith 's head but Smith sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Smith looks to throw the jab but Laulu is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laulu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Laulu swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Smith makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Smith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Laulu is fending him off so far but Smith persists. Nope, Laulu circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith misses with a jab, cross combination.
Smith uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Laulu.
Laulu fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

It looks like Stan Smith has been cut.
Laulu tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Smith seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Smith lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Laulu wants to clinch but Smith slips to the side
and Laulu takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Smith steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Laulu.
Laulu with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Laulu on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Laulu closes the distance and pushes Smith back into the cage.

Laulu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Laulu throws out a loose jab but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Laulu fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Smith looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Smith slips a jab from Laulu.
Smith uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Laulu.

Laulu has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Laulu breaks the clinch.
Laulu connects with a solid leg kick.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Laulu.
Smith was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Laulu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ramin Laulu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith misses with a wild body shot.
Smith misses with a series of wild punches.
Smith bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Laulu's head.
Smith swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Laulu.
Laulu looks to throw the jab but Smith is out of range.
Laulu throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Smith with a poor takedown
and Laulu counters with a straight right hand.
Laulu walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Laulu ducks under a wild hook from Smith .

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Laulu misses the target.
Smith appears to be looking for a big counter.
Laulu looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.
Good exchange - Laulu coming out on top.

Laulu gets caught napping as Smith dives in and scores a takedown. Laulu manages to retain guard.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Laulu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Laulu seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Smith showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Smith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Laulu is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laulu keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith is stalling in the full guard.
Smith seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Laulu for as long as he can get away with.
Laulu can't keep his opponent in guard - Smith advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ramin Laulu will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Stan Smith 's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Laulu lands with an uppercut that bounces Smith off the cage and back into range.
A big left from Smith misses.
Laulu tries to score with a low kick but Smith moves his leg out of the way.
Smith dives in and grabs Laulu's left leg, looking for a takedown. Laulu pushes down on Smith 's head and hops out.
Laulu uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Smith .
Laulu thuds his right hand into Smith 's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Smith cracks a nice hook into Laulu's ribs.
Smith misses with a looping right.
Ramin Laulu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Laulu throws the left hand but Smith avoids the punch easily.
Smith appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Smith uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Laulu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laulu walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Laulu scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Laulu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Laulu does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Smith was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Smith blocks a head kick by Laulu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith 's corner calls for a 1-2. Smith obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Good work by Smith as he checks the leg kick.
Laulu scores with a leg kick.
Laulu misses with a low kick.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Laulu.
Laulu is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Laulu throws a hook to the side of Smith 's head but Smith sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
That kick from Laulu tenderised Smith 's leg. Smith is trying to keep his angry face on.
Smith scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Smith throws a hook to the side of Laulu's head but Laulu sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Laulu takes a swing at Smith 's ribcage but misses.
Laulu takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Smith looks to throw the jab but Laulu is out of range.
Smith takes one to the side of the head.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Laulu.
A little jabbing left from Laulu on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Laulu looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith scores with a sloppy right hand. Laulu should have avoided that one.
Laulu cracks Smith with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Laulu blocks a jab.
Smith cracks Laulu with an open hand slap.
The fighters circling - Laulu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Laulu avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Laulu fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Smith .
Laulu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Laulu scores with a nice head shot.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Laulu avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Laulu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ramin Laulu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Laulu takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Smith takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Smith misses the shot to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Laulu.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith .
Laulu throws a big shot that misses.
Smith throws the left hand but Laulu avoids the punch easily.
Laulu with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Laulu lands a nice shot to the body.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Laulu but Laulu pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stan Smith . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laulu throws a hook to the side of Smith 's head but Smith sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Smith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Laulu scores with a hook to the body. Smith takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Laulu jabs Smith right on the nose. Smith blinks but takes it well.
Smith bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Smith tries to counter by clinching up but Laulu breaks away and moves out of range.
Smith throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Laulu throws a nice inside leg kick.
Stan Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Laulu stuns Smith with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Laulu swinging wildly here.
The crowd cheers as Laulu lands an impressive looking overhand right. Smith doesn't seem phased though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ramin Laulu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Stan Smith 's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Laulu feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Smith 's calf.
Smith swinging wildly here.

Laulu closes the distance and clinches.
Smith tries a body shot but Laulu blocks it.
Smith is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

Laulu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Laulu feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Smith 's calf.
Smith swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Laulu throws an overhand right that lands on Smith 's shoulder, as Smith tries to avoid the shot.
Laulu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laulu will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Laulu connects with the punch.
Smith closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Laulu uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Laulu.
Smith is looking for a counter combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith checks a low kick from Laulu.
Laulu throws a looping overhand right but Smith ducks down to avoid it.
Smith throws a big counter combination but Laulu scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Smith displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Laulu throws out the jab.
Smith lands a nice shot that snaps Laulu's head back.
Laulu looks to land a right hand but Smith moved out of range.
Smith tries to counter by clinching up but Laulu breaks away and moves out of range.
Laulu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Laulu dodges the punch combination from Smith .
Laulu throws a leg kick that misses.
Smith scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Laulu wants to land a leg kick but Smith is out of range.
Laulu throws a nice inside leg kick.
Smith blocks a low kick nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a hook but Laulu blocks it.
Laulu throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Smith .
Laulu fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Smith .
Smith throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Laulu looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Smith thuds a left hand into Laulu's body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Laulu closes the distance and pushes Smith back into the cage.

Laulu manages to break the clinch.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt

and Smith decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Laulu's guard.
Stan Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Laulu is keeping the position for now.
Laulu looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Laulu is looking for a triangle but Smith pushes his legs off easily.
Laulu throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Laulu looking to control.
Smith throwing strikes from guard but Laulu blocks nicely.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Laulu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Laulu wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Laulu wants to stand but Smith is controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

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.
Smith uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Laulu.
Laulu digs a good hook to Smith 's body.
Laulu cracks a nice hook into Smith 's ribs.
Smith takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Smith slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Smith scores with a jab to the head.
Laulu lands a jab to Smith 's midsection.
Laulu fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Smith .

Smith drives through with a takedown into Laulu's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Laulu trying to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ramin Laulu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Laulu 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ramin Laulu!
A relieved looking Ramin Laulu thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.