PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hone Huia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexi Laiho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Huia
vs
Laiho

190 cm
31
205 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

190 cm
25
225 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hone Huia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexi Laiho!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laiho scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Huia doesn't seem bothered though.
Laiho moves forwards but Huia connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Huia misses with a low kick.
Laiho is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A combination from Huia does no damage.
Huia fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Laiho looks to score with a jab to the body but Huia is just out of range.
Huia lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Laiho circles away quickly and effectively.
We've been told by Huia's head coaches at DiscoClub that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Hone Huia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Huia on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Laiho takes a swing at Huia's ribcage but misses.
Huia is looking for a counter combo.
Huia misses with a two punch combination.
Laiho with the counter takedown but Huia avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laiho drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Huia throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Laiho counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Laiho wants to pass the guard but Huia is keeping the position.
Laiho lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laiho in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Laiho stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Huia swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Huia has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Laiho can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Laiho wants to control from the top but Huia keeps moving.
Laiho connects with a couple of short punches.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laiho throws a big right hand that misses.
Laiho stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Huia swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Laiho works over Huia with some ground and pound from guard.

Huia looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Laiho has picked Huia up and slammed him! Huia can't keep hold of the triangle and Laiho manages to pass to side control!
Laiho scoring with punches and elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Huia is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Laiho slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laiho wants to free his trapped foot but Huia is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Huia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Huia wants to control but Laiho is keeping busy.
Huia is trying to get back to full guard.
Huia is working hard here to advance position.

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.
Huia has hold of Laiho's hands but Laiho slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Laiho is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Huia doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Laiho.
Huia trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Laiho is keen to just control but Huia is a slippery customer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Laiho trying to pass the guard but Huia defending well.
Huia is looking to control Laiho's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Huia avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexi Laiho dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Laiho showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Huia.
Laiho with the counter takedown but Huia avoids it easily.
Huia moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Huia leaves Laiho with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Laiho changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Huia tries to avoid it but Laiho manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Huia to the ground. Huia escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Laiho fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Huia looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Huia throws a right and a left that Laiho avoids nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A cross from Laiho lands.
Hone Huia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Huia throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Laiho.
Laiho throws a body punch but Huia moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huia uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Laiho.
Huia moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Laiho is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Huia rather than just go for the knockout.
Nice uppercut lands for Laiho. That snapped Huia's head back.
Laiho just misses with a punch to the body.

Laiho shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Laiho was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Huia is trying to improve his position.
Huia gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Laiho scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Huia has hold of Laiho's hands but Laiho slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Laiho sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Huia defending well though.
Huia is trying to get back to full guard.
Huia regains full guard. Nicely done.
Laiho working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Laiho makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Laiho trying to control but Huia is working from the bottom.
Laiho controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Huia working for submissions but it's allowed Laiho to get to half guard.
Laiho looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Laiho is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Huia sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Huia wants to get back to full guard.
Laiho is nestled in close to Huia, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Huia actively working from the bottom here.
Nice strikes from Laiho there.
Alexi Laiho has got the better of the ground game so far.
Huia blocking the ground and pound attempt from Laiho.
Huia taking some punishment here, with Laiho in his half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Huia keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Huia on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexi Laiho showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Huia swinging wildly here.
Huia avoids the body shot from Laiho.
Huia throws a right and a left that Laiho avoids nicely.
Laiho digs a good body shot into Huia's ribs.
Laiho ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Laiho misses with a takedown attempt - Huia sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Huia fails to land with a series of punches.
Huia misses with a jab, cross combination.
Laiho drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Huia defends it well.
Huia fails to land the takedown.
Laiho with the counter takedown but Huia avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laiho throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Huia appears to be looking for a big counter.
Hone Huia is winning the standup battle so far.
Huia throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Laiho with the counter takedown but Huia avoids it easily.
Huia goes for a double leg but Laiho avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Laiho continues to drive forward.
Laiho changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Huia misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hone Huia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laiho lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Laiho blocks a jab.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Laiho.
Huia displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Laiho throws out the jab.
Huia tries to clinch but Laiho is having none of it.
Some wild striking there from Huia.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Huia throws a big shot that misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Laiho. Huia does a little dance to reset his feet.
Laiho throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Huia's waist but Huia gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Laiho off to one side.
Laiho is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Huia misses with a jab, cross combination.
Laiho is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Huia misses with a two punch combination.
Huia throws a series of punches but Laiho avoids them all with ease.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Laiho missing with a left hand there. Huia was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Laiho connects with a good right hand that stumbles Huia. Huia circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Hone Huia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Laiho looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huia wants to sweep but no luck.

Huia had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Laiho defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Laiho got a little sloppy there for a moment and Huia has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Laiho has managed to get both his arms back between Huia's legs - danger averted.
Laiho trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Laiho working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Laiho looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Laiho lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Laiho postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Laiho content to stall in guard here.
Huia wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Huia looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexi Laiho comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Laiho 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

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