PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lyman Kissell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pako Laine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laine is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Nikke Ankara - Värifilmi. Pako Laine will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Kissell
vs
Laine

160 cm
22
141 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

174 cm
27
149 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyman Kissell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pako Laine!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Sergei Dronov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kissell throws a push kick but Laine slaps the foot to one side.
Laine uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kissell.
Laine throws an overhand right that lands on Kissell's shoulder, as Kissell tries to avoid the shot.
Kissell moves out of range as Laine throws a body kick.
Kissell attempts a counter takedown but Laine avoids it well and moves away.
Laine is looking to land body kicks.
Laine misses with a double jab.
Kissell misses with a kick to the body.
Kissell closes the distance and clinches up with Laine, looking for a takedown. Kissell pushes Laine against the cage but Laine circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Laine! But no joy.
Kissell misses with a low kick.
Laine steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Kissell.
A good leg kick by Kissell.
Laine takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kissell.
A chopping leg kick lands by Laine.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Laine 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.
Laine keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Laine fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kissell looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Laine misses the target.
Laine misses with a hook. Kissell ducked under it nicely.
Kissell's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Laine connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kissell scrambles back to his feet.

Laine darts in and clinches Kissell up against the cage.
Kissell jumps guard but Laine turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lyman Kissell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laine connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kissell's face.
Kissell is trying to push Laine away but Laine has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kissell is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Laine is defending well.
Laine tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kissell's elbow.
Laine misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kissell tries to break the clinch but Laine is controlling the position.
Kissell tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Laine just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kissell can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kissell is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kissell tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Laine lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kissell.
I was talking to Kissell's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Kissell is trying to drag Laine to the mat but Laine just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Laine lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kissell tries to score a body lock takedown but Laine shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Laine presses Kissell against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Laine lands with a short shot to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Laine lands a right hand.
Laine using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Laine scores a nice knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kissell is looking to break free of the clinch but Laine has double underhooks.
Kissell managing to block the knees to the body from Laine.
Laine using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kissell has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kissell blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A short uppercut from Laine.
Laine lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kissell backwards.

Kissell breaks from the clinch.
Kissell blocks a leg kick.
Kissell on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Laine tries a head kick but it misses.
Kissell appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Kissell tries to score with a low kick but Laine moves his leg out of the way.
Laine connects with a body shot.
Kissell throws a hook to the side of Laine's head but Laine sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kissell tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kissell shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Laine but Laine pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Laine feints and then cracks Kissell's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kissell down.
Pako Laine seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kissell fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Laine avoids it really well and circles away.
Kissell is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Laine.
Laine lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Laine.
Laine connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Laine throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kissell.
Kissell tries to counter with a takedown but Laine is quick to defend against it.
Kissell looks for the body kick but Laine saw that one coming.
Kissell throws a sloppy head kick and Laine moves out of range easily.
Kissell sets himself, and Laine steps forward looking for the clinch! Kissell avoids it this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pako Laine dominated that round.
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.

An inside leg kick lands from Laine.
Laine lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kissell's sensitive parts.

Laine has managed to clinch.
Kissell tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Laine smiles and moves away.
Laine lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kissell circles away quickly and effectively.
Kissell connects with a nice looking jab.
Laine lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Kissell misses the shot to the body.
Laine wants to slow Kissell down by chopping away at his legs.
Kissell looks to land a right hand but Laine moved out of range.
Laine was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
A telegraphed right hand from Kissell misses the target.
Laine misses with a combination

and Kissell counters with a single leg into guard. Laine didn't expect that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kissell throws a big elbow that misses.
Laine trying to keep a closed guard but Kissell is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Laine is on top in guard.

Laine won't allow Kissell to sweep him here.
Kissell can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Laine controls the pace.

Laine got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kissell has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Laine has managed to get both his arms back between Kissell's legs - danger averted.
Kissell wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Laine is now in half guard.
Laine content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laine uses his free foot to push down on Kissell's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Kissell.
Laine controlling from mount.
Laine fails to move to back control.
Kissell is working to get back to half guard.
Kissell wants to hold on but Laine pushes him away.
Kissell gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Laine seems content to control.
Laine tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Kissell.

Laine is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kissell sees it coming and defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Well, if Laine is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Kissell manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Laine is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Kissell might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Pako Laine has got the better of the ground game so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Laine throws a body punch but Kissell moves out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Laine forces Kissell back against the cage and clinches.
Kissell tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kissell jumps guard but Laine turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Laine utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pako Laine showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Laine connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Good work by Laine as he checks the leg kick.
Pako Laine seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Laine swinging wildly here.

Kissell shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kissell showed some decent athleticism there.
Kissell throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kissell throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kissell is pressing down on Laine's thigh, looking to free his foot. Laine is holding on for now.
Kissell wants to lay and pray for a moment but Laine keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kissell tries to pass the half guard into mount. Laine knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Laine is trying is best to control the position here.
Laine is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Laine actively working from the bottom here.
Kissell drops an elbow to the side of Laine's head.

Laine looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Laine is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lyman Kissell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two 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.

Kissell is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Laine still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Laine has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Kissell manages to work his way to half guard, despite Laine's best efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Laine in particular looking to stall.
Laine's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Laine wants to stand up but Kissell has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Kissell is looking for a sweep. Laine is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Laine controlling the action here.
Kissell is looking to improve his position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Laine looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Laine tries to pass to full mount but Kissell defends it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Laine controlling the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Pako Laine.
Well Laine 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pako Laine!
After the fight, Pako Laine was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.