PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Musta Laine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Graeme Symons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Laine might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Disturbed - Sound of Silence. Musta Laine has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Laine
vs
Symons

181 cm
30
173 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

170 cm
39
171 lbs
25 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Bullet Proof System
Aspire Clothing

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 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Musta Laine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Graeme Symons!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Symons's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Laine connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Symons scrambles back to his feet.
We've been hearing reports that Laine has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Symons manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Laine on his heels. He'll look to pass Laine's guard now, I'm sure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Symons not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Laine throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Laine looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Laine utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Symons would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Symons wants to control from the top but Laine keeps moving.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laine is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Laine will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Symons trying to control but Laine is working from the bottom.
Symons preventing the sweep.

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

Laine is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Symons is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Laine keeping moving, preventing Symons from controlling successfully.
Symons is stalling in the full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Symons closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Symons lands in his opponent's guard.
Laine lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Symons pulls Laine in close to prevent any damage.
Laine postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laine being controlled here momentarily.
Symons not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Laine works over Symons with some ground and pound from guard.
Symons manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Laine manages to get himself to full guard.

Laine looking for a sweep. Not yet Laine, not yet.
Symons looking to sit in guard and control but Laine gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Symons working a defensive guard here.
Symons might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Laine haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Laine postures up and lands a big shot to Symons's brow.
Symons throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Laine landing some decent shots from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Symons wants to get back to his feet but Laine is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Symons not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
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 Musta Laine will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Laine closes the distance and pushes Symons back into the cage.

Symons ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Symons no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Laine postures up.
Symons is pulling down on Laine's head. It's preventing any offense from Laine, at least for the moment.
Symons is trying to control the position but Laine postures up.
Symons wants to sweep but no luck.
Laine with a flurry of punches that miss.
Graeme Symons has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Symons wants to sweep here but Laine controlling him for the moment.
Laine keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Symons's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Symons has momentary wrist control but Laine slips an elbow through the middle.
Laine tries to free his leg and advance position but Symons is retaining full guard.
Laine passes Symons's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Laine is trying to control. Symons wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Symons avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Laine.
Symons is looking to improve his position.
Laine is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Symons can do to turn this around?
Laine throwing shots but Symons is blocking nicely.
Laine throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Symons is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Laine's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Laine's back!

Symons goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Laine escapes and is now in half guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Laine connects with a nice short shot to Symons's temple.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Laine lands a nice short elbow.
Symons is refusing to be controlled, as Laine sits in half guard.
Symons is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Laine scores with a couple of nice shots.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Symons is looking to improve his position.
Laine works his way into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laine lands an elbow.
Laine is working Symons over with some ground and pound from side control.
Symons struggling a bit here.
Laine has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Laine is putting a hurting on Symons here, landing some big shots from side control.
The strikes coming from Laine are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Laine landing a few strikes.
Laine is working Symons over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laine is looking to take a break and control but Symons is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Symons taking punishment in the form of punches.
Laine wants to lay and pray for a moment but Symons keeps working.
Symons keeping his opponent close.
Symons regains half guard, as Laine was trying to land strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Musta Laine dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Symons looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Laine!
Laine tries to buck Symons off but Symons is having none of it.
Symons tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Symons tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laine tries to buck Symons off but Symons is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Symons taking a break here but Laine is having none of it and regains half guard.
Laine regains full guard. Nicely done.
Laine has a closed guard, preventing Symons from standing up.
Symons won't allow Laine to sweep him here.
Laine working a defensive guard here.
Symons pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Laine is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Laine working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Symons doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Symons manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Laine is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Symons moves into full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Symons is on top in guard.

Symons engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graeme Symons has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Symons stands up over Laine, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Symons preventing the sweep.

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.
Symons working some strikes from top position.
Laine can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Symons controls the pace.
Symons throws a big right hand that misses.
Symons trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Symons pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Laine is keeping the position for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Symons got a little sloppy there for a moment and Laine has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Symons has managed to get both his arms back between Laine's legs - danger averted.
Laine wants to sweep here but Symons controlling him for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Graeme Symons comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Laine 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Musta Laine!
Musta Laine decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.