PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dmitry Boitsov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arvo Laar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laar has chosen some random 90's estonia dance song i found on youtube as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Boitsov
vs
Laar

178 cm
31
215 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

182 cm
39
213 lbs
32 - 26 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Sully's Bar & Grill

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 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dmitry Boitsov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Arvo Laar!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shirou Masuda and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boitsov takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Laar walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Laar chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Boitsov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Laar defends it nicely.
Boitsov tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Boitsov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Laar on his heels. He'll look to pass Laar's guard now, I'm sure.
Boitsov throwing strikes from guard but Laar blocks nicely.
Boitsov looking to pass the guard.
Laar working a defensive guard here.
Boitsov prevents Laar from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boitsov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Laar working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Boitsov.
Boitsov throws a big right hand that misses.
Boitsov looking to sit in guard and control but Laar gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Laar pushes down on Boitsov's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Boitsov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Laar pulls his head out easily.

Laar decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Boitsov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Laar wants to slow Boitsov down by chopping away at his legs.
Laar throws a chopping leg kick but Boitsov manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Laar throws a leg kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boitsov with a hook.
Laar misses with a leg kick

so Boitsov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Laar pushes Boitsov off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Laar throws a low kick, looking for Boitsov's leg but Boitsov calmly moves out of range.
Boitsov feinted with a counter takedown.
Laar chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Laar cracks the inside of Boitsov's front leg.
Laar has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Laar throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Boitsov tries to counter with a takedown but Laar is quick to defend against it.
Laar misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Boitsov.
Boitsov tries to counter with a takedown but Laar is quick to defend against it.
A low kick from Laar is predictable there

and Boitsov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Laar's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boitsov pushing down on Laar's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Boitsov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Laar defends it well.
Boitsov prevents Laar from standing back up.

Boitsov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Laar sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Boitsov 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.
Boitsov stops Laar from getting back to his feet.
Laar makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Laar.
Boitsov looking to pass the guard.

That's four 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.
Boitsov wants to control from the top but Laar keeps moving.
Boitsov looking to pass the guard.
Laar keeping moving, preventing Boitsov from controlling successfully.
Laar keeping full guard, as Boitsov tries to pass.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Boitsov passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Laar pushes Boitsov away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Boitsov gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Boitsov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Laar, who protects the arm well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Arvo Laar will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Laar feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Boitsov's calf.
Boitsov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Laar.
Boitsov changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Laar lands a nice leg kick that just misses Boitsov's sensitive parts.
Laar moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Laar misses.
Laar wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Laar lands a nice leg kick that just misses Boitsov's sensitive parts.
Boitsov avoids the head kick by Laar.
Laar misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laar throws out a leg kick but Boitsov moves out of range and Laar only half commits.
A leg kick checked by Boitsov.
Boitsov checks a leg kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Boitsov.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Boitsov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Laar to the mat! Laar manages to get full guard.

Boitsov postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Laar is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Boitsov, into his guard.

Boitsov keeping moving, preventing Laar from controlling successfully.

Laar is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Laar wanted to stand there but Boitsov had control of the position.
Boitsov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Boitsov's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
Laar wants to get up but he can't break Boitsov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Laar decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Boitsov, up you get!
A slapping leg kick lands for Laar.
Laar turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Boitsov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Laar thumps Boitsov with a low kick.
A low kick from Laar misses

and Boitsov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Laar wants to stand but Boitsov is controlling the position.

Laar looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Boitsov wants to control from the top but Laar keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Boitsov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Boitsov is working an open guard so Laar takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Boitsov swings away with a body shot that misses
and Laar counters with a low kick, right behind Boitsov 's knee.
Boitsov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Laar is fending him off so far but Boitsov persists. Nope, Laar circles away and we're back to standing.
Laar throws a fast counter high kick but Boitsov manages to duck under it in time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dmitry Boitsov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boitsov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Laar.
Laar tried to score with a low kick but Boitsov checks it.
Boitsov half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Laar connects with an inside leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Laar. That's going to slow Boitsov down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Boitsov as he checks the leg kick.
A leg kick checked by Boitsov.
An inside leg kick lands from Laar.
Laar tries a low kick but Boitsov avoids it.
Jab by Boitsov.
Arvo Laar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Laar throws a head kick but Boitsov moves out of range.
Boitsov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Laar scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
An inside leg kick lands from Laar.
Boitsov avoids the body shot from Laar.
Boitsov checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Laar has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Laar scores with a jab to the body.
Laar wants to land a leg kick but Boitsov is out of range.
Boitsov looks to land a right hand but Laar moved out of range.
Laar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Boitsov moves away.
Boitsov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arvo Laar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Boitsov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Laar throws a nice outside leg kick.
Laar swings for the body but Boitsov moves out of range.
Laar throws a low kick but Boitsov avoids it.
Laar throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A low kick from Laar is predictable there

and Boitsov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Laar's guard.

Laar pushes Boitsov off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Laar thows a leg kick but Boitsov checks it

and Boitsov counters with a shoot takedown. Laar fights it but they end up in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Boitsov wants to control from the top but Laar keeps moving.
Laar is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Dmitry Boitsov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Laar looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Boitsov has picked Laar up and slammed him! Laar can't keep hold of the triangle and Boitsov manages to pass to side control!
Boitsov working the ground and pound but Laar is defending the strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boitsov advances nicely into full mount.
Boitsov thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Laar is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Laar is controlling an arm, preventing Boitsov from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Boitsov lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Boitsov misses with a head shot.
Laar is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Boitsov avoids the attempt from Laar to control.

Boitsov moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Laar has worked his arm free - good work by Laar!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laar is pushing Boitsov's head away, looking to escape. Boitsov manages to hold on to the position though.

Boitsov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Laar is trying to buck Boitsov off.
Sloppy strikes there by Boitsov.
Laar is not content to let Boitsov control the position.

Boitsov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Laar is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laar tries to bench press Boitsov off him but Boitsov keeps the position.
Dmitry Boitsov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Laar tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Boitsov trying to control.
I really don't envy Laar right now.

Laar showing good submission defense here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boitsov controlling well, preventing Laar from escaping the position.
Laar manages to reverse the position and now he's in Boitsov's guard. Nice work there by Laar.

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

Boitsov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Laar passes Boitsov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
It looks like Laar is going to stand back up.
Boitsov is trying to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dmitry Boitsov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Laar has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arvo Laar!
Arvo Laar decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.