PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ichabod Crane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pako Laine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Crane comes to the cage accompanied by Way of The Ninja. The crowd seem to be enjoying Laine's choice of entrance music: Nikke Ankara - Värifilmi. Pako Laine is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Crane
vs
Laine

165 cm
34
154 lbs
33 - 19 - 0

174 cm
31
149 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Sin City Allstars
Aspire Clothing

Aspire Clothing

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 33 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ichabod Crane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pako Laine!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Colin Fotheringham and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crane throws out a loose jab but Laine uses good head movement to avoid it.
Laine staying out of range there.
Laine scores with a shot to the body.
Crane misses with a double jab
and Laine connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Laine staying out of range there.
Laine steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Crane.
Laine swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Danga de danga de dang - Laine scores with a four punch combination!

Laine pushes Crane up against the cage in a clinch.
Crane tries to break free but Laine pushes him back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Crane.
Laine tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Crane's elbow.

Crane breaks the clinch.
We've been told by Crane's head coaches at Westside Martial Arts that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Laine connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
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!
Laine blocks a jab.
Laine moves out of range as Crane strikes.
Crane takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Crane.
Crane ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Laine moves away.
Crane keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Crane is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Laine throws a body punch but Crane moves out of range.
Laine with a hook.
Laine keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Laine throws out a counter right but Crane avoids it with no problem.
Laine lands a lovely overhand right.
Laine staying out of range there.
Laine throws out a counter right but Crane avoids it with no problem.
Crane uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Laine.
Laine keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Laine tries to clinch but Crane is having none of it.
Crane lands with a hook. Laine tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Pako Laine seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Laine scores with a shot to the body.
Laine swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Laine has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Laine fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Crane manages to avoid it.
Crane throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Laine is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Laine works Crane's body with a nice hook.
Laine takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Laine dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Crane throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Laine throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Laine uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Crane.

Crane tries to keep at a distance but Laine has taken the fight into the clinch.
Laine landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Crane tries to circle away but Laine has him pinned against the cage.
Laine throws a knee to the head but misses.
Crane lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Crane blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Laine looking to throw knees to the head but Crane is blocking nicely.
Laine tries to land a knee to the head but Crane blocks with his arms.
Laine fails to pull guard.
Laine lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Crane backwards.
Laine pushes Crane back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laine lands an uppercut.

Crane breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Laine lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Laine throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Laine has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Laine lands with a shot to the body.
Crane misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Laine.
Crane throws a body punch but Laine moves out of range.
Laine turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Laine tries to clinch up but Crane circles away and keeps his distance.
Laine throws an overhand right that lands on Crane's shoulder, as Crane tries to avoid the shot.
Crane walks into a stiff left hand from Laine.
Crane scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Laine connects with a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Laine pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A little feinted left hand from Crane on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Crane swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Laine counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Laine tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laine fails with the takedown
and Crane counters with a nice body shot.
Crane is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Laine's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Laine closes the distance looking to clinch
and Crane counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Crane connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Crane tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Laine was well out of range. Poor timing from Crane.
Crane has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Laine finds it's way round the side to connect with Crane's head.
Laine is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Crane had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Laine steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Crane.
Laine throws a body shot but no joy.
Crane rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Laine cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jab by Laine.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Crane checks the leg kick nicely there.
Crane displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Laine throws out the jab.
Crane was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Crane looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Laine ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
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.

Crane throws the left hand but Laine avoids the punch easily.
Laine throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Laine staying out of range there.
Laine let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Pako Laine seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Crane jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Laine keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Crane looks to score with a jab to the body but Laine is just out of range.
Crane misses with an uppercut. Laine saw that one coming.
Crane just misses with a punch to the body.
Crane swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Crane fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Laine misses with a straight right.
Laine takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from Laine misses
and Crane counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Crane dips to his left and cracks Laine with an uppercut!
Laine looks to throw the jab but Crane is out of range.
Crane keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice uppercut lands for Laine. That snapped Crane's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laine tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Laine tries a low kick but Crane avoids it.
Crane fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Laine manages to avoid it.
Crane takes a swing at Laine's ribcage but misses.
Laine is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Crane takes a swing at Laine's ribcage but misses.
Laine throws a sloppy head kick and Crane moves out of range easily.
Crane swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Laine misses with a leg kick
and Crane counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Laine lands a right hook to the body.
Crane moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Laine connects with a body shot that sends Crane's belly button to the back.
Laine steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Crane.
Crane missing with a left hand there. Laine was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Laine!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Laine fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crane fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Laine has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Laine darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A swing and a miss from Crane.
Laine bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Crane's head.
Laine shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Crane but Crane pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Laine looks to score with a jab to the body but Crane is just out of range.
Nice uppercut there from Crane.
Crane lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Crane looks to score with a jab to the body but Laine is just out of range.
Crane misses with a body shot.
Crane closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Laine throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Laine lands a nice looking body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laine lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Crane circles away quickly and effectively.

Laine pushes Crane up against the cage in a clinch.
Crane blocks a body shot from Laine.
Crane tries to land knees in the clinch but Laine avoids the damage to the body.
Laine missing with knees to the body.
Laine has Crane pressed against the cage, preventing Crane from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Crane tries a body shot but Laine blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Crane.

Crane pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Crane looks to land a right hand but Laine moved out of range.
Laine slips under a jab from Crane.
Laine lands a nice hook to Crane's body. Crane takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Crane throws a body punch but Laine moves out of range.
Laine throws the left hand but Crane avoids the punch easily.
Ichabod Crane is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Laine throws the left hand but Crane avoids the punch easily.
Crane swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Crane swings for the body but Laine moves out of range.
Laine shapes to counter with a head kick.

Laine gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crane wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Laine tries a body shot but Crane blocks it.

Crane breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Crane misses with a body shot.
Laine appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Laine throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Crane counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Laine lands a jab-cross combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Crane's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Laine connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Crane scrambles back to his feet.
Crane scores with a shot to the body.
Crane slips under a jab.
Crane was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Laine scores with a decent looking hook.
Crane keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Crane fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Laine manages to avoid it.
Crane lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Laine waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Crane.
It looked like Crane was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Laine.
Laine takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ichabod Crane will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Crane connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Laine momentarily.
Laine lands a head kick. Crane smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Danga de danga de dang - Laine scores with a four punch combination!
A big right from Crane misses.
A good leg kick by Laine.
Crane keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Crane avoids a kick to the body.
Crane moves out of range as Laine strikes.
Crane swings for the body but Laine moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Crane as Laine shoots in.
Laine is looking to clinch but Crane is avoiding it.
Laine takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Good work by Crane as he checks the leg kick.
A shot to the body from Laine misses
enabling Crane to counter with a crisp jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Laine avoids the body shot from Crane.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laine misses with a two punch combination.
Crane was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Laine fails with a takedown attempt.
Ichabod Crane has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pako Laine.
Crane jabs Laine to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A punch combination from Laine misses.
Crane throws an off balance right hand
and Laine makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Crane. Laine does a little dance to reset his feet.
Laine shapes to counter with a head kick.
Laine throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Crane sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Laine rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Crane moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Crane waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Laine.
Crane keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Laine.
Laine avoids the body shot from Crane.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Crane finds it's way through Laine's defenses.
Crane throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Laine sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Crane lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Crane stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Laine.
Laine tries to clinch
and Crane counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Laine throws a looping overhand right but Crane ducks down to avoid it.
Laine throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A jab from Crane misses.
Crane blocks a head kick by Laine.
An attempted straight right counter from Crane misses the target.
Laine misses with a jab, cross combination.
Crane is looking for a counter combo.
Crane scores with a jab to the body.
Crane uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Laine.
Laine defending well as Crane loads up on a big left hand.
Laine appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Crane swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laine uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Crane.
Laine let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Laine throws a sloppy head kick and Crane moves out of range easily.
Laine tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Crane is able to avoid easily.
Laine looks to land a combination but Crane avoids it well.
Crane closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Laine moves out of range of the strikes.
Crane scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Crane displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Laine throws out the jab.
Crane slips a straight right by Laine.
Crane takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Laine scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Crane keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Laine doesn't manage to clinch there - Crane circles away.
Laine throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Crane counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Crane fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Laine manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crane throws a shot from downtown. Laine moves away and avoids it.
Crane blocks a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
No joy there for Crane, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A slapping leg kick lands for Laine.
Laine lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Laine connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Nice body punch from Laine.
Crane is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Crane keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Crane slips a jab from Laine.
Laine misses with the combination.
Laine jabs Crane to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Crane dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

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 Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pako Laine!
Pako Laine 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.