PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Malako Lahua (ranked 8834 p4p, 750 weight class) and Tom Swift (ranked 23250 p4p, 800 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lahua
vs
Swift

189 cm
20
193 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
20
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Malako Lahua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Swift!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lahua throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Swift counters with a left to the body.
Lahua swings widly with a right hand
and Swift counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lahua looks to throw a body kick
and Swift counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Malako Lahua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lahua stuns Swift with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Lahua missing with a left hand there. Swift was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Swift uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lahua.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lahua shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Swift defends it nicely.
Swift let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lahua misses with an uppercut
and Swift counters with a straight right hand.
Swift uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lahua.
Lahua tries for a takedown but Swift circles away easily
enabling Swift to counter with a crisp jab.
Lahua misses with a looping right.
Lahua throws a body shot but no joy.
Lahua is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Swift.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lahua misses with a hook
and Swift counters with a stiff right hand.

Lahua feints and as Swift raises his hands in defense, Lahua changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Swift really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lahua. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lahua throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lahua slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Swift wants to stand and escape but Lahua is having none of it.
Lahua missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lahua 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.
Lahua is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lahua wants to control from the top but Swift keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Lahua throws a body punch but Swift moves out of range.
Swift is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Lahua with a body shot.
A jab from Lahua misses.
Lahua tries a head kick but it misses.
Lahua moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromSwift.
Lahua misses with a jab to the body
enabling Swift to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Swift blocks the leg kick.
Lahua misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Swift counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Lahua misses with a leg kick.
Lahua throws a lazy uppercut
and Swift counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Lahua is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Swift.
Despite the aggression on Swift's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Lahua misses with a body shot
and Swift counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Lahua thinking.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lahua looks to score with a jab to the body but Swift is just out of range.
Swift throws a big counter head kick but Lahua avoids it with no problem.
A big right from Lahua misses.
Swift throws a fast counter high kick but Lahua manages to duck under it in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tom Swift will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lahua throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Swift cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lahua misses with a hook
and Swift counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Lahua closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Swift to the mat! Swift manages to get full guard.
Swift can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lahua controls the pace.
Swift keeping full guard, as Lahua tries to pass.
Swift preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lahua is pushing down on Swift's leg trying to pass to half guard. Swift is fighting to maintain full guard but Lahua has managed to sneak the leg through.
Swift is trying to stand back up but Lahua is controlling him
Lahua is taking a breather. Swift says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lahua is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Lahua slows the pace down in half guard.
Lahua sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Swift defending well though.
Lahua prevents Swift from standing back up.

Lahua gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Swift displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lahua throws out the jab.
Swift now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Swift steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lahua.
A countering left hand to the body from Swift misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lahua tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Swift was well out of range. Poor timing from Lahua.
Lahua throws a lazy uppercut
and Swift counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lahua throws a lazy uppercut
and Swift counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Lahua throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A nice leg kick lands there from Lahua.
Lahua misses with a lunging right hand
and Swift makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Lahua moves into the clinch.
Lahua tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Swift.
A short uppercut from Swift.

Lahua pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Swift shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Lahua throws a lazy right hand but Swift sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Swift let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Lahua lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Lahua tried to score with a low kick but Swift checks it.
Swift is looking for the big counter here.
Lahua misses with a right hand
and Swift counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lahua throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Swift to counter with a crisp jab.
Lahua looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Lahua throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Swift counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lahua misses with a lunging right hand
and Swift counters with a big head kick but Lahua shrugs it off.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
No joy there for Lahua, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lahua misses with a right hand
and Swift counters with a head kick. That will keep Lahua thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
A low kick from Lahua is predictable there
and Swift counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Swift steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lahua.
Swift doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Swift slips under a jab.
Lahua fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Swift raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
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 Malako Lahua will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Lahua throws a big shot that misses.
A slow jab from Lahua misses its intended target.
Lahua misses with an uppercut
and Swift counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Lahua lands an overhand right.
Swift takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Lahua misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lahua throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Swift is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Lahua rather than just go for the knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lahua misses with a head kick.
A countering left hand to the body from Swift misses.
Swift steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lahua.
Swift now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Lahua shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Swift sprawls well. Swift wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lahua gets slowly back to his feet.

Lahua closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Swift quickly recovers to half guard.
Swift tries to kick Lahua off in order to stand up. Lahua Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swift managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Lahua.
Swift is looking to get back to his feet here but Lahua is keeping cool and he's managed to take Swift's back.
Lahua punches Swift on the ear.

Lahua is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Swift with him. Swift is trying to defend but Lahua has an arm under the chin now! Swift grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Malako Lahua!