PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cleon Wright (ranked 235 p4p, 38 weight class) and Alexi Laiho (ranked 1121 p4p, 171 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Laiho's choice of entrance music: Cold Sweat/ Thin Lizzy. Cleon Wright has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Wright
vs
Laiho

195 cm
29
209 lbs
21 - 8 - 0

190 cm
34
225 lbs
17 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System

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 21 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Cleon Wright!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alexi Laiho!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Russell Pearce and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Laiho.
Laiho lands an overhand right.
Laiho avoids the body shot from Wright.
We've been told by Wright's head coaches at The Coffee Shop that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Laiho keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Laiho throws out a counter right but Wright avoids it with no problem.
Laiho throws a hook to the side of Wright's head but Wright sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Laiho fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Wright avoids it really well and circles away.
Laiho misses with a lunging right hand
and Wright counters with a nice uppercut.
A jab from Wright misses.
Laiho moves into range and connects with a jab.
Laiho slips a straight right by Wright.
Laiho changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Laiho has taken the fight to the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Laiho.

Wright breaks the clinch.
Nice defenses there by Laiho.
Crunch! Wright slams his shin into Laiho's torso.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laiho connects with a jab.

Laiho has managed to clinch.
Laiho misses with a hook from the clinch.
Wright being controlled against the cage.
Wright has had enough of the clinch but Laiho keeps him there for the moment.
Laiho blocking some punches.

Laiho manages to break the clinch.
Laiho moves out of range as Wright strikes.
Wright misses with a low kick.
Laiho lands with an overhand left.
Wright thuds a left hand into Laiho's body.
Wright throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Laiho tries to close the distance and clinch up but Wright swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Laiho moves into range and clinches up with Wright.
Wright tries to break the clinch but Laiho is controlling the position.
A nice left hand lands by Wright.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wright escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cleon Wright is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Laiho misses the shot to the body.
A counter left hand to the body from Wright misses its target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Good standup being displayed there by Laiho as he connects with a hook.
Wright throws a shot to the body.
Wright cracks a nice hook into Laiho's ribs.
Wright misses with a hook.

Laiho clinches up against the cage.

Wright breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Laiho scores with a jab.
A nice inside leg kick there by Wright. That's going to slow Laiho down.
Wright throws a right and a left that both miss.
Wright looks for the body kick but Laiho saw that one coming.

Laiho drives through and clinches with Wright against the cage.
Wright has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Laiho avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Wright's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wright tries to score with a low kick but Laiho moves his leg out of the way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wright has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Laiho finds it's way round the side to connect with Wright's head.
Wright lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Wright on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Some bone on bone action there as Laiho checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Laiho is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Laiho tries to clinch up.

Laiho is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Wright's half guard.
Laiho slows the pace down in half guard.

Laiho seems to be looking for submissions.
Wright makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Wright.
Wright looking for a sweep. Not yet Wright, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laiho trying to control the position from guard on top but Wright is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wright utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Wright has momentary wrist control but Laiho slips an elbow through the middle.
Laiho pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wright is keeping the position for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Laiho wants to control from the top but Wright keeps moving.
Laiho throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Laiho trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Laiho trying to control but Wright is working from the bottom.
Laiho is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Wright uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Laiho.
Wright misses with a low kick as Laiho jumps back.
Laiho is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Wright throws a shot from downtown. Laiho moves away and avoids it.
Laiho pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Wright back to the cage. Laiho follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

It looks like Cleon Wright has been cut.

Laiho drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Laiho throws an elbow but Wright slips to the side and avoids it well.
Laiho landing a few strikes.
Laiho throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Wright tries to improve position but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wright avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Laiho.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Laiho fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
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.
You can see the frustration on Wright's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laiho is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Wright knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Wright is trying to improve his position.
Laiho has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Laiho landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Laiho working the ground and pound from side control.
Wright is looking to regain half guard here but Laiho keeps moving and retains side control.
Laiho trying to control the position but Wright is working away.
Laiho has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Laiho creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laiho throws an elbow but Wright slips to the side and avoids it well.
Wright wants to control but Laiho postures up.
Laiho misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
You can see the frustration on Wright's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The strikes coming from Laiho are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Laiho wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wright keeps working.

Laiho is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Wright knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Laiho connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Wright some visible discomfort.

Laiho thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Wright is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wright parries the strikes from Laiho easily there. Laiho is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Wright to escape.
Laiho working away.
Laiho working the ground and pound but Wright is defending the strikes.
Wright taking a bit of punishment here - Laiho scoring with strikes.
Wright can't do much from the bottom here.
Laiho landing a few strikes.
Wright is trying to control Laiho's posture but Laiho avoids it.
Wright tries to buck Laiho off but Laiho is having none of it.
Laiho in side control, throwing shots but Wright defends.
Wright takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laiho working the head with strikes.
Laiho lands some shots froms side control.
Laiho scores with a couple of short elbows.
Laiho in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Laiho wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wright keeps working.
Laiho tries to score with some ground and pound. Wright controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Laiho working away.
Laiho laying and praying for a moment but Wright takes advantage and regains half guard.
Alexi Laiho has got the better of the ground game so far.
Laiho moves nicely into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Laiho is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Wright has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexi Laiho showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Cleon Wright's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Wright circles away from the clinch attempt.

Laiho rushes Wright and presses him up against the cage.
Laiho tries to work over Wright's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Wright's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wright takes a swing at Laiho's ribcage but misses.
Laiho checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Laiho with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Wright to counter with a crisp jab.
Wright swings for the body but Laiho moves out of range.
Laiho keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Laiho keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Wright.
Laiho tries to counter with a clinch but Wright shakes him off and moves away.
Laiho sizes up Wright with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Laiho might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laiho feints a jab promting Wright to slip. Laiho then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Wright slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Wright gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Laiho looks to land a combination but Wright avoids it well.
A counter left hand to the body from Wright misses its target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laiho throws a jab but it's blocked by Wright.
Wright lands a head shot.
Laiho takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Laiho shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Wright as he avoids it easily.
Wright swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Laiho looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Wright!
Wright parries the strikes from Laiho easily there. Laiho is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Wright to escape.
Laiho looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Wright is avoiding damage well.
Laiho working away.
Wright is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Laiho is looking to take a break and control but Wright is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Laiho working the ground and pound but Wright is defending the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wright is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Laiho's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Laiho is pressing down on Wright's thigh, looking to free his foot. Wright is holding on for now.
Wright is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Wright manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
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!

Laiho drops back looking for a submission - "I'm sorry sir, but I'm gunna break your leg" says Laiho as he cranks on the unfortunate limb! Wright screams and taps out before any major damage is done! Don't mess with Laiho! Nice submission victory there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Alexi Laiho!
After the big win, Alexi Laiho made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Sportivité and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.