|
|
CACC 25 PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a heavyweight Tycoon World Grappling Championship rules bout between Connor Frank (ranked 5621 p4p, 405 weight class) and Alexi Laiho (ranked 1721 p4p, 192 weight class). Laiho is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Cold Sweat/ Thin Lizzy. Alexi Laiho is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of London, with a TWGC record of 10 wins and 2 losses; Connor Frank! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 0 wins and 1 losses; Alexi Laiho!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Frank clinches up against the ropes.
Frank gets a nice trip takedown into half guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Frank (2) vs (0) Laiho
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Frank tries to pass the half guard into mount. Laiho knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Frank is working hard here to advance position.
Laiho trying to hold on to Frank's head to control him but Frank postures up.
Laiho is looking to improve his position.
Laiho is staying active underneath Frank, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laiho is trying to get back to full guard.
Frank controlling the action here.
Laiho is looking for a sweep. Frank is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Frank is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Frank (5) vs (0) Laiho
Frank takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Frank has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Frank's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Further stalling from Frank.
Frank has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Laiho is looking to improve his position but Frank isn't that keen on the idea.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Frank fails to take his opponent's back.
Laiho wants to control but Frank is having none of it.
Laiho is wriggling around trying to escape.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Frank looking to control and managing it successfully.
Laiho working to try and regain half guard.
Frank takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laiho is looking to improve his position but Frank isn't that keen on the idea.
Frank wants to take his opponent's back but Laiho doesn't allow it.
Frank takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Laiho wants to hold on but Frank pushes him away.
Frank trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Laiho manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Frank trying to pass the guard but Laiho defending well.
Frank controlling the action here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laiho is looking to control Frank's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Laiho avoid being mounted?
Frank wants to lay and pray for a moment but Laiho keeps working.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Laiho actively working from the bottom here.
Frank wants to take a breather but Laiho is having none of it.
Frank takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Laiho is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Frank pulls his head out easily.
Laiho is looking for a sweep. Frank is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Laiho is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Frank pulls his head out easily.
Laiho is trying to get back to full guard.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Frank is keen to just control but Laiho is a slippery customer.
Laiho is looking for a sweep. Frank is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Frank tries to pass to full mount but Laiho defends it.
Laiho is looking to improve his position.
Laiho won't allow Frank to pass to mount.
Frank looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Laiho tries to roll over but Frank keeps him under control.
Frank tries to pass the half guard into mount. Laiho knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Frank prevents Laiho from improving his position.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Frank is pressing down on Laiho's thigh, looking to free his foot. Laiho is holding on for now.
Laiho is trying to get back to full guard.
Frank is trying to control. Laiho wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Laiho tries to roll over but Frank keeps him under control.
Frank trying to control from half guard but Laiho is working away.
Laiho is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Frank's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Frank's back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Frank (5) vs (4) Laiho
Laiho has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Frank has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Laiho is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Frank knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Frank for a finish.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Laiho keeps control of the position as Frank tries to break free.
Laiho tightening his grip on Frank, looking for the choke.
Frank trying to control the position but Laiho manages to sink in the hooks.
Laiho is persistently looking for the submission but Frank is defending it well.
Laiho has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Frank has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Laiho is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Frank has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Frank's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Laiho's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Frank showing good submission defense here.
Laiho looking for the RNC.
Laiho is not going to allow Frank to sit and survive in this position.
Frank preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Laiho.
Laiho is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Frank knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Frank for a finish.
Frank is in bad spot here.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Frank turns into Laiho and is now in his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Frank (7) vs (4) Laiho
Laiho is looking for a triangle but Frank pushes his legs off easily.
Frank might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Frank wants to control from the top but Laiho keeps moving.
Frank engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Laiho wants to sweep here but Frank controlling him for the moment.
Frank trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Frank is stalling in the full guard.
Laiho keeping full guard, as Frank tries to pass.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Frank sitting in guard here, content to control.
Laiho is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Frank advances position into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Frank (10) vs (4) Laiho
Frank trying to control the position but Laiho is working away.
Frank moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Laiho prevents Frank from improving position.
Frank wants to control but Laiho is keeping him busy.
Laiho struggling a bit here.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Frank just content to control the position.
Laiho wants to control but Frank postures up.
Frank wants to control but Laiho is keeping him busy.
Laiho can't do much from the bottom here.
A lull in the action here as Frank stalls from top position.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Frank.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Frank continues to hold on tight.
Frank is looking to take a break and control but Laiho is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
A lull in the action here as Frank stalls from top position.
Laiho struggling a bit here.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Frank trying to control the position but Laiho is working away.
Frank controls the position from side control.
Frank is looking to take a break and control but Laiho is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
A lull in the action here.
Laiho wants to control but Frank postures up.
The referee asks Frank politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Frank prefers to stall for the moment though.
Frank working away.
Frank trying to control the action but Laiho is working from the bottom.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Laiho gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there! Score +2 for reaching mount: Frank (12) vs (4) Laiho
Frank trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Laiho gets back to half guard.
Laiho is looking to control Frank's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Laiho avoid being mounted?
Frank is taking a breather. Laiho 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Frank is trying to control the action in half guard but Laiho is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
Frank takes the fight on points by 12 to 4.
In his post fight interview, Connor Frank started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception. |
|
|
|
|
|
