PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zied Hakimi (ranked 24485 p4p, 23973 weight class) and Jari Laitila (ranked 712 p4p, 699 weight class). Jari Laitila has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hakimi
vs
Laitila

186 cm
21
195
2 - 5 - 0

180 cm
22
195
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zied Hakimi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jari Laitila!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Elvis Blanc and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laitila avoids the body shot from Hakimi.
Laitila wants to counter the offense by Hakimi and move into the clinch position.
Hakimi lands a head kick!

It looks like Jari Laitila has been cut.
Hakimi jabs at Laitila's body.
Hakimi connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Hakimi throws a sloppy head kick

and Laitila holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Hakimi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Laitila's elbow.
Hakimi avoiding damage as Laitila throws knees to the body.

Laitila has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hakimi uses from the top position.
Laitila keeping moving, preventing Hakimi from controlling successfully.
Hakimi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laitila working a defensive guard here.

Laitila has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hakimi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laitila is trying to control the position but Hakimi postures up.

Laitila escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hakimi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Laitila looking for a sweep. Not yet Laitila, not yet.
Hakimi trying to control the position from guard on top but Laitila is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Laitila escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hakimi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Laitila is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Hakimi rolls with it to try and escape but Laitila cranks on the arm and Hakimi is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jari Laitila!