PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Minerva Wulf (ranked 517 p4p, 800 weight class) and Muuka Laine (ranked 27 p4p, 43 weight class). Wulf comes into the arena with Sanctus Dominus blaring out of the sound system. Laine is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Thats Not Me. Muuka Laine has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Minerva Wulf's chin.

Wulf
vs
Laine

150 cm
24
145
9 - 4 - 0

176 cm
47
146
39 - 28 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Solid chin

AVALON
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Minerva Wulf!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 39 - 28 - 0, fighting out of London, Muuka Laine!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paul Aken and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab by Laine.
A jab from Laine finds it's way through Wulf's defenses.
Laine has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Laine there as he acknowledges the shot.
Jab from Laine.
Laine throws a jab when Wulf was well out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Wulf.

Wulf gets a double leg takedown into Laine's guard.
Wulf might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Wulf missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Wulf's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Wulf throws an elbow that misses. Laine uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Wulf's guard. Nice move by Laine!

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Laine trying to control but Wulf is working from the bottom.

Wulf is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wulf being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wulf wants to sweep but no luck.

Laine got a little sloppy there for a moment and Wulf has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Laine has managed to get both his arms back between Wulf's legs - danger averted.
Wulf trying to control the position.

Wulf looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Laine passes into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Wulf manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Wulf has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Laine can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Wulf pulls Laine in close to his closed guard and prevents Laine from doing any damage or advancing position.

Wulf is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Laine is aware though and is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wulf pulls Laine in close to his closed guard and prevents Laine from doing any damage or advancing position.
Laine sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Wulf wants to sweep here but Laine controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wulf looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Wulf has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Laine has passed into side control.
Wulf is looking for a sweep.
Laine content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Wulf tries to buck Laine off but Laine is having none of it.
Wulf is holding Laine down, trying to stall.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Wulf is looking to regain half guard here but Laine keeps moving and retains side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wulf is trying to work for a sweep but Laine has mounted him!
Wulf stops Laine from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Wulf tries to improve his position but instead Laine has taken his back!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Muuka Laine dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Wulf takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Wulf shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Laine as he avoids it easily.
Laine swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Nice shot by Laine.
Laine lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Laine has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Laine throws a hook but Wulf avoids it easily.
Laine is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Laine tries to sprawl but Wulf drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Wulf is just content to waste time from the top position. Laine takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Laine working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wulf.
Wulf throws a strike but Laine rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Wulf looking for subs off his back but Laine has passed one foot through into half guard.
Wulf manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laine stopping the sweep attempt from Wulf.
Wulf trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Wulf has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Wulf continues to stall.
Laine preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Wulf has an active guard here but Laine has managed to pass into half guard.
Wulf tries to roll over but Laine keeps him under control.
Wulf is working hard here to advance position.

Wulf is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Laine pulls his head out easily.
Wulf trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laine prevents Wulf from improving his position.
Wulf works his way to full guard. Good work.
Wulf will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Wulf wants to sweep here but Laine controlling him for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Minerva Wulf is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Laine scores with a leg kick.
Wulf takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Laine leaves Wulf with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Wulf looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Minerva Wulf. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wulf moves out of range of the leg kick from Laine.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laine displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wulf.
Laine throws a body punch but Wulf moves out of range.
Crunch! Laine slams his shin into Wulf's torso.
Laine connects with a leg kick.
Wulf misses with an uppercut. Laine saw that one coming.
Laine is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Wulf.
Horrible takedown attempt by Wulf or perhaps it was just good defense by Laine, which made it look bad.
Laine scores with a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A looping hook to the body misses from Laine. Wulf does a little dance to reset his feet.
Wulf scores with a three punch combo!
Laine throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Laine thuds a left hand into Wulf's body.
Laine lands with a kick to the ribs.
Laine throws a leg kick
and Wulf connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wulf moves out of range of the body kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Muuka Laine showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Wulf closes this distance looking for a takedown but Laine circles away.
Wulf checks a leg kick.

Laine gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Wulf to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Wulf looking to sit in guard and control but Laine gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Muuka Laine has got the better of the ground game so far.

Wulf had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Laine defends it easily.
Wulf looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Laine puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wulf wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laine performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Laine prevents Wulf from improving his position.
Laine is looking to advance position but Wulf won't allow it.
Laine is looking to take a break and control but Wulf is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Wulf is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Laine pulls his head out easily.
Wulf wants to improve his position but Laine is controlling well.

Wulf is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Laine pulls his head out easily.
Wulf wants to control but Laine is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Wulf wants to get back to full guard.
Wulf wants to sweep but Laine has passed to side control!
Wulf tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laine advances to full mount.
Wulf gets back to half guard.
Wulf makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Wulf.
Laine trying to control but Wulf is working from the bottom.

Wulf working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Laine doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Laine manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Laine must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wulf looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Laine puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Wulf keeping hold of Laine's head, controlling as best he can.

Wulf kicks Laine off and gets back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wulf takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Muuka Laine seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Laine checks a leg kick.
Wulf checks a leg kick nicely.
Wulf misses with a looping right.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Muuka Laine just about did enough to take it.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Laine gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Wulf to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Wulf pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Laine is keeping the position for now.
Wulf scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Wulf looking to pass the guard.
Laine controls Wulf momentarily but Wulf frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laine keeping moving, preventing Wulf from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wulf postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Laine is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Wulf, into his guard.

Laine trying to control the position from guard on top but Wulf is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wulf is trying to control the position but Laine postures up.

Wulf looking for a guillotine here but Laine defends easily.
Wulf looking to control but Laine passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wulf is looking to control Laine's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Wulf avoid being mounted?
Wulf tries to roll over but Laine keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wulf trying to hold on to Laine's head to control him but Laine postures up.
Wulf moves into full guard.
Wulf working a defensive guard but Laine passes into half guard.
Laine tries to pass the half guard into mount. Wulf knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Wulf is staying active underneath Laine, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Wulf is looking for a sweep. Laine is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Wulf trying to hold on to Laine's head to control him but Laine postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Wulf fails with the takedown.
A nice leg kick lands there from Laine.
Minerva Wulf seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Wulf drives through with a takedown into guard.
Laine tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Wulf prevents Laine from getting back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wulf looking to sit in guard and control but Laine gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Laine not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Muuka Laine will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Wulf fails with a takedown attempt.

Laine gets caught flat footed, as Wulf shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Laine preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Wulf wants to pass the guard but Laine is keeping the position.
Laine working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wulf scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Laine is working an open guard so Wulf takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laine throws a body shot but no joy.
Wulf fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Wulf shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Laine as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Minerva Wulf. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laine shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Wulf gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Laine counters with a nice uppercut.
Laine slips under a jab from Wulf.
Laine throws a front kick aimed at Wulf's knee but Wulf avoids it well.
It looked like Wulf wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Wulf throws a big shot that misses.
Laine throws a wild body kick that Wulf sees coming a mile off.
Muuka Laine is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Laine misses with the combination.
Laine takes a swing at Wulf's ribcage but misses.
A shot to the liver by Wulf. Beautiful body shot.
Jab by Wulf.
Minerva Wulf has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wulf looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Laine is fending him off so far but Wulf persists. Nope, Laine circles away and we're back to standing.
Laine feints a counter leg kick.
Wulf keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice jab there from Laine.
Wulf misses with a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Wulf with a poor takedown
letting Laine counter with a right hand.
Laine has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wulf blocks the body kick.
Wulf with a poor takedown
and Laine counters with a one-two to the body.
Wulf fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Laine lands the left hand.
Laine lands a jab to the nose.
Wulf misses with a two punch combination.
Both fighters circling a little - Laine finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Wulf throws a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laine tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Wulf was well out of range. Poor timing from Laine.
Wulf misses with a takedown attempt - Laine sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Laine has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Laine scores with the left hand. Wulf knows he should have avoided that one.
Laine lands with a thumping leg kick.
Wulf has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Laine.
Laine fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Wulf.
Wulf misses with a looping left.
Wulf misses with a takedown attempt - Laine sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Wulf misses with a jab, cross combination.
Laine flicks out a counter leg kick but Wulf steps away.
Laine scores with a leg kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Wulf is defended easily by Laine.
Laine is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wulf on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Wulf walks into a jab.
Wulf works over Laine's head and body with a nice combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Laine changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Wulf falls off balance throwing a combination
and Laine counters with a stiff right hand.
Laine lands a nice leg kick that just misses Wulf's sensitive parts.
Laine tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Laine throws a predictable looking body shot
and Wulf counters with a one-two to the body.
Wulf on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Laine cracks Wulf with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Wulf looks to land a combination but Laine avoids it well.
Wulf closes the distance and clinches up with Laine, looking for a takedown. Wulf pushes Laine against the cage but Laine circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Laine connects with the punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Muuka Laine comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Laine winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 45:50
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 46:50
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Muuka Laine!
Muuka Laine is the new bantamweight champion!
Post fight, Muuka Laine took to the microphone: 'After 68 Fights With My 40th Win & 4 Failed Title Shots, I’m Finally A World Champion Even At 47. This Win Is For My Fans & Finland , Thank You Brian Jensen For Giving This Opportunity For My Last Shot'.