PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lukas Ladley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mohammed Akram (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ladley
vs
Akram

185 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lukas Ladley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mohammed Akram!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ladley lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Ladley lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Akram circles away quickly and effectively.

Ladley looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
It looks like Ladley is going to stand back up.

Ladley is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Akram sees it coming and defends easily.
Akram is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ladley wants to stand up but Akram has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Ladley is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Akram has managed to free his arm - good work.
Akram tries to kick Ladley off but Ladley keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

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.
Ladley trying to control the action but Akram is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ladley wants to clinch.
Ladley lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Akram backs up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Akram decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Akram is controlling the pace.
Akram's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Let's hope that Akram has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akram tries to pass to full mount but Ladley defends it.
Akram controlling the action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Despite being in the dominant position, Mohammed Akram just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ladley closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Ladley stands up out of the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lukas Ladley dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ladley misses with a takedown

and Akram counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Akram is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Mohammed Akram just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ladley moves in looking to clinch but Akram pushes him off.
Akram misses with a takedown attempt
and Ladley counters with a three punch combo that has Akram backing up. Akram nods at Ladley to acknowledge the strikes.
Ladley shoots and misses

and Akram counters with a shoot takedown. Ladley fights it but they end up in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akram stays in close to Ladley's body and controls the position.
Akram wants to pass the guard but Ladley is keeping the position.
Akram controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ladley is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Akram is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Despite being in the dominant position, Mohammed Akram just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Akram gets a takedown into half guard.
Akram seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Mohammed Akram just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Akram looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mohammed Akram 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! This is the final round!

Akram gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ladley counters with a two punch combo.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ladley looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ladley tries to clinch up but Akram circles away and keeps his distance.
Ladley with a lazy takedown attempt

and Akram counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Akram.
Akram is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Ladley working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Akram doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Akram manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akram is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Despite being in the dominant position, Mohammed Akram just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ladley.
Ladley misses with a low kick as Akram jumps back.
Ladley swinging wilding here.
Ladley scores with a one two! Akram had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Akram shoots in for a double leg but Ladley sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lukas Ladley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Akram fails with the takedown
and Ladley counters with a two punch combo.
Lukas Ladley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mohammed Akram.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ladley tries for a takedown but Akram circles away easily

and Akram counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Mohammed Akram just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Akram shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ladley trying to control from the bottom.
Akram is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Ladley tries to kick Akram off but Akram keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Still in half guard, Akram seems content to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mohammed Akram comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Akram has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mohammed Akram!