PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ari Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gunnar Laaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Ari Johnson has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Ari Johnson seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Johnson
vs
Laaki

225 cm
23
285 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
220 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ari Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gunnar Laaki!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laaki tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Johnson swivels and escapes.
Laaki shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense.
Johnson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Laaki is looking to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Johnson.
Laaki takes one to the side of the head.

It looks like Gunnar Laaki has been cut.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Johnson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Laaki throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Johnson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Laaki looks gassed!
Laaki walks into a straight right hand from Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laaki shoots and misses

and Johnson counters by moving into the clinch.
Ari Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gunnar Laaki.

Johnson wants the takedown. Laaki is fighting it off but Johnson persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Laaki's guard against the cage.
Johnson throwing strikes from guard but Laaki blocks nicely.
Johnson with a nice head shot there.
Laaki utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Laaki working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnson.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
Laaki keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
Johnson preventing the sweep.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Laaki takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Laaki is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Johnson.
Laaki is trying desperately to land a takedown but Johnson is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Laaki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Laaki sprawling to the canvas. Johnson follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Laaki hang on?

Laaki is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Johnson lands a nice short elbow.
Laaki is still in real trouble! Can Johnson finish him?
Johnson working the head and body with strikes.
Laaki seems to have recovered his senses.
Johnson lands strikes from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Johnson lands a nice short elbow.
Laaki wants to get back to full guard.
Laaki avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Johnson.
Johnson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Laaki looks like he's trying to stand up.
Johnson wants to free his trapped foot but Laaki is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson working Laaki over with strikes.
Laaki throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Laaki is trying to get back to full guard.
Johnson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Laaki defending well though.
Johnson working Laaki over with strikes.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Johnson connects with a nice short shot to Laaki's temple.
Johnson is thwarting Laaki's attempts to control the position.
Laaki might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Johnson kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Johnson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Laaki misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Johnson with the ground and pound but Laaki uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Laaki looking to control.
Laaki is adopting a defensive guard.
Johnson thows a big elbow that misses.
Johnson preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Johnson has closed the distance and engaged Laaki in a clinch.
Johnson has Laaki pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Laaki manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Johnson is working for takedown but Laaki is calmly controlling the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Laaki lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Johnson has picked Laaki up - he's going for a ride! Johnson dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Johnson throwing shots but Laaki is blocking nicely.
The fighters are battling for position here. Laaki manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Laaki wants to stand up but Johnson is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Johnson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gunnar Laaki's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Laaki misses with a shot to the body
and Johnson counters with a nice body shot.
Laaki lands a nice leg kick that just misses Johnson's sensitive parts.
Ari Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Laaki darts in trying to clinch
and Johnson counters with a right hand to the body.

Laaki shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Laaki was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Laaki can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Johnson is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laaki sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Laaki on the ground.
Johnson is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Johnson blocking the ground and pound.
Johnson blocking the ground and pound.
Laaki looking to finish with strikes here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Laaki moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Johnson has worked his arm free - good work by Johnson!
Johnson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Laaki.
Laaki throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Laaki crashes against the mat.
Laaki looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Johnson is avoiding damage well.
Johnson is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Laaki asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Johnson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Johnson tries to get out of the position.

Laaki looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Laaki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Laaki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Johnson, who protects the arm well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Johnson cracks a nice hook into Laaki's ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gunnar Laaki will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Gunnar Laaki's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Johnson feints and as Laaki raises his hands in defense, Johnson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Laaki scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Laaki fails with the takedown
and Johnson counters with a nice body shot.

Johnson moves into the clinch successfully.
Laaki jumps guard but Johnson stands there with Laaki around his waist. Laaki gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Johnson works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Johnson lands a couple of elbows.
Laaki preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Laaki trying to control the position.
Ari Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Laaki avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Laaki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Laaki trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.
Laaki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Laaki has momentary wrist control but Johnson slips an elbow through the middle.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Johnson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Johnson shoots in and bounces Laaki off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
Laaki lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Johnson!
Laaki trying to control but Johnson is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laaki unloading with bombs!
Laaki thowing shots but they're missing.
Johnson wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laaki tries to control but Johnson wriggling away.
Laaki misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Laaki misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Laaki has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Laaki throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Laaki thowing shots but they're missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Laaki wants to control the pace but Johnson is squirming around nicely.
Laaki lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Laaki trying to control but Johnson is having none of it.
Laaki throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ari Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Johnson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ari Johnson!