PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Blackwood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kiwanse Laka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Blackwood
vs
Laka

186 cm
18
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 Hilo, Steve Blackwood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kiwanse Laka!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blackwood connects with a single shot there.
Blackwood lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Laka has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A nice combination there by Blackwood.
Blackwood throws a series of punches but Laka moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Laka is defended easily by Blackwood.
Laka misses with a takedown
and Blackwood counters with a series of strikes. Laka will be more careful next time no doubt.
Laka with a lazy takedown attempt
and Blackwood connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Steve Blackwood has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kiwanse Laka.
Blackwood keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Blackwood throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Laka shoots and misses
and Blackwood counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Blackwood connects with a looping right hand.
Blackwood swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackwood slaps away a takedown attempt from Laka, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Blackwood with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Blackwood is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Blackwood swats away the attempt to clinch by Laka.

Laka clinches with his opponent.

Laka breaks from the clinch.

Laka looking to score a takedown here. Blackwood is defending well but Laka drives through and ends up in Blackwood's guard.
Blackwood on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Blackwood tries to get out of the position.
Blackwood keeping full guard, as Laka tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laka missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Laka gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Laka wants to clinch.
Blackwood scores with a one two! Laka had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Laka is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Blackwood.
Blackwood is working the combinations to good effect here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackwood ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Laka moves away.
Laka closes this distance looking for a takedown but Blackwood circles away.

Laka moves into the clinch.
Blackwood working aggressively here.

Laka drags the fight down to the ground.
Laka wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Laka is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Laka decides to stand and escape the position.
Blackwood is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackwood closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Blackwood defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Laka.
Laka fails with the takedown
and Blackwood counters with a series of strikes. Laka will be more careful next time no doubt.
Laka throws a sloppy head kick and Blackwood moves out of range easily.
Laka tries to move into range but Blackwood moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Laka has eaten all the pies!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Laka takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Blackwood stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Blackwood wants it to stay on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kiwanse Laka dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Blackwood lands a head shot.
Laka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Blackwood as he jumps to the side.
Laka showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Blackwood.
Blackwood jabs Laka right on the nose. Laka blinks but takes it well.
Laka shoots and misses
and Blackwood counters with a one-two to the body.
Laka misses with a body kick.
Blackwood stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Blackwood wants it to stay on the feet.
Steve Blackwood has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kiwanse Laka.
Laka is breathing heavily.
Blackwood wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Laka drives through with a takedown into Blackwood's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laka wants to get up but he can't break Blackwood's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Laka looking to pass the guard.
Blackwood has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Steve Blackwood has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A jab from Blackwood does it's job there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Laka moves into the clinch.
Laka can't get the takedown.
Blackwood has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Blackwood as Laka tries to tie him up.
Blackwood tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Blackwood doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Blackwood is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Blackwood will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Laka up against the cage.
Blackwood avoiding damage as Laka throws knees to the body.
Blackwood can't break the clinch.
Laka jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Blackwood walks away with a smile on his face. Laka gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Laka avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laka takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Blackwood looks to land a combination but Laka avoids it well.
Laka wants to clinch.
Laka misses with a head kick.
Blackwood stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Blackwood wants it to stay on the feet.
Laka's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Blackwood connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Laka scrambles back to his feet.
Laka tries to clinch up but Blackwood circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laka shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Blackwood counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Blackwood connects with a single shot there.
A right-left combo lands from Blackwood.
Blackwood scores with a jab. Laka acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Blackwood connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Laka has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Laka throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Blackwood throws a nice looking combination but Laka bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blackwood scores with a nice right hand.
Steve Blackwood is winning the standup battle so far.
Blackwood scores with a three punch combo!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Steve Blackwood will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Blackwood with a jab.
Blackwood throws a body punch but Laka moves out of range.
Laka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Blackwood as he jumps to the side.
An inside leg kick from Laka misses.
Laka with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Blackwood tries to keep at a distance but Laka has taken the fight into the clinch.
Laka takes a shot to the head.
Blackwood working aggressively here.
Laka has Blackwood pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Blackwood manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Laka keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Blackwood's efforts to push away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laka turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Laka manages to end up in side control.
Laka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Blackwood wants to get back to his feet but Laka drags him back down.
Laka wants to control but Blackwood is keeping him busy.

Laka thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Blackwood wants to get back to his feet but Laka drags him back down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laka controls the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Kiwanse Laka hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Laka showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Blackwood.
Blackwood checks a low kick from Laka.

Laka looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Blackwood!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laka looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kiwanse Laka has got the better of the ground game so far.
Let's hope that Laka 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.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Laka can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Blackwood is looking to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Kiwanse Laka hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Laka fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kiwanse Laka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Laka 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kiwanse Laka!