PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Wilfred Klein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christian Laford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Klein
vs
Laford

183 cm
20
161 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

172 cm
25
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Wilfred Klein!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Christian Laford!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Igor Prikhodko and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A lazy left from Laford finds it's target.
Laford is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

It looks like Christian Laford has been cut.

Klein clinches with his opponent.

Klein breaks the clinch.
Laford tries to score a power double leg takedown but Klein sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Laford somewhat.
Klein ducks under a wild hook from Laford.
Laford looks to throw the jab but Klein is out of range.
Klein avoids a kick to the body.

Klein shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Laford manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Laford is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Klein landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Klein in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Klein wants to control from the top but Laford keeps moving.
Klein throwing strikes from guard but Laford blocks nicely.
Laford wants to stand but Klein is controlling the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Laford avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Klein takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

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.
Laford shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Klein moves into the clinch.
Laford tries to break free but Klein pushes him back against the cage.
Klein misses with a knee strike.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Laford is fighting off a takedown attempt but Klein is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Laford to the mat. Laford regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Laford is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Klein will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Klein throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Laford works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Klein knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Laford on the ground.
Laford not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Klein has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Klein content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laford looking for a sweep. Not yet Laford, not yet.
Laford is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Klein is controlling him.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Klein thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Laford tries for a takedown but Klein circles away easily

and Klein counters by clinching up.
Wilfred Klein has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Christian Laford.
A short left from Klein.

Klein breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Laford misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Laford instigates a clinch.

Klein breaks from the clinch.

Klein gets tackled into the cage by Laford. Laford maintains the clinch.
Klein manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Laford is trying to stall.
Klein lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Klein tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Laford's elbow.

Klein pulls Laford into guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Laford avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Laford wants to get up but he can't break Klein's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wilfred Klein dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Christian Laford's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Laford lands with a hook. Klein tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Laford avoids a punch combination nicely.
Laford fails to land the takedown.
A jab from Laford does it's job there.
Wilfred Klein is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Laford cracks Klein with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Decent striking displayed by Laford there.
Christian Laford seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Laford connects with a good right hand that stumbles Klein. Klein circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Laford fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Laford clinches up with Klein and pushes him back against the cage.

Klein manages to break the clinch.
Laford keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Klein.
Klein is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Laford can do to turn this around?
Klein slips a jab from Laford.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Laford slips a straight right by Klein.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Klein rushes Laford and presses him up against the cage.

Klein pulls guard effortlessly.
Laford scoring with some ground and pound.
Laford is looking to work some ground and pound but Klein has wrist control.
Laford in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Laford wants to control from the top but Klein keeps moving.
Laford might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Klein haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Laford pushes down on Klein's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laford is just content to waste time from the top position. Klein takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Laford postures up in Klein's guard and throws a big left but Klein blocks it.
Laford wants to control from the top but Klein keeps moving.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Laford drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Klein dives on top into guard.

Klein is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laford looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Klein trying to control the position from guard on top but Laford is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Laford wants to hit a switch here but Klein passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Laford there!
Laford sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Klein is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Laford has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laford wants to get back to full guard.

Klein is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Laford doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Klein.
Laford is trying to stand back up but Klein is controlling him
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Christian Laford will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Christian Laford's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Laford misses with a takedown

and Klein moves into the clinch.

Klein escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Laford throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Klein steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Laford.
Laford shoots in looking for a takedown but Klein manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Laford's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Klein avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Klein uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Laford.
Laford with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Laford swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laford fails to land with a series of punches.
Klein displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Laford throws out the jab.
Klein uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Laford.
Laford misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laford cracks Klein with a good jab.
A jab from Laford finds it's way through Klein's defenses.
Laford lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Klein closes the distance and pushes Laford back into the cage.

Klein escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Laford shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Klein as he avoids it easily.
Wilfred Klein has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Christian Laford.
Klein looks to land a combination but Laford avoids it well.

Klein gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Klein manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Laford would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

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

Laford is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Klein is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Klein has escaped and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Klein prevents Laford from getting back to his feet.

Klein drops back, looking for a kneebar! Laford looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Laford looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Laford!

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Laford tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laford throws a strike aimed at the side of Klein's head but Klein avoids it well.

Laford tries for a kimura but Klein is defending well.
The strikes coming from Laford are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Klein managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Laford.

Laford looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Laford has hold of Klein's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Klein seems comfortable defending it but Laford has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Klein is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Klein is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Laford couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Christian Laford!
A very excited looking Christian Laford made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.