PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James LaBrie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mickey Finn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Finn is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Von Bondies - C'mon c'mon. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

LaBrie
vs
Finn

178 cm
26
178 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

182 cm
46
173 lbs
46 - 26 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, James LaBrie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 46 - 26 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mickey Finn!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from LaBrie misses.
Finn jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
LaBrie tries to move into range but Finn moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Finn with a poor takedown
and LaBrie cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like Mickey Finn has been cut.

Finn closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Finn lands in his opponent's guard.
LaBrie is pulling down on Finn's head. It's preventing any offense from Finn, at least for the moment.
Finn throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as LaBrie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaBrie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Finn manages to get himself to full guard.

LaBrie won't allow Finn to sweep him here.
Finn can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as LaBrie controls the pace.
LaBrie stopping the sweep attempt from Finn.
Finn pulls LaBrie in close to his closed guard and prevents LaBrie from doing any damage or advancing position.
LaBrie has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Finn is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Finn is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
LaBrie stays in close to Finn's body and controls the position.
Finn trying to keep a closed guard but LaBrie is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
LaBrie avoids the body shot from Finn.
Finn with a poor takedown
and LaBrie counters with a straight right hand.
LaBrie stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and LaBrie wants it to stay on the feet.
James LaBrie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mickey Finn.
LaBrie scores with a crisp jab that stopped Finn in his tracks.
LaBrie looks to score with a jab to the body but Finn is just out of range.
Mickey Finn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaBrie defending well as Finn loads up on a big left hand.
Finn is looking to clinch.
We've been told by LaBrie's head coaches at Loucademia muito crazy that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
James LaBrie is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
LaBrie dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Finn takes a swing at LaBrie's ribcage but misses.
LaBrie throws a big counter combination but Finn scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Finn has closed the distance and engaged LaBrie in a clinch.
A nice left hand lands by LaBrie.

LaBrie manages to break the clinch.
LaBrie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
LaBrie swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Finn shoots and misses
and LaBrie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Finn gets off balance looking for a body kick
and LaBrie counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Finn smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Finn slips a jab and a cross from LaBrie.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
LaBrie lands a slapping body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finn throws a jab when LaBrie was well out of range.
LaBrie swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Finn closes the distance but LaBrie moves to the side
and LaBrie counters with a straight right hand.
Finn misses with a straight right.
LaBrie with a jab.
LaBrie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
LaBrie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Finn swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Finn tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but LaBrie defends well and Finn ends up having to push LaBrie into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
LaBrie lands a head shot.
LaBrie dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Finn bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Finn takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Finn lands a jab to LaBrie's midsection.
Finn shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as LaBrie sprawls well. LaBrie wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Finn gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James LaBrie dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mickey Finn's cut.
That's time! LaBrie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Finn throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Finn misses with a body shot.
Finn swings and misses with a shot to the body
and LaBrie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Finn throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around LaBrie's waist but LaBrie gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Finn off to one side.
LaBrie changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Finn closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming LaBrie to the mat! LaBrie manages to get full guard.
Finn trying to control the position from guard on top but LaBrie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now LaBrie is on top in guard.

LaBrie preventing the sweep.
LaBrie stays in close to Finn's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaBrie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Finn is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
LaBrie content to stall in guard here.
Finn working a defensive guard but LaBrie manages to pass into side control anyway.
Finn is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked LaBrie off and has taken his back!
LaBrie trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

LaBrie fending off the submission attempt from Finn.
You can see the frustration on LaBrie's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Finn throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Finn connects with a big shot to the side of LaBrie's head.
Finn avoiding LaBrie 's attempts to control his hands.
Finn trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaBrie is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
LaBrie staying busy and making it hard for Finn to control.
Finn loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can LaBrie hold on?
Finn throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
LaBrie turns into Finn and is now in his guard.
LaBrie slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Finn not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finn lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

LaBrie seems keen to control Finn's posture.
Finn with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Finn postures up and lands a big shot to LaBrie's brow.
LaBrie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
LaBrie lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mickey Finn will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Mickey Finn's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

LaBrie looks to score with a jab to the body but Finn is just out of range.
Finn shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as LaBrie sprawls well. LaBrie wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Finn gets slowly back to his feet.
LaBrie is looking to counter punch.

Finn darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Finn missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
LaBrie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
LaBrie wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaBrie has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
LaBrie keeping moving, preventing Finn from controlling successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Finn throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.
LaBrie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Finn was well out of range. Poor timing from LaBrie.
LaBrie misses with a wild body shot.
Finn slips a jab from LaBrie.
Finn takes a swing at LaBrie's ribcage but misses.
LaBrie is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Finn throws the left hand but LaBrie avoids the punch easily.
Finn misses with a looping left.
James LaBrie is winning the standup battle so far.
Finn jabbing away but nothing is landing.
LaBrie is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
LaBrie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Finn moves away from the strike by LaBrie.
LaBrie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Finn was well out of range. Poor timing from LaBrie.
Finn doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finn shoots and misses
and LaBrie counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Finn is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Finn has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Finn there as he acknowledges the shot.
LaBrie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Finn manages to avoid it.
Finn looks to score with a jab to the body but LaBrie is just out of range.
LaBrie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Finn.
Finn uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from LaBrie.
LaBrie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Finn was well out of range. Poor timing from LaBrie.
Finn misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from LaBrie.

Finn drives through with a takedown into guard.
LaBrie wants to get back to his feet but Finn is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
LaBrie is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finn looking to pass the guard.
LaBrie wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
LaBrie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Finn stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. LaBrie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Finn keeps trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
James LaBrie showed his dominance in that final round.
I think LaBrie has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James LaBrie!
An out of breath James LaBrie thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.