PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tera Laaksonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Foley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laaksonen's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Heikki Kuula & Voli - Viimeinen Tango. Frank Foley has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Tera Laaksonen's chin.

Laaksonen
vs
Foley

184 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

193 cm
19
257 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tera Laaksonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Frank Foley!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Laaksonen drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Foley looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Foley working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Laaksonen.
Laaksonen throwing strikes from guard but Foley blocks nicely.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Foley looking to control.
Laaksonen is in close to Foley's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Laaksonen advances position into side control!
Laaksonen creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Foley wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Laaksonen decides to stand up, so the ref orders Foley to his feet.

Laaksonen moves into the clinch.

Laaksonen jumps into guard, dragging Foley to the mat.
Laaksonen pulls Foley in close to prevent any damage.
Foley wants to control from the top but Laaksonen keeps moving.

Laaksonen manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laaksonen drives through and clinches with Foley against the cage.

Laaksonen has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Foley uses from the top position.
Laaksonen could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Laaksonen wants to sweep but no luck.

Laaksonen pushes Foley off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Laaksonen.
Laaksonen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Laaksonen clinches up against the cage.
Laaksonen lands a knee to the body.

Laaksonen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Laaksonen clinches.
Laaksonen unloads a knee to the mid-section. Foley lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Laaksonen jumps into guard, dragging Foley to the mat.

Laaksonen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Laaksonen trying to strike off his back.
Foley wanted to stand there but Laaksonen had control of the position.
Foley preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foley wants to stand but Laaksonen is controlling his posture from full guard.

Laaksonen had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Foley is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Laaksonen Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Foley's back instead.
Foley trying to control the hands but Laaksonen won't let him.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Laaksonen's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Laaksonen cracks Foley with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Foley from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Foley trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Foley just looking to survive in the bad position.
Foley trying to control but not successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laaksonen is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Laaksonen tries to keep control of the position but Foley is staying busy.
Foley looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Foley prevents Laaksonen from getting a body triangle.
Laaksonen is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Foley up.
Foley trying to control the position but Laaksonen manages to sink in the hooks.
Foley is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Laaksonen is staying active.

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.
Foley wants to escape the position.
Foley wants to control his opponent's hands but Laaksonen gets his hands free.
Foley trying to get back to his feet but Laaksonen is in full control for now.
Laaksonen really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Foley.
Laaksonen is working the ground and pound. Can Foley escape?
Foley rolls, trying to escape but Laaksonen keeps control of the position.
Laaksonen avoiding Foley 's attempts to control his hands.
The referee is taking a good look at Foley as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Laaksonen!
Laaksonen lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tera Laaksonen dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Foley gets caught flat footed, as Laaksonen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Laaksonen decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Laaksonen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Foley's guard.
Laaksonen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Foley is trying to keep Laaksonen in close.
Laaksonen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Foley's head.
Laaksonen is in close to Foley's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Laaksonen gets to his feet - Foley follows without any prompting.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Foley misses with a double jab
and Laaksonen counters with a head kick.
Laaksonen plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laaksonen slips a jab and a cross from Foley.
Laaksonen has a takedown stuffed.
A jab lands there for Foley.
Laaksonen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Foley as he jumps to the side.

Laaksonen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Foley, pushing him back against the cage.
Laaksonen keeps control of Foley as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Laaksonen can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tera Laaksonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Foley is trying to break the clinch but Laaksonen has him pressed against the cage.

Laaksonen pulls Foley into guard.
Foley in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Laaksonen being controlled here, momentarily.
Foley trying to control the position from guard on top but Laaksonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Laaksonen is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Laaksonen ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Laaksonen no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Foley loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Foley gets to his feet. Laaksonen looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Nice sprawl there from Foley as Laaksonen shoots in.
Frank Foley is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Foley throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Foley misses the jab.

Laaksonen has closed the distance and engaged Foley in a clinch.
Laaksonen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Foley blocks it with crossed arms.

Foley escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Laaksonen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Foley gets back to full guard.
Foley trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foley keeping moving, preventing Laaksonen from controlling successfully.
Foley tries to strike from the bottom.
Foley trying to keep a closed guard but Laaksonen is proving a slippery customer.
Laaksonen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Foley working a defensive guard here.
Foley wants to stand and escape but Laaksonen is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Foley blocks a head kick by Laaksonen.
Some wild striking there from Foley.
Laaksonen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Foley.
Foley loads up on a big right hand but Laaksonen slips the punch.

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.
Laaksonen shoots in for a takedown but Foley shows good takedown defense.
Foley listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Foley lands with a right hand.
Laaksonen shoots in but Foley avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Foley looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Laaksonen shoots in for a takedown but Foley shows good takedown defense.
Foley misses with a looping left.
Foley throws a looping overhand right but Laaksonen ducks down to avoid it.

Laaksonen moves into the clinch.
Foley is trying to break free.
Foley is looking to break free of the clinch but Laaksonen has double underhooks.
Laaksonen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Foley just stands there and leans against the cage.

Laaksonen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Laaksonen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Laaksonen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Foley as he jumps to the side.
Laaksonen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tera Laaksonen dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Laaksonen slips a jab and a cross from Foley.
A head kick from Laaksonen lands but Foley takes it in his stride.
Laaksonen throws a sloppy head kick and Foley moves out of range easily.

Laaksonen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
You can see the frustration on Foley's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Foley is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Laaksonen is controlling him well.

Laaksonen decides to stand up, so the ref orders Foley to his feet.
Laaksonen's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Laaksonen duly obliges.

Laaksonen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Foley sprawls well initially but Laaksonen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Foley desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Foley pushes Laaksonen off and gets back to his feet.
Foley throws a jab but it's blocked by Laaksonen.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Laaksonen closes the distance and pushes Foley back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foley has had enough of the clinch but Laaksonen keeps him there for the moment.
Laaksonen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Foley pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Laaksonen jumps guard but Foley stands there with Laaksonen around his waist. Laaksonen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Foley has had enough of the clinch but Laaksonen keeps him there for the moment.
Laaksonen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tera Laaksonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Foley tries to break the clinch but Laaksonen is controlling the position.

Foley breaks from the clinch.
A slow jab from Foley misses its intended target.
Laaksonen lands with a kick to the ribs.
Laaksonen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Foley misses with a two punch combination.
Tera Laaksonen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Foley throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Laaksonen.
Foley might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Laaksonen tries to clinch but Foley is having none of it.
Foley throws a big shot that misses.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Foley.
Laaksonen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Foley avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Laaksonen takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Frank Foley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A telegraphed right hand from Foley misses the target.
Laaksonen takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Laaksonen.

Laaksonen rushes Foley and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Laaksonen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Foley walks away with a smile on his face. Laaksonen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Laaksonen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Foley tries to avoid it but Laaksonen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Foley to the ground. Foley escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Laaksonen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Laaksonen there as he acknowledges the shot.
Laaksonen moves in looking to clinch but Foley pushes him off.

Laaksonen drives through and clinches with Foley against the cage.
Laaksonen can't get the takedown.
Foley is trying to break free.
Foley wants to break free but Laaksonen has control.
Foley wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Laaksonen has him pressed against the cage.
Foley wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Foley is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Foley wants to get back to striking at distance but Laaksonen won't allow it.
Foley wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Foley wants to break the clinch but can't.
Still in the clinch, Laaksonen scores with a nice short uppercut.
Foley wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Laaksonen has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foley wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Foley is trying to break the clinch but Laaksonen has him pressed against the cage.
Laaksonen has Foley pushed against the cage.
Foley wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Foley wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Laaksonen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Laaksonen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Foley is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Foley wants to break free but Laaksonen has control.
Foley wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Laaksonen has him pressed against the cage.
Laaksonen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Laaksonen tries to pull guard but Foley holds him up against the cage and eventually Laaksonen drops back down to his feet.
Laaksonen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Foley is fighting off a takedown attempt but Laaksonen is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Foley to the mat. Foley regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Foley has his hands on Laaksonen's head, controlling the position.

Laaksonen decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Foley, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laaksonen throws a shot to the body.
Tera Laaksonen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Laaksonen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Foley trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Laaksonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Foley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Laaksonen content to stall in guard here.

Laaksonen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Foley trying to keep a closed guard but Laaksonen is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Foley is looking for a triangle but Laaksonen pushes his legs off easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tera Laaksonen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Laaksonen 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tera Laaksonen!