PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Karl Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niska Laukaus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Swanson's entrance music is all nightmare long by metallica. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Swanson
vs
Laukaus

185 cm
24
200 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

177 cm
20
190 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Karl Swanson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niska Laukaus!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laukaus moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Laukaus is looking to clinch but Swanson is avoiding it.
Swanson shoots for a takedown but Laukaus saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Laukaus scores with a body shot.
Swanson throws a right hand that misses
and Laukaus counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Laukaus throws a quick inside leg kick.
Laukaus misses with a body shot.
Horrible takedown by Swanson or perhaps it was just good defense by Laukaus which made him look bad.
No joy there for Laukaus, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A swing and a miss from Swanson.
Swanson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Laukaus bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Laukaus scores with a hook to the body. Swanson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Swanson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Swanson misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laukaus swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Laukaus throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Laukaus thows a left - swing and a miss!
Laukaus is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Swanson rather than just go for the knockout.
Laukaus misses with a lunging right hand
and Swanson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Swanson takes one to the chin there.
Swanson moves out of range as Laukaus strikes.
Laukaus misses the shot to the body.
Swanson misses the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Swanson shoots in and bounces Laukaus off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Swanson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Laukaus keeping moving, preventing Swanson from controlling successfully.
Swanson throws a big right hand that misses.

Swanson drops back looking for a leg! Laukaus is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Laukaus manages to kick Swanson off! Swanson jumps back into Laukaus's guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laukaus would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Laukaus gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Laukaus works Swanson's body with a nice hook.
Swanson misses with a body shot
and Swanson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Swanson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Laukaus sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Karl Swanson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Laukaus tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Swanson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niska Laukaus dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Laukaus swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A telegraphed right hand from Swanson misses the target.
Laukaus misses with a looping right.
Laukaus tries to clinch but Swanson moves out of range.
Swanson misses with an uppercut
and Laukaus counters with an inside leg kick.
Laukaus tries to close the distance and clinch up but Swanson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Swanson misses with a hook
and Laukaus counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Swanson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Laukaus but Laukaus pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson throws a combination that misses
and Laukaus counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Laukaus jabs Swanson right on the nose. Swanson blinks but takes it well.
Laukaus throws a big shot that misses.

Laukaus drives through and clinches with Swanson against the cage.
Swanson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Laukaus fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Swanson. Laukaus does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swanson lands a body shot.
Laukaus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Swanson.
Swanson misses with a straight left.
Laukaus fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Swanson looks to land a left hand but Laukaus moved out of range nicely.
Swanson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Swanson misses with an uppercut.
The fighters circling - Laukaus throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Swanson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Laukaus manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Swanson throws a big elbow that misses.
Swanson throws a big elbow that misses.
Swanson stops Laukaus from standing up.
Swanson wants to pass the guard but Laukaus is keeping the position.
Swanson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Laukaus working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Swanson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson controlling from the top position.
Swanson advances to half guard.
Laukaus is not content to let Swanson control the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Laukaus can do anything to dispel that myth.
Swanson is just content to waste time from the top position. Laukaus takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Swanson wants to pass the guard but Laukaus is keeping the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Swanson chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Swanson dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Swanson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Laukaus tries to clinch there but Swanson circles away.
Laukaus misses with a wild body shot.
A leg kick checked by Swanson.
Swanson lands a nice shot to the body.
Laukaus is looking to clinch but Swanson is avoiding it.
Swanson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Laukaus counters with a three punch combo that has Swanson backing up. Swanson nods at Laukaus to acknowledge the strikes.
Laukaus wants to clinch up but Swanson keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Swanson.
Swanson swinging wildly here.
Laukaus is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Laukaus changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Laukaus pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laukaus doesn't manage to clinch there - Swanson circles away.
Laukaus fails in his attempt to clinch.
Swanson cracks Laukaus with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Swanson swings widly with a right hand
and Laukaus counters with a stiff right hand.
Laukaus just misses with a punch to the body.
Swanson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Swanson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Swanson misses with a lunging right hand
and Laukaus counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Swanson.
Swanson fails with the takedown.
Laukaus fails in his attempt to clinch.
Laukaus doesn't manage to clinch there - Swanson circles away.
Laukaus throws a shot from downtown. Swanson moves away and avoids it.
Laukaus cracks a nice hook into Swanson's ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Swanson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Laukaus's guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Laukaus wants to stand but Swanson is controlling the position.
Swanson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Laukaus avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Swanson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Laukaus wants to sweep here but Swanson controlling him for the moment.
Swanson trying to control the position from guard on top but Laukaus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Laukaus avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Niska Laukaus.
I think Laukaus 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Niska Laukaus!