PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Liepo Frendi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niska Laukaus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Frendi might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to War Is My Destiny. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Niska Laukaus was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Frendi
vs
Laukaus

188 cm
22
195 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

177 cm
21
190 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Liepo Frendi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niska Laukaus!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laukaus checks a low kick from Frendi.
Frendi misses with a low kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Frendi.

Laukaus scores a takedown into full mount!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Frendi is squirming around, avoiding Laukaus's attempts to control the action.
Frendi is trying to escape the mount.
Frendi gets back to half guard.

Laukaus is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Frendi is just riding it out for now. Laukaus eventually gives up the hold.
Laukaus missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Frendi tries to kick Laukaus off in order to stand up. Laukaus Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laukaus thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Frendi defending against the ground and pound.
Frendi manages to work his way to half guard, despite Laukaus's best efforts.
Frendi wants to control but Laukaus is keeping busy.
Laukaus landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Frendi on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Frendi tries to get out of the position.
Frendi is looking to improve his position.
Frendi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Frendi wants to sweep but no luck.
Laukaus wants to control from the top but Frendi keeps moving.
Laukaus content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Frendi 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.
Laukaus stops Frendi from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laukaus slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Laukaus working away.
Laukaus has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Frendi looking for a sweep but Laukaus has passed into full mount! Oh no!

Laukaus is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Frendi is surviving well by controlling Laukaus's body position as best he can.
Laukaus can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Frendi is looking to escape.
Laukaus is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Laukaus has hold of Frendi's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Frendi manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Frendi is trying to escape the mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Frendi wants to control but Laukaus is having none of it.
Poor strikes thrown by Laukaus there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Frendi is squirming around, avoiding Laukaus's attempts to control the action.
Laukaus pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Laukaus wants to finish this one by submission but Frendi is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Laukaus.
Frendi wants to hold on but Laukaus pushes him away.
Laukaus landing punches.
Frendi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Frendi manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Laukaus missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Frendi is trying to get back to full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Laukaus wants to lay and pray for a moment but Frendi keeps working.
Frendi works his way to full guard. Good work.
Laukaus throws a big elbow that misses.
Frendi looking for a sweep. Not yet Frendi, not yet.
Laukaus passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Frendi is trying to get back to half guard.

Laukaus looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Frendi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Frendi manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niska Laukaus dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Laukaus just misses with a punch to the body.
Frendi throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Laukaus.

It looks like Niska Laukaus has been cut.
Frendi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Laukaus.
Laukaus takes a kick to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Frendi tries to score with a low kick but Laukaus moves his leg out of the way.
That kick from Frendi tenderised Laukaus's leg. Laukaus is trying to keep his angry face on.
Nice straight punches there by Laukaus. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Laukaus.
A head kick by Frendi misses
and Laukaus counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Laukaus has Frendi up against the cage in a clinch.
Laukaus throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Frendi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Frendi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Frendi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Laukaus.
Frendi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Laukaus.
Frendi jumps guard but Laukaus stands there with Frendi around his waist. Frendi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Frendi manages to pull guard.
Frendi has control of Laukaus's left arm, preventing Laukaus from doing any damage.
Frendi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Laukaus.
Frendi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Laukaus advances position into side control!
Frendi tries to buck Laukaus off but Laukaus is having none of it.

Laukaus tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
You can see the frustration on Frendi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Frendi is trying to improve his position.

Laukaus is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Frendi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Frendi is looking for a sweep.
Laukaus gets to mount! Frendi was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Laukaus throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Frendi because Laukaus loaded up on that one.
Laukaus misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Laukaus lands a big elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Laukaus can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Frendi is looking to escape.
Frendi can't escape the position.
Laukaus putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Laukaus is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Frendi can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Frendi is trying to escape the mount.
Frendi is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Laukaus throwing strikes here but Frendi is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Frendi's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Niska Laukaus has got the better of the ground game so far.
Laukaus pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Laukaus is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Frendi is surviving well by controlling Laukaus's body position as best he can.
Frendi is working to get back to half guard.

Laukaus working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Frendi is looking to improve his position but Laukaus isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Laukaus goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Frendi is on top in guard.
Frendi forces his way into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Frendi passes into side control, despite Laukaus's attempt to control the position.
Laukaus manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Frendi is trying to control the action in half guard but Laukaus is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Frendi is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Frendi not doing much here.
Frendi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Laukaus does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
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 Liepo Frendi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Niska Laukaus's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Frendi takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Frendi cracks Laukaus with a right hand to the side of the head.

Laukaus is rocked!
Frendi throws an off balance right hand

and Laukaus holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Laukaus is still on wobbly legs! Can Frendi finish him?
Frendi tries to land a knee to the head but Laukaus blocks with his arms.
Frendi tries to land a knee to the head but Laukaus blocks with his arms.
Frendi lands a hook to the side of the head.

Frendi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Frendi throws a right hand that misses
and Laukaus counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Frendi throws a lazy right hand but Laukaus sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Crack! A monster head kick from Frendi and Laukaus falls like a tree - timbeeeeeeeeeeerrrr! A highlight reel knockout by Frendi!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Liepo Frendi!
Liepo Frendi gave a mention to xXx - iForce Nutrition in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).