PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ramin Laulu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Slim Thug (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Slim Thug has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Laulu
vs
Thug

185 cm
25
215 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

179 cm
31
214 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ramin Laulu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Slim Thug!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Shigeki Sano and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thug takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Thug lands with a good body shot.
Thug throws a hook to the side of Laulu's head but Laulu sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A quick step to the side and Laulu tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Laulu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Laulu throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Laulu tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thug dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Thug's jab looks to have found its range, popping Laulu under the eye.
Thug misses with a wild combination.
Laulu feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Thug's calf.
Thug punishes Laulu's body with a nice straight punch.
Thug lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Thug swats away the attempt to clinch by Laulu.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Thug scores with a hook to the body. Laulu takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Thug goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Thug fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Laulu looks for the body kick but Thug saw that one coming.
Thug misses the jab.
It looked like Laulu wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laulu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Slim Thug seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Laulu darts in and clinches Thug up against the cage.
Laulu tries to pull guard but Thug won't allow it.
Laulu working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Laulu tries to throw a body punch but Thug avoids it by throwing Laulu back against the cage.
Laulu has been working on his balance at Kombat MMA, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Thug.
Thug misses with a punch on the inside.
Thug lands with a light punch inside.
Thug fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Thug tries to throw a body punch but Laulu avoids it by throwing Thug back against the cage.
A short right from Thug on the inside.
Laulu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Laulu lands a body punch in the clinch.
Thug misses with some punches.
Laulu is trying to pull guard but Thug has him pressed against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Thug.
Thug tries to work over Laulu's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Thug can't break the clinch.
Thug lands a right hand.
Thug looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Laulu tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Thug escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thug has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thug throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Laulu feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Thug's calf.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thug. Laulu does a little dance to reset his feet.

Laulu closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Laulu working aggressively here.
Laulu is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ramin Laulu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thug misses with a punch to the body.
Laulu keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Thug's efforts to push away.
Thug misses with some punches.
Laulu scores with a nice hook to the head.
Nice body punch from Laulu - that landed with a thud.
Thug gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Laulu.
Laulu lands with a left to the head.
Laulu misses with a punch to the body.
Laulu lands a left hand.
Thug misses with a body punch.
Thug digs a right hand underneath Laulu's ribcage. Laulu let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Laulu tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Laulu manages to pull guard.

Laulu had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thug defends it easily.

Laulu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Laulu wants to sweep but no luck.

Laulu is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Laulu looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Laulu working for a triangle but Thug defends it easily.

Laulu has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Thug is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Laulu.
Laulu 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.

Slim Thug dominated that 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.

Laulu walks into a left hand.

Laulu lands a big head kick that sends Thug tumbling to the mat! Laulu takes a step backwards and waves Thug back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Slim Thug has been cut.

Laulu moves into range and clinches up with Thug.

Laulu jumps into guard, dragging Thug to the mat.
Thug passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thug blocks the strikes from Laulu.

Laulu looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Laulu looking for submissions off his back.
Thug blocks the strikes from Laulu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laulu wants to sweep but Thug has passed to side control!
Laulu is looking for a sweep.
Laulu regains half guard.
Thug blocks the strikes from Laulu.
Thug is thwarting Laulu's attempts to control the position.
Laulu landing small, sideways elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Thug keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Laulu gets full guard.

Thug got a little sloppy there for a moment and Laulu has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Thug has managed to get both his arms back between Laulu's legs - danger averted.
Laulu is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Laulu striking off his back but it's not causing Thug any problems.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Laulu takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Laulu fails in his attempt to clinch.
Laulu tries to clinch there but Thug circles away.

Laulu clinches.
Laulu misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thug blocks a body shot from Laulu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laulu keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Thug's efforts to push away.
Laulu has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Thug after a bit of a struggle.
Thug lands a nice shot to the body.
Laulu lands with a short shot to the head.
Thug lands a left hand that snaps the head of Laulu backwards.

Laulu pulls guard successfully.

Laulu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thug controls from within his opponent's guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laulu keeping moving, preventing Thug from controlling successfully.

Thug avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Laulu throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Thug really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Laulu. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Laulu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Laulu is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Thug defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ramin Laulu dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Slim Thug's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Thug looks to score with a jab to the body but Laulu is just out of range.
Thug looks to score with a jab to the body but Laulu is just out of range.
Laulu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thug fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Thug digs a good hook to Laulu's body.
Thug lands a body shot.
Laulu has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Laulu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Laulu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thug.
Laulu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thug.
Thug misses with a wild body shot.
Thug scores with a body shot.
Thug ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Laulu moves away.
Thug looks to score with a jab to the body but Laulu is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thug scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Laulu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thug looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Laulu fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fighters circling - Laulu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Thug misses with a hook. Laulu ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laulu swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Laulu takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Thug throws a body punch but Laulu moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Laulu looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Laulu swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Laulu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thug.
Thug throws out a loose jab but Laulu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sloppy strikes from Thug. Those never looked like landing.
Thug looks to throw the jab but Laulu is out of range.
Laulu throws a head kick that misses.
Thug misses with a double jab.
Thug misses with a wild body shot.
Laulu throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Thug appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Thug connects with a body shot that sends Laulu's belly button to the back.
Laulu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Laulu takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Laulu avoids the body shot from Thug.
Slim Thug seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Laulu avoids the body shot from Thug.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laulu uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thug.
Thug ducks under a wild hook from Laulu.
Laulu fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thug is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Laulu rather than just go for the knockout.
A punch combination from Thug misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thug throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thug takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Laulu clinches with his opponent.
A short left from Laulu.
Laulu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Thug wants to break the clinch but can't.
Laulu tries to pull guard but Thug won't allow it.
Thug takes a shot to the head.
Thug lands a body shot in the clinch.
Thug is trying to push Laulu away but Laulu has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Laulu softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Thug throws a punch but it's blocked by Laulu.
Laulu misses with some punches.
Thug goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laulu misses with a punch on the inside.
Laulu is trying to pull guard but Thug turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Thug tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Thug goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thug works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Laulu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Thug blocks a body shot from Laulu.
Laulu has a couple of punches blocked by Thug.
Thug tries to circle away but Laulu has him pinned against the cage.
Laulu jumps guard but Thug stands there with Laulu around his waist. Laulu gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ramin Laulu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A right handed body shot lands from Thug.

Thug breaks from the clinch.
Thug fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Thug swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thug wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A punch combination from Thug misses.
Thug scores with a jab. Laulu acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Laulu steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thug.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thug lands with a shot to the body.
A jab from Thug does it's job there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thug dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Thug misses with the combination.
Laulu looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Thug uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Laulu.
Thug is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Laulu with a body shot.
Laulu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thug just misses with a punch to the body.
Laulu is looking to clinch.
Laulu looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Thug digs a good body shot into Laulu's ribs.
Thug swings for the body but Laulu moves out of range.
Laulu walks into a jab.
Laulu cracks a nice hook into Thug's ribs.
Thug throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Laulu tries to counter by clinching up but Thug breaks away and moves out of range.
Jab, jab by Laulu - just one landing.
Laulu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thug moves away.
Thug let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Slim Thug comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Thug 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Slim Thug!
Slim Thug decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.