PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ray Rice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrus Laane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laane has chosen Sans Pression - Numero 1 as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Ray Rice has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Ray Rice seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Rice
vs
Laane

190 cm
32
215 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

193 cm
35
218 lbs
17 - 32 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ray Rice!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 32 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Andrus Laane!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rice shoots for a double leg takedown but Laane sprawls well. He's pushed Rice's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ray Rice seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Laane ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Laane turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rice thows a left - swing and a miss!
A little jabbing left from Laane on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Laane lands with a slapping head kick.
Rice shoots in for a takedown but Laane shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Rice throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Laane tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rice is in Laane's guard.
Laane is wriggling around but Rice manages to pass to half guard.

Rice wants to pass the guard but Laane is defending well.
Laane wants to get back to full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Laane blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rice sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Laane defending well though.

Rice is trying to work for a kimura but Laane is defending well.

Rice is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Laane trying to control from the bottom.
Laane is trying is best to control the position here.
Laane trying to control but Rice postures up.
Laane is staying active underneath Rice, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Laane is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rice looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Laane preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Laane tries to kick Rice off but Rice keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Laane manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Laane looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rice is one step ahead there.
Rice throws a big elbow that misses.
Rice is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rice is in close to Laane's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Laane looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rice puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rice is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Laane defends it well.
Laane tries to roll over but Rice keeps him under control.
Rice lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Laane is trying to get back to full guard.

Rice is working for a kimura but Laane is defending it quite comfortably.

Rice is looking for a kimura but Laane is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rice to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Laane is trying to stand.
Laane keeping control of the position.
Rice is keen to just control but Laane is a slippery customer.
Laane has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rice is working away from the top position though.
Rice wants to take a breather but Laane is having none of it.
Rice prevents Laane from improving his position.
Rice content to control rather than advance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Laane manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Rice 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.

Rice takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Rice has a takedown stuffed.
Rice shoots in for a takedown but Laane shows good takedown defense.
Rice fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Laane manages to avoid it.
Laane throws a counter combo.
Laane connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Laane doesn't manage to clinch there - Rice circles away.
Andrus Laane is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Laane steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rice.
Laane leaves Rice with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ray Rice. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rice misses with a right hand
and Laane counters with a thumping low kick.
Rice shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Laane as he avoids it easily.
Rice on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Laane keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rice looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rice closes this distance looking for a takedown but Laane circles away.

Laane closes the distance and pushes Rice back into the cage.

Laane's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Laane.
Rice fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rice throws a poor cross that misses
and Laane connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Laane throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rice throws a poor cross that misses
and Laane makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A head kick misses from Laane.
Rice shoots in but Laane avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Laane closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Rice shoots in and drives through. Laane sprawls well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rice takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rice on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Laane. Laane obviously looking to wear him down.

Rice throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Laane was covering up waiting for the punch and Rice finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Rice has gone for a leg lock! Laane slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rice's guard.

Ray Rice overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rice had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Laane defends it easily.
Laane throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rice works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rice seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Laane postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Laane won't allow Rice to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rice utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Rice looking for a guillotine here but Laane defends easily.
Laane being controlled here momentarily.
Rice is trying to keep Laane in close.
Laane preventing the sweep.
Rice working a defensive guard here.
Rice tries to strike from the bottom.
Laane trying to control but Rice is working from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Laane throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Laane working some strikes from top position.
Rice tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rice is trying to keep Laane in close.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Andrus Laane is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rice shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Laane as he avoids it easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Laane! But no joy.
Laane takes a swing at Rice's ribcage but misses.
Rice drops down looking for a counter takedown but Laane sprawls and moves away.
Rice shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Laane pinned against the cage. Laane gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Laane has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Laane misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rice with a poor takedown
and Laane cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Laane gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Laane looking to throw knees to the head but Rice is blocking nicely.
Laane landing knees to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrus Laane showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Laane scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Rice misses with a lunging right hand
and Laane counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Laane swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rice.
Laane throws a series of punches but Rice moves out of range.
Rice scores with a hook.
Rice keeps the fight on the outside.
Rice shoots in for a takedown but Laane shows good takedown defense.

Laane has Rice up against the cage in a clinch.
Rice being controlled against the cage.
Rice tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Laane smiles and moves away.
Laane's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Laane duly obliges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laane fails to land with a series of punches.
Laane is looking to slow Rice down with leg kicks.
Rice avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice body kick from Laane.
Rice throws a hook but Laane avoids it easily.
Laane fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Laane displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rice.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ray Rice. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rice shoots in but Laane avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Laane throws a sloppy head kick and Rice moves out of range easily.

Rice darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rice takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laane slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Laane controlling the position.

Laane is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Laane lands a hook that snaps the head of Rice backwards.
Rice tries to pull guard but Laane forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Laane escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Laane throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Rice drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Laane throws Rice to one side and escapes!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laane fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rice attempts a counter takedown but Laane avoids it well and moves away.
Rice goes for a double leg but Laane avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Laane continues to drive forward.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rice shoots in and drives through. Laane sprawls well.
Laane shapes to counter with a head kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rice.
Rice misses with a takedown attempt
and Laane counters with a good low kick that Rice was not able to check.
Laane tries to close the distance and clinch but Rice swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Laane moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Laane throws a right and a left that Rice avoids nicely.
Rice darts in looking for a takedown but Laane gets double underhooks and turns Rice into the cage.
Laane slaps away a takedown attempt from Rice, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Laane lands with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rice blocks a head kick by Laane.
Rice dives in and grabs Laane's left leg, looking for a takedown. Laane pushes down on Rice's head and hops out.
Laane throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Laane throws a series of punches but Rice moves out of range.
Rice takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Rice is trying hard to land a takedown here. Laane sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Laane moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Laane tries to clinch up.
Rice fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Laane avoids it really well and circles away.
Rice fails with the takedown.
Some wild striking there from Laane.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrus Laane comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Laane 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrus Laane!
Andrus Laane 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.