PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pekka Laeskinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laeskinen has chosen Japanische Kampfhörspiele - Verrat Am Metal as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Machida
vs
Laeskinen

185 cm
22
213 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thiago Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pekka Laeskinen!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laeskinen tries to work over Machida's front leg with a kick but Machida checks it.
Machida moves out of range of the strikes.
A head kick from Machida lands but Laeskinen takes it in his stride.

Laeskinen is rocked!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Laeskinen.
Laeskinen is still in real trouble! Can Machida finish him?
Laeskinen throws a strike aimed at the side of Machida's head but Machida avoids it well.

Machida bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Laeskinen seems to have recovered his senses.
Machida tries a head kick but it misses.
Laeskinen checks a leg kick.
Machida scoring well with a low kick there.
Laeskinen blocks a head kick by Machida.
Machida throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pekka Laeskinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Laeskinen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Machida tries a head kick but it misses.
Laeskinen misses with a leg kick
and Machida counters with a leg kick.
Laeskinen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Laeskinen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Laeskinen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Laeskinen clinches with his opponent.

Laeskinen breaks the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice body kick there by Laeskinen.
Machida throws a sloppy head kick and Laeskinen moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Laeskinen has Machida up against the cage in a clinch.
Machida wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Laeskinen has him pressed against the cage.
Laeskinen keeps control of Machida as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Laeskinen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Machida backwards.
Machida wants to break the clinch but can't.
Machida wants to break the clinch but can't.
Laeskinen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Machida has had enough of the clinch but Laeskinen keeps him there for the moment.
Machida takes a knee right on the jaw!

Laeskinen breaks from the clinch.
Machida avoids a punch combination nicely.
Machida pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Machida is breathing heavily.
Machida misses with a head kick.
Laeskinen avoids the head kick by Machida.
Machida avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Machida throws a nice head kick!
Machida throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Laeskinen looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Laeskinen forces Machida back against the cage and clinches.
Laeskinen taking a breather.

Laeskinen breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laeskinen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Laeskinen looks to throw a body kick
and Machida counters with an inside leg kick.

Laeskinen moves into range and clinches up with Machida.
Laeskinen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Machida is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Machida wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Machida takes a knee right on the jaw!

Laeskinen breaks the clinch.
Thiago Machida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Machida throws the kick towards the body but Laeskinen avoids it.
Machida uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Laeskinen.

Laeskinen moves into the clinch.

Laeskinen manages to break the clinch.
Machida keeps Laeskinen at a distance using the push kick.
Laeskinen scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Laeskinen misses with a leg kick
and Machida counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Laeskinen is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Machida tries a head kick but it misses.
Machida misses with a head kick.
Machida throws a head kick but Laeskinen moves out of range.
Laeskinen blocks a head kick by Machida.
Machida checks a leg kick.
Machida tries a head kick but it misses.
Machida throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Machida.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laeskinen takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Laeskinen moves into the clinch.
Machida has had enough of the clinch but Laeskinen keeps him there for the moment.
A bit of stalling here from Laeskinen.
Laeskinen prevents Machida from breaking the clinch.
Laeskinen stalling.

Laeskinen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Machida pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Machida pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Laeskinen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Machida's guard.
Machida working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Laeskinen.
Laeskinen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Machida keeping full guard, as Laeskinen tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Laeskinen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Machida's head.
Laeskinen looking to pass the guard.
Laeskinen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Laeskinen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Laeskinen throws a big right hand that misses.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Laeskinen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laeskinen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Machida is looking to improve his position.
Machida wants to control but Laeskinen is keeping busy.
Laeskinen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Laeskinen uses his free foot to push down on Machida's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Machida.
Machida tries to reverse the position but Laeskinen maintains control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Machida taking shots to the head. Laeskinen trying to control but Machida is having none of it.
A nice elbow there by Laeskinen.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Laeskinen working for a submission but Machida is keeping him at bay.
Machida tries to lock up and control but Laeskinen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Laeskinen dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Laeskinen throws a leg kick
and Machida counters with a body kick that stops Laeskinen in his tracks momentarily.
Machida tries a head kick but it misses.
Machida lands a nice looking body kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Laeskinen.
Machida tries a head kick but it misses.
Laeskinen throws a leg kick which misses Machida's front leg but catches the back leg as Machida tries to avoid it.
Laeskinen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A combination from Laeskinen does no damage.
Machida misses with a head kick.
Machida connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
An inside leg kick from Laeskinen misses.
Machida plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Laeskinen steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Machida. That one must have hurt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Machida lands with a kick to the temple. Laeskinen shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Machida stuffs the takedown.
Machida lands a big head kick that sends Laeskinen to the canvas! Machida follows up with strikes from the mount that forces the ref to step in and stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Thiago Machida!