PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexi Laiho (ranked 1770 p4p, 208 weight class) and Nick Cotton (ranked 1423 p4p, 170 weight class). Laiho's entrance music is Cold Sweat/ Thin Lizzy. A fine choice. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Laiho
vs
Cotton

190 cm
40
225 lbs
23 - 19 - 0

191 cm
33
265 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 19 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alexi Laiho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nick Cotton!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Patrick Alders and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laiho throws a series of punches but Cotton moves out of range.
Laiho throws a series of punches but Cotton moves out of range.

Laiho scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Laiho scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Laiho is looking to take a break and control but Cotton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Laiho is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Cotton reverses the position - he's now on top in Laiho's guard.
Cotton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Laiho is keeping the position for now.
Cotton trying to control the position from guard on top but Laiho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cotton with a nice head shot there.

Cotton got a little sloppy there for a moment and Laiho has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cotton has managed to get both his arms back between Laiho's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Laiho controls Cotton momentarily but Cotton frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cotton trying to control but Laiho is working from the bottom.

Cotton got a little sloppy there for a moment and Laiho has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cotton has managed to get both his arms back between Laiho's legs - danger averted.
Cotton postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Cotton has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Cotton avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cotton has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Laiho is proving hard to escape from.
Laiho keeping moving, preventing Cotton from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cotton looking to pass the guard.
Cotton preventing the sweep.
Cotton wants to pass the guard but Laiho is keeping the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Laiho is on top in guard.

Laiho stopping the sweep attempt from Cotton.
Laiho looking to pass the guard.

Cotton is looking for a triangle but Laiho pushes his legs off easily.
Laiho throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Laiho in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Laiho trying to control the position from guard on top but Cotton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Laiho's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Laiho throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cotton works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cotton looking to control.
Laiho lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cotton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Laiho is one step ahead there.
Cotton working a defensive guard here.
Cotton trying to control the position here.
Cotton trying to keep a closed guard but Laiho is proving a slippery customer.
Laiho throwing strikes from guard but Cotton blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Laiho lands a couple of elbows.
Cotton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Laiho.
Laiho trying to control the position from guard on top but Cotton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Laiho with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cotton 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.
Laiho postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cotton tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Laiho postures up.
Laiho pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cotton is keeping the position for now.
Laiho is looking to work some ground and pound but Cotton has wrist control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cotton has his foot on Laiho's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Laiho works his way back into a safe position though.
Laiho lands a couple of digs.
Cotton manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Laiho manages to get himself to full guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexi Laiho 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.

Laiho throws a hook to the side of Cotton's head but Cotton sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cotton fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cotton throws a body punch but Laiho moves out of range.

Laiho shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cotton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Laiho is one step ahead there.
Laiho sitting in guard here, content to control.
Cotton is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cotton utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cotton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Laiho is one step ahead there.
Laiho is looking to pass into half guard but Cotton pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Cotton is in guard.

Laiho throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laiho working a defensive guard here.
Laiho keeping moving, preventing Cotton from controlling successfully.

Cotton is sitting in close to Laiho's body. Laiho has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Cotton is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Cotton is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Laiho.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Alexi Laiho!
Alexi Laiho really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Sportivité logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.