PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aslak Lappalainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Head (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lappalainen comes to the cage accompanied by Waltari - So Fine. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Richard Head enters the cage!

Lappalainen
vs
Head

175 cm
26
158 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

170 cm
22
165 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aslak Lappalainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Richard Head!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Valeri Chadov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lappalainen defending well as Head loads up on a big left hand.
Lappalainen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Head tries to clinch but Lappalainen moves out of range.
Head misses the body punch
and Lappalainen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lappalainen connects with a high kick.
Lappalainen slips a straight right by Head.
A shot to the body from Head misses
and Lappalainen counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Head misses with a jab to the body
and Lappalainen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Head thinking.
Lappalainen connects with a single shot there.
Head is looking to clinch but Lappalainen is avoiding it.
Lappalainen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Head.
Lappalainen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Head at a distance.
Head swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Lappalainen counters with a nice leg kick.
Head takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
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!
Head tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Lappalainen counters with a head kick.
Lappalainen doesn't manage to clinch there - Head circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Head falls off balance throwing a combination
and Lappalainen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Head misses with a body punch
and Lappalainen counters with a body kick that stops Head in his tracks momentarily.
Lappalainen thows a body shot but no joy.
Head throws a jab when Lappalainen was well out of range.
Head thows a body shot but no joy.
Head takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Head looks gassed!
Head lands a nice looking body shot.
Head darts in trying to clinch
and Lappalainen counters with a one-two to the body.

Lappalainen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Lappalainen throwing strikes but missing.
Lappalainen pushes down on Head's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lappalainen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Lappalainen is working for a kimura but Head is defending it quite comfortably.
Lappalainen drops an elbow to the side of Head's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lappalainen trying to control the action but Head is working from the bottom.

Lappalainen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lappalainen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Head defending well though.
Lappalainen thows a huge punch but Head dodges it nicely.
Lappalainen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Head trying to control from the bottom.
Head is pressing down on Lappalainen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lappalainen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Head manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lappalainen manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Head throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lappalainen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

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

Lappalainen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Head postures up and lands a big shot to Lappalainen's brow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lappalainen keeping moving, preventing Head from controlling successfully.
Head must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Head postures up in Lappalainen's guard and throws a big left but Lappalainen blocks it.
Head stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lappalainen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aslak Lappalainen 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.

Lappalainen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Head thows a leg kick but Lappalainen checks it
and Lappalainen counters with a head kick. That will keep Head thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Head takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Head fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Lappalainen uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Head has time to react.
Head throws a lazy right hand but Lappalainen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Head jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Head misses with a jab to the body
and Lappalainen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Head misses with a body shot
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Lappalainen ducks under a wild hook from Head.
Head tries to land a body kick

and Lappalainen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Lappalainen.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lappalainen trying to control but Head is working from the bottom.
Lappalainen passes Head's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Head is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lappalainen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Head sees it coming and defends easily.
Head moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Lappalainen drops back, looking for a kneebar! Head looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Head looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Head!
Lappalainen struggling a bit here.
Lappalainen is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Head cracks Lappalainen with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Lappalainen misses with a strike from the bottom.
Lappalainen is not content to let Head control the position.
Head misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Head misses with the ground and pound.
Lappalainen taking punishment in the form of punches.
Head looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Lappalainen is avoiding damage well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Head trying to control the position but Lappalainen is working away.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lappalainen stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Head throws out a loose jab but Lappalainen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Head shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Lappalainen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Head darts in trying to clinch

and Lappalainen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Lappalainen.
Lappalainen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lappalainen tries to free his leg and advance position but Head is retaining full guard.
Lappalainen's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lappalainen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Head looking to control.
Head keeping moving, preventing Lappalainen from controlling successfully.
Lappalainen is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Head is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Lappalainen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Lappalainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Head is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Head scores with a nice right hand.
Head tries to clinch up.
Head just misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aslak Lappalainen dominated that second round.
That's time! Lappalainen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Head looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Head just misses with a punch to the body.
Lappalainen tries to clinch there but Head circles away.
Lappalainen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lappalainen connects with a single shot there.
Lappalainen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Head tries to clinch up but Lappalainen circles away and keeps his distance.
Head misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lappalainen.
Lappalainen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lappalainen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Head wants to clinch but Lappalainen slips to the side
and Lappalainen counters with a right hand to the body.
Head misses with a combination
and Lappalainen counters with a stiff right hand.
Head takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Head throws a combination that misses
and Lappalainen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lappalainen is looking to wear down Head with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Head leaves Lappalainen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Head throws a big shot that misses.

Lappalainen gets the takedown into side control.
Lappalainen throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Lappalainen controls the position from side control.
Head is not content to let Lappalainen control the position.

Lappalainen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Head knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lappalainen taking a break here but Head is having none of it and regains half guard.
Lappalainen wants to control but Head is keeping him busy.
Head works his way to full guard. Good work.
Head trying to control the position.
Lappalainen thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lappalainen is looking to work some ground and pound but Head has wrist control.
Head 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.
Richard Head has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lappalainen postures up in Head's guard and throws a big left but Head blocks it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Lappalainen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Head sprawls well. Head wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lappalainen gets slowly back to his feet.
Head misses with a combination
and Lappalainen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Head misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lappalainen.
Head throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Head misses with a body shot
and Lappalainen counters with a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Lappalainen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Lappalainen looking to pass the guard.
Lappalainen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lappalainen slips nicely into half guard.
Lappalainen prevents Head from improving his position.
Aslak Lappalainen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lappalainen sitting and controlling from the half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aslak Lappalainen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lappalainen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aslak Lappalainen!