PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mack Speed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niska Laukaus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Speed comes into the arena with Disturbed / Down With The Sickness blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Speed
vs
Laukaus

200 cm
23
195 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

177 cm
22
190 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Perkele!
Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mack Speed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niska Laukaus!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Speed finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A nice leg kick lands there from Speed.

Laukaus scores with a takedown into Speed's guard.
Speed keeping moving, preventing Laukaus from controlling successfully.
Laukaus won't allow Speed to sweep him here.
Laukaus trying to control but Speed is working from the bottom.
Speed is looking to stand up but Laukaus isn't so interested in that idea.
Laukaus won't allow Speed to sweep him here.
Laukaus pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Speed is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laukaus trying to control but Speed is working from the bottom.
Laukaus looking to pass the guard.
Speed 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.
Speed seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Niska Laukaus.
Speed throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Speed misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laukaus misses with a looping left.
Laukaus moves out of range as Speed throws a body kick.
Mack Speed seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Speed defending well as Laukaus loads up on a big left hand.
Speed misses with a wild body shot.
Laukaus moves in looking to clinch but Speed pushes him off.
Speed shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Laukaus throws a head kick that misses
and Speed makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Laukaus really felt that one!
Speed throws a nice head kick!
Speed lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Laukaus blocks a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Laukaus misses with a body shot.
Laukaus looks to land a left hand but Speed moved out of range nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Laukaus. Speed does a little dance to reset his feet.
Laukaus is looking to clinch.
Mack Speed is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Laukaus fails with the takedown.
Speed throws a leg kick but Laukaus sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Speed lands a jab.
Laukaus tries to close the distance and clinch but Speed swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Speed throws a body punch but Laukaus moves out of range.

Laukaus shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Speed's guard.
Laukaus tries to free his leg and advance position but Speed is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Speed is adopting a defensive guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laukaus preventing the sweep.
Speed keeping moving, preventing Laukaus from controlling successfully.
Speed seems keen to control Laukaus's posture.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mack Speed just wasn't active enough.
Laukaus misses with a body shot.
Speed throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mack Speed will probably get the nod.
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.

Speed throws a chopping leg kick but Laukaus manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Speed lands a jab-cross combination.
Speed moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Speed ducks under a wild hook from Laukaus.
Speed throws a quick inside leg kick.
Speed scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Laukaus avoids a kick to the body.
Speed falls off balance throwing a combination
and Laukaus counters with a nice body shot.
An inside leg kick from Speed misses.
Speed just misses with a punch to the body.
Speed scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Laukaus tries to close the distance and clinch but Speed swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laukaus misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Speed attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Speed lands a jab to the nose.
Speed tries a head kick but it misses.
Laukaus throws out a loose jab but Speed uses good head movement to avoid it.
Speed throws a front kick aimed at Laukaus's knee but Laukaus avoids it well.
Mack Speed is winning the standup battle so far.
Speed lands a jab.
Speed tries a low kick but Laukaus avoids it.
Speed is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Laukaus wants to clinch up but Speed keeps it at a distance.
Laukaus walks forward, straight into a front kick from Speed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laukaus takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Speed is looking to score with low kicks.
Laukaus moves in looking to clinch but Speed pushes him off.
Speed throws an overhand right that lands on Laukaus's shoulder, as Laukaus tries to avoid the shot.
Speed shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Speed throws the kick towards the body but Laukaus avoids it.
Speed throws a sloppy head kick and Laukaus moves out of range easily.
Speed really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Speed throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Some wild striking there from Speed.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Speed fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Speed is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Laukaus.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speed displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Laukaus throws out the jab.
Laukaus avoids the head kick by Speed.
Laukaus will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Speed delivers a nice body kick.
Speed thumps Laukaus with a low kick.
Speed is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Laukaus checks a leg kick.
Speed thows a left - swing and a miss!
Speed throws a looping overhand right but Laukaus ducks down to avoid it.
Laukaus avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Laukaus works over Speed's head and body with a nice combination.
Speed tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Speed throws a leg kick but Laukaus sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laukaus tries to clinch up but Speed circles away and keeps his distance.
An inside leg kick lands from Speed.
Speed fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Laukaus checks it well.
Some bone on bone action there as Laukaus checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Laukaus fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Speed avoids it really well and circles away.
Mack Speed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Niska Laukaus.
Laukaus wants to clinch.
Laukaus is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Speed wants to land a leg kick but Laukaus is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mack Speed dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Speed misses with a two punch combination.
Speed lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Laukaus throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Speed.
Sloppy strikes from Laukaus. Those never looked like landing.
Speed connects with a right hand. Laukaus shakes it off.
Laukaus shoots in looking for a takedown but Speed manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Laukaus's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Speed throws a leg kick but Laukaus moved away.
Speed uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Laukaus.
Speed throws a front kick aimed at Laukaus's knee but Laukaus avoids it well.
Laukaus is looking to clinch.
Speed scores with a nice right hand.
Laukaus checks a low kick from Speed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speed keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A chopping leg kick lands by Speed.
Speed throws a leg kick which misses Laukaus's front leg but catches the back leg as Laukaus tries to avoid it.
Speed is looking to chop away at Laukaus's legs.
Speed tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Laukaus misses with a hook.
Speed buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Laukaus tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Speed misses with a few strikes there.
Laukaus tries to clinch but fails miserably
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Speed misses with a low kick.
Speed throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Speed thows a body shot but no joy.
Laukaus blocks a head kick by Speed.
Speed dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Laukaus. That did some damage!
Speed throws a low kick but it's checked well by Laukaus.
Speed jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Speed keeps the fight on the outside.
Speed tries to land a leg kick but Laukaus saw it coming and moves away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Laukaus misses with a two punch combination.
Laukaus rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Speed moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Decent striking displayed by Laukaus there.
Speed throws a leg kick
and Laukaus counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laukaus misses with a body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Laukaus misses the target.
Speed misses with a body shot.
A head kick misses from Speed.
Speed waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Laukaus.
A leg kick checked by Laukaus.
Laukaus shoots for a double leg takedown but Speed sprawls well. He's pushed Laukaus's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Speed thumps Laukaus with a low kick.
Speed throws a leg kick but Laukaus checks it.
Speed thows a leg kick but Laukaus checks it
and Laukaus counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Speed scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Speed connects with a right hand. Laukaus shakes it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laukaus shoots in for a takedown but Speed shows good takedown defense.
Mack Speed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Niska Laukaus.
A combination from Laukaus does no damage.
Laukaus throws an off balance right hand
and Speed counters with a thumping low kick.
Laukaus on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Speed. Speed obviously looking to wear him down.
Laukaus misses with a body kick.
Speed misses with a kick to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Speed misses with a low kick.
Speed rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Laukaus moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Laukaus pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Laukaus tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Speed paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Niska Laukaus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Laukaus misses with a left hand
and Speed counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Laukaus is lucky that one didn't land flush.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mack Speed showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Speed, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mack Speed!
Mack Speed made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'BOOOOOM!'.