PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Koni Minichi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Lahey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lahey is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by TPB. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Minichi
vs
Lahey

170 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

178 cm
25
178 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Koni Minichi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jim Lahey!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Gwen Towbar and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lahey feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Minichi's calf.
A head kick misses from Minichi.
Jim Lahey seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Minichi looks to land a combination but Lahey avoids it well.

Minichi scores with a takedown into Lahey's guard.
Minichi wants to control from the top but Lahey keeps moving.
Lahey is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Minichi content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lahey is looking to stand up but Minichi isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minichi could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Lahey really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Minichi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lahey seems keen to control Minichi's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lahey cracks the inside of Minichi's front leg.
Lahey misses with a series of wild punches.

Lahey fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Minichi, pushing him back against the cage.

Lahey manages to break the clinch.
Minichi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lahey's waist but Lahey gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Minichi off to one side.

Lahey gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lahey pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lahey leaves Minichi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Minichi tries to close the distance and clinch but Lahey swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Minichi misses with a takedown attempt - Lahey sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Koni Minichi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lahey lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Minichi backs up against the cage.
Minichi takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Lahey lands a nice leg kick that just misses Minichi's sensitive parts.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lahey connects with a solid leg kick.
Minichi tries to clinch up but Lahey circles away and keeps his distance.
Lahey goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Lahey looks to land a combination but Minichi avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minichi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lahey paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Lahey gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Minichi to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Minichi is breathing heavily.
Minichi stops Lahey from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Minichi stands and throws Lahey's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Minichi is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lahey has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lahey is pushing Minichi's head away, looking to escape. Minichi manages to hold on to the position though.
Lahey is looking to regain half guard here but Minichi keeps moving and retains side control.
Lahey is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Minichi has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Lahey is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Lahey dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lahey throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Minichi.
Lahey lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Minichi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Lahey has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Lahey darts in and clinches Minichi up against the cage.

Lahey breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lahey lands with a kick to the temple. Minichi shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Lahey connects with a right hand. Minichi shakes it off.

Minichi has taken the fight to the clinch.

Lahey breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jim Lahey seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lahey scores with a head kick. Minichi tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Lahey!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Minichi tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A slapping leg kick lands for Lahey.
Lahey throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lahey tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Minichi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Minichi wants to clinch.
Minichi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lahey is fending him off so far but Minichi persists. Nope, Lahey circles away and we're back to standing.
Lahey connects with a solid leg kick.
Lahey keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Minichi tries to keep at a distance but Lahey has taken the fight into the clinch.
Lahey lands a left hand that snaps the head of Minichi backwards.
Lahey lands a right hand that snaps the head of Minichi backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minichi is working for takedown but Lahey is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Koni Minichi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Lahey pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Lahey has closed the distance and engaged Minichi in a clinch.
Lahey prevents Minichi from breaking the clinch.
Minichi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lahey fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Minichi is looking to clinch but Lahey is avoiding it.
Lahey looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Minichi fails with the takedown
and Lahey counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Lahey throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Minichi drops his hands momentarily and Lahey takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Lahey darts in and clinches Minichi up against the cage.
Minichi tries to pull guard but Lahey holds him up against the cage and eventually Minichi drops back down to his feet.

Lahey breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minichi looks for a takedown but Lahey sprawls well.
Lahey throws a leg kick which misses Minichi's front leg but catches the back leg as Minichi tries to avoid it.
Lahey shoots in but no luck this time.

Lahey closes the distance and clinches.

Lahey breaks from the clinch.
Horrible takedown attempt by Minichi or perhaps it was just good defense by Lahey, which made it look bad.
Lahey dives in and grabs Minichi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Minichi pushes down on Lahey's head and hops out.
Lahey throws a right and a left that Minichi avoids nicely.
Lahey tries to bum rush Minichi with a series of wild strikes but Minichi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lahey moves into range and clinches up with Minichi.
Minichi takes an elbow to the forehead.
Lahey content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Lahey with a knee to the head.

Minichi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lahey throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Lahey, as that shot connected.
Minichi fails with a takedown attempt.

Lahey has closed the distance and engaged Minichi in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Lahey showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Minichi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lahey swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lahey scores with a kick to the body.
Lahey lands a jab-cross combination.
A solid leg kick lands there for Lahey.
Minichi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lahey throws a head kick but Minichi moves out of range.
Minichi shoots in looking for a takedown. Lahey tries to sprawl out of it but Minichi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lahey manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lahey shoots in and drives through. Minichi sprawls well.
Lahey works over Minichi's head and body with a nice combination.
Minichi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Lahey has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lahey fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lahey throws a right hand that Minichi ducks under and follows up with a left that Minichi also avoids with ease.
Minichi throws a big counter combination but Lahey scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Minichi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Minichi shoots in looking for a takedown but Lahey manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Minichi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Koni Minichi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lahey feints and then cracks Minichi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Minichi down.
Lahey tries for a takedown but Minichi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Koni Minichi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jim Lahey.
Minichi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lahey's waist but Lahey gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Minichi off to one side.
Lahey is looking for the big counter here.
Lahey misses with a double jab.
Minichi takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Minichi is looking to clinch.
Lahey misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lahey clinches up against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Lahey.
Lahey landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Lahey breaks from the clinch.

Minichi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Minichi lands in his opponent's guard.

Lahey has his feet on Minichi's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lahey feints and then cracks Minichi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Minichi down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lahey shoots for a takedown but Minichi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lahey with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Minichi throws a head kick but Lahey moves out of range.

Lahey gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Lahey manages to break the clinch.

Lahey closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Lahey lands in his opponent's guard.
Lahey trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lahey seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lahey postures up.
Lahey wants to stand but Minichi has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Koni Minichi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jim Lahey is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lahey not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim Lahey comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lahey winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jim Lahey!
Jim Lahey looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'The winds of shit are picking up'.